ROME USO visitors included Miami seminarian, John Block,Very Rev. Francis Connell, C. SS.R., noted theologian; Msgr.James J. Walsh, The Voice correspondent to the EcumenicalVoice PhotoCouncil; Father John E. Young, CM., rector, St. John VianneyMinor Seminary; Father Ambrose De Paoli and FatherRonald Pusak, both priests of the Diocese of Miami.VARIETY OP SUBJECTS FACING CHURCH FATHERS EXPLAINEDLaity Will Be A Main Topic Of The .-CouncilThe author of the followingarticle has served as•executive director of theNational Council, of CatholicMen since 1950 and is amember of the board of directorsof the PermanentCommittee for the InternationalCongresses of theLay Apstolate.By'MARTIN H. WORKNCWC New* ServiceThe- assembly - of churchmennow deliberating in St. Peter'sbasilica in R'ome is the first ofthe 21 ecumenical councils toconsider the lay apostolate asa separate matter.How will the Fathers of the, council approach the subject?What are "some of the problemsthey face? What are theexpectations of the laity? Whatactions might the council takein this regard?These are, some of the basicquestions being asked these daysin Rome and around the world.. Two and a-half years ago,when Pope John XXIII announcedthe ; formation of the 10 pre- •paratory commissions for theSecond Vatican Council, he ,made^me of them the Commissionon the Lay Apostolate. Heappointed a veteran Vatican diplomat,Fernando Cardinal Cen- .to, as chairman. To assist him,the Pope named distinguishedconsultors who were pioneers in- various spheres of apostolic activityin countries around the. All were bishops andINITIAL DIFFICULTYThat no laymen: were appointedwas initially a source of disappointmentfor many who werefollowing closely the preparationsfor the council. But the'experience and dedication thesemen brought to the commissionwere such as quickly to allaythis initial reaction. -Cardinal Cento began thework of his commission by notingthat there was no historicalprecedent to guide thebody. This uniqueness presentedan initial difficulty.-But the commission met regularlyand hammered out itsproposals for the; Fathers ofthe council. No one other thanthe bishops and the-consultors,and some to whom the matters,have been referred under'the oath of secrecy, know thepresentation's exact contents..But interested observers pandraw some conclusions bothfrom what has been published inthis regard and also from-therecord of the lay apostolate itself.SOCIAL ACTIONFor example, the PreparatoryCommission of the Lay Apostolatedivided itself into threesubcommittees: one devoted tothe general notions of the layapostolate, one to .social actionconcepts ; and the third to thefield of organized charity. •Under • "general notions"" comes consideration of the natureof the lay apostolate, itsstructure .and terminology.Under "serial action" comesuch' matters as those withwhich the encyclical Mater etMagistra concerned itself.The field of charity relates to" the works of mercy which areto engage the attention of thelaity.How free is the "free lay^apostolate?" How strictly dependentis "Catholie-A'ction" onthe teaching authority of theChurch? Will the council reinforcethe concept of a tightlyorganized Catholic Action withlimited freedom and scope ofactivity? Or will if accent theimportance of the apostolate ofindividuals in the complexity ofmodern life?Is it in need of reform? PopePius XII apparently thought so.In his address at the time ofthe 1957 Second World Congressof Hie Lay Apostolate, he indicatedthat there wars considerableconfusion in the minds ofmany.Cardinal Cento in a recentinterview assured his radioaudience that the councilwould not lay down a fixedorganizational structure forthe laity of the world. "Varietyamidst unity" would bethe direction of the councildiscussions, he said.Those engaged in the workof international Catholic organizationswill be looking forg u i d a n c egfrom the council.There are now some 35 internationalCatholic organizationsgrouped, together in a singleConference of InternationalCatholic Organizations. -ROLE OF WOMENWomen engaged in the layapostolate are deeply concernedabout the role of women notonly in the apostolate but in theChurch itself, Do Church policiessatisfactorily reflect the20th-century demand for "equal;.rights — equal opportunities"?Will the council take cognizanceol the. growing influence of educated^dedicated women and •their potential in the mission ofthe Church?The question of the marrieddiaconate has been much discussedin recent years. Thecouncil may .consider this'question for it would seem tohold some promise particularlyfor the mission countries.On the other hand, only six 'years ago Pius XII felt, sucha move would be premature.