The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-04-27
On The
Vatican
Council

O w
To the Clergy, Religious and Laity
of the Diocese of Columbus:
Our Holy Father, Pope John xii, has convened
the Second Vatican Council to begin in Saint Peters,
Rome, on October IL of this year, the Feast OF the
Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
IN THE OFFICIAL announcement, His Holiness
gives his reason for this TWenty-first Ecumenlcal Coun-
Gil of the Church: "By means of an impulse OF Divine
Providence, We have felt the urgency OF the duty to
call together our sons the Bishops, to give the Church
the possibility to contribute more efficaciouSly to the
solution of the problems of the modern age"
Our Holy Father urgently seeks the participation
of all his spiritual children in this General Council,
in the manner in which all can take part, namely,
through prayer. Pope John has written: 1--WE ask each
individual member of the faithful and the entire
Christian people to continue participating In most
lively prayer, that it may accompany vivlfy and en-
belliSh the preparation for the forthcoming great
event" His Holiness relies on this prayer OF all, ana
has called it "the first form of cooperation for the
success that We expect"
/. Pope John urges the priests throughout the
world to join with him in offering the daily recitation
of the Divine Office for the success of the Council.
Enclosed is a copy of the Pope's prayer, which His
Holiness suggests that we say before reciting the
Breviary.
2. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is above every
form of ~liturgical duplication. AS our priests, IN offer
ing Mass, are now remembering the Council, they
will continue, in every Mass, to beseech Gods blessing
upon its preparation, its work, and its fruitful out
come. Accordingly, / hereby direct that as an CRATIC
Imperafa pro re gravi, whenever the rubrics permit,
there is to be included in all Masses:
az From May l to October 10, the prayers from
the Votive Mass fAd ToIIendum Schisrna," in keeping
with the Holy Fathers designated aim of the Council
as the unity of all ChriStendom;
b) From October II to the conclusion of the
Council, the prayers from the Votive Mass "Ad Postu--
landau Gratiam Spiritus Sancti," that the light OF
Divine Wisdom may guide the deliberations and shine
forth in the acts of the Council. | ask our priests to
mark this change on their calendars now.
3. FACULTIES AND STUDENTS for the priest
hood in the seminaries and novitiate in the Diocese
are already aware of our Holy Fathers exhortation to
them to pray for and, through their studies, to interest
themselves in the forthcoming Council, that it may
correspond to the expectations of the whole of Catho-
licism and of the entire world"
4. In order that all in the Diocese may share in
this ~prayerful participation in the coming Council, it
is hereby directed that the prayer to the Holy Ghost
for the Ecumenical Council" of our Holy Father, be
recited together by priests and people after every Mass
and at all religious services and deyotions, from May l
until the end of the Council. A copy OF this prayer is
enclosed, and it is that it be mimeo-
graphed or provided in a sufficient number that every
one may say this prayer in common. During this time,
the Prayer for Peace, now said after Masses on Sum
day, is to be omitted.
5. Our Holy Father asks especially for the prayers
of the children. 1t is also hereby directed that, from
now and during the duration Of the Council, Pope
Johns Prayer be said by the children either at the be-
ginning or at the end of the school day.
AS a recommendation, it is suggested that a week
ly Holy Hour be held in parishes and chapelS, where
ever possible. This gathering of our people before
our Eucharistic Lord without doubt brought many
blessings in the Crusade for Peace last year. We
would like to see the weekly Holy Hour observed in
every place where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved
in the Diocese. This loving devotion to Our Lord in
the Blessed Sacrament will win from Him great graces
upon those who take part in the Council.
CATHOLICS THROUGHOUT THE world, out Of
their spiritual, filial devotion to the Person of the
Vicar of Christ on earth, will respond Fundamentally
tn fhic oarnnct rnnunct of tho Common Father 0f all
for their prayers for the Council. We in the Diocese
of Columbus have an added incentive, inasmuch as
Pope John has designated Saint Joseph, under whose
patronage our Cathedral is placed, as Patron of this
Ecumenical Council.
earnestly urge our priests to interest our people
in the coming Council and its importance In the
Church and world of our times, to instruct them on the
Council and its aims, to talk about it at meetings, to
encourage all to pray perseveringly, not neglecting to
remind the sick and afflicted to offer their SufferingS
reSignedly for the specific concerns of the Council,
outlined by our Holy Father as "the growth of the
Catholic Church, the renewal of the spirit of the Cos
pei in the hearts of people everywhere, and the adj
justment of Christian discipline to the ~exigencies Of
modern-day living | ask our teachers priests, re-
ligious and lay - to inspire in their students a lively
interest in this important historic event in the life of
the Church. The acts and decisions of the Council
will touch everyone of us in the practice of our Faith.
ask our priests to preach on the coming Council
at the Masses on the Sunday after Easter, April 29, en-
couraging our people to pray for its success under
Gods blessing.
With cordial good wishes and my blessing, | am
Faithfully yours in Christ,
CLARENCE G. lSSENMANN
pichon nF Ho1urobuc @ +