Modernisation Of Roman Catholic Worship

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30368, 18 February 1964, Page 13

Modernisation Of Roman Catholic Worship

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) ROME, February 17. Twelve changes in liturgy went into effect yesterday for the world’s 550,000,000 Roman Catholics. They are the first of many that eventually will alter the look of Roman Catholicism’s public worship, the Associated Press says.

The changes were approved last December by the Ecumenical Council. They affect mainly ' priests and bishops. Sermons will now be preached, even ait the earliest Sunday masses in' local parishes.

Until now sermons in most parish churches were confined to the mid-morning and late-morning masses. . One preacher said: “We leave centuries-old traditions, not abruptly but surely.” In future, brides and bridegrooms will follow a differ-: ent pattern of marriage ritual. Sermons will be delivered at their ceremonies and the actual marriage rite will come during nuptial mass instead of before it. Major departures from long tradition such. as replacing Latin with modem languages

in the Mass and Sacraments have still to be worked out by national and regional bishops’ conferences.

Disarmament Methods

(N .Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) GENEVA, February 17. The World Council of Churches today advocated that Governments should get together and sponsor joint disarmament plans rather than put forward unilateral schemes. “Governments tend to maintain that a plan is acceptable only if proposed by their representatives,” a statement said. “This must give way to a readiness to appraise plans on merit and to a procedure of meaningful negotiation whereby jointly - sponsored propositions may be put forward.”