•In the United States therewould not appear to be as muchinterest in this kind of questionas in matters related to religiousfreedom, the liturgy, andthe relationship of Church andState; the role of "freedom ofspeech" within the Church andmany others of equally fundamentalimportance.INTIMATELY RELATEDThe lay apostolate cannot beseparated from the apostolateof the priest. They are intimatelyrelated but distinct. Thecouncil may well feel the. needto clarify the role of the priestin relation to the lay apostolate.Does he best serve as chaplain,moderator or director? What ishis function as a pastor to "layapostles*' in his parish?It would seem reasonableto conclude that the councilinsofar as the laity is concernedwill do little detailed legislatingand will devote itselfto, the creative synthesizing ofpapal teaching of the last 50years. The lay apostolate aswe think of it today has notbeen sufficiently formed inthe universal mind of theChurch to permit a sharpcrystallization at this time.Perhaps this is just as well,- because experience may teachus many things in the yearsahead that we-are not aware ofat this moment and it mightbe unwise to "freeze" the movementat its present stage ofdevelopment.If the council declares themind of the Church officiallyon the matter of the layman'srole in society and in. theChurch, points the direction inwhich progress should take-us,and urges us, as member's ofChrist's Mystical Body, to beliving members, and renews theinner life of the Church so thatthe channels of grace flow witheven greater freedom and directness,these things alone willbe enough to carry us forwardin the mission of the Churchuntil the next ecumenical council.. • •BY VATICANGoal Already Achieved:Progress Toward UnityBy FR. PLACID JORDAN, O.S.B.^VATICAN CITY (NO — Onemajor objective of the ecumenicalcouncil already seems tohave been achieved: the separatedbrethren have comenear-er to the Church than everbefore.This does not mean thatthey will be united with theHoly See. But they have gainedimportant new perspectiveswhich will helpthem come closer to CatholicChristianity and promotemore intimate contacts betweenall Christian faiths."To us," said an official• council observer of a majorProtestant denomination here,"it is a revelation to find somuch freedom of expression inthe Catholic Church.""We always were under theimpression that 'Rome' was amonolithic structure, with thepope dictating to the bishopsand the bishops just dictatingto the faithful!""Now we can see that wewere mistaken, for the debateswe witness in the greathall of St. Peter certainly areas free and unimpeded as onecould wish." ,"The most divergent viewsare expressed without hesitation.Everybody speaks his•, mind unafraid. This is indeedencouraging."Personal contacts betweencouncil Fathers and non-Catholicobservers also become visiblymore intimate as the latter'sparticipation in the various sessionsdevelops.All the observers and guestsare free to submit questions tothe Secretariat for PromotingChristian Unity headed by AugustinCardinal Bea, S. J. TheseMELKITE Rite Patriarch ofAntioch is Archbishop MaximosIV Saigh, who has calledfor greater attention by theChurch to Eastern Rites.questions, or suggestions, arepassed on to the Presidency ofthe Council or to the chairmenof the various commissions tobe given serious consideration.The observers have accessto the official documents ofthe council and are providedwith any information theymay desire which helps themgain an insight into the workingsof the Church. This providesan insight such as probablyno Protestant or Orthodoxbody ever obtained before.As one observer expressed it:"The road ahead towardChristian unity is long and arduous,but by God's grace the_progress already made is simplyastounding. Now we mustnot relax, but carry on withconfidence and courage."Orthodox Council ObserversFollowed By Soviet 'Shadow'By Fr. Placid Jordan, O.S.B.VATICAN CITY «>JC) — Twobearded men in long blackrobes walk up to the BronzeDoor of St. Peter's basilica.They stand out among the\large crowd of council Fathersabout, to enter. Their tall,black head-dress shows themto be of the Orthodox Church.The taller one wears a pectoralcross. They have a friendlysmile on their faces,-but seemreticent, reserved, aloof.With them is their "shad-;ow," a layman who follows -them up to the entrancewhere only council Fathersare allowed to pass. He withdrawsonce the two priestshave gone inside;' ••• - • - . . * *Hardly has the session cometo a close when'he makes hisappearance again. The two'priests -walk up to, Jiim and hegoes along with them, with agrim face. Never, even for amoment, does he take his eyesoff them. All day long he isthere:- the long arm of Moscow.The two official observersof the Russian OrthodoxChurch at the council areArchpriest Vitali Borovoy, amember of the faculty of tileOrthodox seminary at Leningrad,now delegate of hischurch to the World Councilof Churches, and ArchimandriteVladimir Kotliarov, ;deputy chief of the RussianOrthodox mission in Jerusalem.• ~~ •Both live at a hotel iherwith their "shadow' 1 '- ^ntereother non -Catholic observersof the council also are quarter- ]ed. But they do not mingle'freely. At meal timV they. -nave,their own table. They remainapart from "other observers.When there are official receprtions,- .they attend, but whenthey are over, they .go 'theirown way, with. the' "shadow/always at, their heels.. • . -: vV- The sympathies of almosteverybody is with these twopriests, who converse withthose who don't speak ^Russianin a halting English.Everybody is aware if thedelicacy of their position. ,
