Sunday 1 December 1963
Msgr. Baudoux (one of the Canadian bishops who was at lunch at noon) was saying that a concelebration of twenty bishops with the Pope had been planned for Wednesday: the first implementation of the Constitution on the Liturgy which is due to be promulgated that same day. A ritual had been worked out. But it all fell through. For what reasons, or because of what interventions?
Rome, 30 January 1964
The Pope’s motu proprio on the liturgy was discussed. This document virtually takes away from the Council what the Council had decided. It lays down that texts for use in the vernacular must first be submitted to the Holy See, and approved by it. This is the very negation of the worth of the Council, and it seems to me that if it does not react, that will be the result: it will abdicate. The Curia wants to take back what the Council has decided. This is the first instance of this. There must be a reaction TO THIS, or else one might as well give up in advance gaining anything over the existing Roman system! Msgr. Medina detects the hand of Msgr. Dante in the motu proprio.
Yves Congar, My Journal of the Council, pp. 458, 474. For previous posts in this series, simply enter “Congar” in the search box in the upper right. The 1100-page book can be purchased from Liturgical Press.
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