The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1960-01-29
Rome SYNOD

N%RN&1 . aA& -
order, with each part doing
its job as ordained by its ma
ture and its end.
This involves a clear dis
tinction between clergy and
Teople-a distinction, not a
separation. The function Of
Inc clergy is TO direct and
sanctify the entire social
Eody, for which there must be
a calling, a divine vocation,
q conservation.
THE CHRISTIAN people
are invited to the same par
ticipation Of heavenly grace.
Eut the distribution of this
grace is entrusted by the
Lord to the priesthood, to the
priestly order instituted pur-
posely for The excecise of this
very high intermediate func-
ton between Heaven and
earth for the benefit and sane
LITIGATION OF the people who
are called by the name Of
Christ"
The Pope also answered the
often asked question as to
whether the synod would
make any deep changes in the
life of the Rome diocese.
ne CITED cHRIST's ans
wer TO those who asked if He
had come to abolish the old
Law and the prophets have
come not to abolish them but
to complete them. In the
same way, the Pope said, the
teachings of the Church re-
main Interchangeable, but the
discipline and the accidental
forms, according to the times
and the circumstances may be
modified.
The first working session
Of the synod began Jan. 25l
i'll the Sistine chapel of the
Vatican with the archbishops,
bishops and other p~relates
participating in a profession
of faith.
The work of the synod be-
gan with the reading of the
$50 articles of the prospectus.
The second working day
fJan. 26) began the same as
the first, with the Pope and
participants in the Sistine
chapel. Requiem Mass was
celebrated tat 9 ann for all
deceased prelates and priests
of the Diocese of Rome by
Archbishop Luigi Traglia,
Vicegerent of Rome.
After Mass all went in pro-
cession to the Hall of Bene-
dictions where prayers were
chanted. Then the participants
heard the Pope's second
synodal discourse.
POPE JOHN gave his sec
ond discourse in Italian and
based it on the Points Of
Doctrine and Practical Indi-
cations of Conduct of the
Acts of the Council of Trent.
He cited one passage in par
ticular-one he said he had
committed to memory when
he was a young priest:
NOTHING is MORE eff
fective for encouraging piety
and the worship of God among
the Christian people than the
life and example of those who
hive dedicated themselves to
the divine ministry"
Then, citing the head, heart
and tongue as "the three char
acteristic elements of the hui
f1an person and of priestly
dignity" the Bishop of Rome
told his clergy:
at is by the head that one
measures the learning, dis
cernment, good Judgment of
a man of the Church. Of q
priest of Christ. knowledge
presupposes study, and study
is necessary. ;.
THE NEED FOR cUL.
TuRE is evident today more
than ever. The ignorant and
incapable cannot and must
not be ordained to the priest
hood Therefore one must
study and keep studying
throughout life
The Pope went on to say
that for those pursuing Gull
ture and learning, there is
never a lack of good books.
He cautioned against the
temptation to Intellectual
confusion and strange and
dangerous attitudes which an
inexperienced scholar con-
fronts today in the "supera-
bundance of literary produc-
ton in every field of know
ledge"
THEN THE POPE stressed
the value of studying Scrip
fIIpo tho af the