NC PhotosMORE DEVOTION to the Blessed Mother was called for by PopeJohn XXIII daring a sermon at St. Augustine's Church in Rome.The church houses the statue of Our Lady of Childbirth, atrear, and the tomb 1 of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine.Pope Chooses Unusual RiteFor 4th Anniversary Mass' VATICAN CITY (NO — Thefourth.year of the reign of PopeJohn XXIIt was marked with aMass in the ancient" Arnbro-' siari Rite, used normally onlyin the ' Archdiocese of Milan,Italy. The Mass was celebrated. in St. Peter's basilica by Gio-''vanni Cardinal Montini, Archbishopof Milan, in the presenceof more than 2,000 bishops.With telegrams and personalmessages of good Wishesflooding into the Vatican fromall over the world, a happybut prayerful Pope took partin the ceremonies commemoratinghis coronation in 1958.^ The Pontiff took advantage ofthe anniversary Mass to pay a•' warm and lengthy tribute to thememory of St. Charles Borromeolone of the greatest figures' of the last sessions of the Councilof Trent (1545-1563 ^"T he, ©^ V coronation anniversary.-fBwbn the date of the feast. of St. Charles, to whom the Pon-. tiff has long had devotion and. about whose works he wrote.five volumes before his election... tojhe papacy.' > Pope John selected the first' cardinal he created to cele-' brate the anniversary Massin a Rite closely related to'' the '. Roman Rite yet whichreflects overtones of the Eas^. ern liturgies. It came when'•'. the Vatican Council was engagedin discussions on theliturgy.The Rite the Pontiff chosetakes its name from Milan'sgreat bishop, St. Ambrose of thefourth century, and is one of themost ancient in the Church.Though similar to the RomanRite it has preserved its integritythrough the centuries andis truly a completely independentRite remaining in the Westoutside the dominant Romanliturgy.Council Highlights Pope's 4th YearVATICAN CITY (NC) — Theopening of the Church's firstecumenical council in more than90 years was the nigh point ofthe fourth year of the reign ofPope John XXIII.Aside from the council, themost significant event of thePope's year was his appealto world leaders to avert war.He took to the radio in lateOctober while U.S. warshipswere encircling Cuba to enforcethe American armsblockade and Soviet merchantmenwere still bound for Cubawith the nuclear weaponsPresident Kennedy had declaredcontraband."Let them do everything intheir power to save peace," thePontiff urged world leaders, "topromote, favor and agree to negotiationsat all levels and atall times is a rule of wisdomand prudence."This was riot the Pope's onlyplea for peace in the year thatpreceded the fourth anniversaryof his coronation (Nov. 4).In his Christmas radio messageto the world he urgedrulers to "shun all thoughtsof force." At Easter, he declared:"Only the concertedstrength of all can dispersethis fear for the preservationof peace where peace pre- ,vails; and where peace falters,only continued attentionto the removal of every periland threat to its foundationscan do it. These foundationsof peace are none other thantruth, justice, real love andgenerous willingness to giveand to give oneself for one's "brothers." , [Another highlight of thePope's year was the canonizationon May 6 of St. Martin dePorres./ The Pope several times showedhis concern for the Churchbehind the Iron Curtain. Hesent a letter to the Primate ofPoland, Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski,on the subject, ando o Off o_o_o ooo ooo o o P.ojtOJ>_g.B.ff-(LftftAS-B-RJt J>JI-g-ftJ>JUU>.J > -JLflA World of KnowledgeUnder One Roof ...The widest selection of the finerpaper backs, hard back booksand magazines usuallynot easily available.S May We Suggest:"Classics•£ Modern NovelsMythologies + Plays Old and NewPoetry Old and New -^ Religious LiteratureDictionaries — English, Spanish, German, Etc.Popular and Best Sellers in Hardback andPaperbacksShakespeare's Plays Vkr Cliff's Notes and OutlinesTERMINAL NEWSTANDSServing Dade County3 International Airport 1 LocationsOpposite Eastern, Notional and Delta Countersand —Coral Gabtes Bus TerminalAirport brands — 24 hours a day — Gables Stand — 6 am to <strong>11</strong>:15 pmEasy Parking All LocationsAAAIL ORDERS HANDLED PROMPTLY'fewhen the Polish bishops arrivedin Rome for the ecumenicalcouncil, they were the first tobe received by him.On the eve of the council,ONE OF 50 NEW MISSALS donated to St.Peter's is examined by Paolo Cardinal Marella,archpriest of the Vatican Bisilica, and Msgr.Luigi Ligutti who suggested replacement of theNovember 9, I$6fcK /f*l£ VOlfcfr Miami/ Florida ' Page 5Pope John journeyed to theshrines of Assisi and Loreto.The latter is almost 300 milesfrom Rome. This was thelongest trip taken by a reigningpontiff since' the time ofPius IX, pope of the FirstVatican Council and the lastpope to rule beyond the confinesof Vatican City.missals in a U.S. newspaper article. The Sistersof Mercy and other American donors contributedto the campaign to replace the missals, someof which were over 40 years old."Like it?So do we!""... and we enjoy having it even more because we savedmoney by financing it through Boulevard NationalBank. Really good terms, and what service they gaveus on our application."Your Dealer will be glad to arrange your purchase.Tell him you want to take advantage of a BoulevardNational Auto Loan. Ifou'll find that service is anadditional "extra" you get at Boulevard—withoutadding,a dollar to the price.oulevarclNAT I ON A L B A N K5000 Biscayne Boulevard—Miami- Utmber Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,Member Federal Reserve System
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