What was in the news on May 22, 1964?

English in the Mass is on the way, and Pope Paul VI creates secretariat for non-Christians

By Brandon A. Evans

This week, we continue to examine what was going on in the Church and the world 50 years ago as seen through the pages of The Criterion.

Here are some of the items found in the May 22, 1964, issue of The Criterion:

• Pope creates secretariat for non-Christians
  • “VATICAN CITY—Pope Paul VI chose the feast of Pentecost to announce to the world that he has decided to set up a secretariat for non-Christians somewhat similar to that established by Pope John XXIII to deal with relations between Roman Catholics and other Christians. … In the course of his address, the pope defined true catholicity as transcending all differences, so that ‘every nationalism is merged in the good of the world community, every form of racism is condemned, every form of totalitarianism is revealed in its inhumanity.’ ”
• U.S. bishops: Decree extensive use of English in the Mass
  • “NEW YORK—The bishops of the United States have decreed the extensive use of English in the Mass in order to promote the Church’s avowed goal of leading all the people to ‘that full, conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebration which … is their right and duty.’ English is expected to come into use throughout the country at a date to be established by the episcopate, presumably before the end of the year. … The American bishops’ decrees provide that English may replace Latin for the lessons of the Mass—the Epistle and Gospel and the other readings which sometimes precede the Epistle—and that they are to be proclaimed facing the people instead of the altar. ”
• African archbishop to visit Indianapolis
• Controversy rages: Should women be ordained?
• ‘God has been good’: Little Sisters find joy in caring for the aged
• Pope lauds interest in the missions
• First Negro enters Chicago area KC

(Read all of these stories from our May 22, 1964, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †