Vatican website translation:
65. In mission lands it is found that some of the peoples already make use of initiation rites. Elements from these, when capable of being adapted to Christian ritual, may be admitted along with those already found in Christian tradition, according to the norm laid down in Art. 37-40, of this Constitution.
Latin text:
65. In terris Missionum, praeter ea quae in traditione christiana habentur, illa etiam elementa initiationis admitti liceat, quae apud unumquemque populum in usu esse reperiuntur, quatenus ritui christiano accommodari possunt, ad normam art. 37-40 huius Constitutionis.
Slavishly literal translation:
65. In lands of the Missions, in addition to those things which are held in the Christian tradition, it may be licit to admit also those elements of initiation that are to be met with in use among a certain people to the extent that they can be accommodated to the Christian rite, according to the norm of articles 37-40 of this Constitution.
The Council Fathers had already declared themselves open to the possibility of cultural adaptation of the reformed rites in articles 37-40. Article 65 gives a concrete instance of such inculturation by which aspects of initiatory rites in a given culture might be incorporated into the rites of Christian Initiation. Both “top down” inculturation, by which a territorial bishops’ conference might adapt the editio typica of the reformed liturgical book for use in the dioceses of their territory, and “bottom up” inculturation, by which a particular bishop or group of bishops might propose local initiatives to be confirmed by the Apostolic See for use in the territory are foreseen.
Pray Tell readers might share with each other examples of the inculturation of initiation rites appearing in the cultures in which they ministers, how well this inculturation has taken root, and what further forms of initiatory inculturation might still need to be considered.
Please leave a reply.