June 19, 2015

What was in the news on June 18, 1965?

Questions on where the ideal placement of the altar is, and Irish Presbyterians ask for forgiveness

Criterion logo from the 1960sBy 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 June 18, 1965, issue of The Criterion:
 

  • Last of council’s revised texts are sent to bishops
  • Corpus Christi rallies slated
  • Archbishop Cody named to Chicago
  • ‘Brass-tacks discussion’: Lutheran-Catholic talks start July 6
  • Archbishop receives letter from pontiff
  • Our Lady of Snows is popular shrine
  • Mindszenty given gift from pontiff
  • Ecumenical strength seen in hospitals
  • Explains ‘ideal’ position for altar
    • “VATICAN CITY—The spirit of the Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Liturgy demands that in building or renovating churches, the main altar be placed at the focal point of the attention of the congregation, but not necessarily in the geographic center. … Asked whether the altar should be placed at the very center of the church, the [postconciliar Commission for Implementing the Constitution on the Liturgy] stated that its liturgical instruction of last September ‘does not speak of the mathematical center of the church’ as the only place for the altar. Rather, it said, the altar should be at the so-called ‘ideal center, central in the sense that attention of the whole congregation of the faithful is spontaneously turned to the altar.’ In another connection, the commission expressed agreement with the statement that ‘the best place for the seat of the celebrant and the ministers is behind the altar, in the apse; lest the altar hide the celebrant and ministers, the seat should be elevated, at least by three steps, so that the people can see them and it will appear that the celebrant truly presides.’ At the same time, if the tabernacle is in the apse, the ‘presidential seat’ of the celebrant may be placed ‘at the side of the altar and somewhat elevated.’ ”
  • Family life bureau operated by laymen
  • Investiture, profession set at Lady of Grace
  • St. Joan of Arc captures Cadet baseball crown
  • ‘Diverse voices’: God can speak through laity, liturgist reminds graduates
  • Says man won’t stay on moon
  • Women seen facing leadership ‘vacuum’
  • Cardinal Ritter given legal fee in civil rights case
  • Presbyterians ask forgiveness
    • “BELFAST, Northern Ireland—The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has urged its members to ask forgiveness for any actions toward their Catholic fellow-countrymen which were unworthy of followers of Christ. The assembly passed a resolution which called on Presbyterians to resolve to deal with conflicts of beliefs and loyalties in the spirit of charity rather than of suspicion and intolerance, in accord with the truth as set forth in the Scriptures.”

(Read all of these stories from our June 18, 1965, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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