THE_CATHOLIC - November 1963 - Vol. LXXVII, No. 11 - We Stood on Our Heads

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine

November 1963 issue of THE CATHOLIC editorial explores how Catholic laity and clergy defend contentious practices by “standing on their heads,” especially when conscience and intellect resist. It examines debates over the Mass language, arguing that Latin’s defended role often ignored Council arguments for clearer participation through the liturgy. The essay extends the critique to rigid rubrics and uneven priorities in church finance, questioning how parish-centered collections can limit perspective on universal brotherhood and world mission.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages68

Reading Time1 h 45 min

AccessFree to download

ARTICLES

Are Catholic Parishes Too Large?

Thanksgiving—1983

Rock Hill—Where Catholics Were First

Priests and Ministers Agree

When Someone Dies...

They're Chipping the Shell of Retardation

DEPARTMENTS

Editorial

Inside Information: Abroad

Inside Information: The U.S.

Inside Information on Books

Readers Reply

Book Reviews

'd Like to Know

Readers Reply

·Thanksgiving—1983 ·Priests and Ministers Agree ·When Someone Dies... THE_CATHOLICNovember 1963354 Now available in paperback $1.95americancatholicetiquettekay toy fenner The complete guide to the social mannerssurrounding the sacraments,pastor-parish-ioner relationships,interfaith meetings,plusa section on child guidance. "There is a formidable range of informationin these 400 pages.Mrs.Fenner has beenindustrious and precise in locating and collat-ing it.Common sense and good taste seemto be her criteria,and she is an impressiveexemplar of both."Our Sunday Visitor Wherever good books are sold The Newman Press Westminster,Maryland NOVEMBER,1963—VOL.LXXVII,NO.11 # ARTICLES Are Catholic Parishes Too Large?4 William J.Whalen Thanksgiving—198311 William Charles Korfmacher Rock Hill-Where Catholics Were First 16 William L.Gibb Priests and Ministers Agree 28 Father N.Robert Quirin When Someone Dies...37 Owenita Sanderlin They're Chipping the Shell of Retardation46 P.D.Ungerer # DEPARTMENTS Editorial 2 Joseph A.Kneeland Inside Information:Abroad 24 Inside Information:The U.S.42 Inside Information on Books 53 Virginia Kendall 55 Mary P.Brody # Book Reviews 'd Like to Know61 Readers Reply 63 Credits:Pages 4-5,Religious News Service;pages 17,18,21,Brother Francis of the Oratory of St.Philip Neri;pages 28-29,Virginia Warren;page 37,H.Armstrong Roberts. THE PAULIST FATHERS publishers JOSEPH A.KNEELAND editor assistant editor DORIS BALDWIN ALVIN A.ILLIG,C.S.P. executive manager THOMAS E.COMBER,C.S.P. assistant executive manager EDWIN R.LAMPE business manager J.RUSSELL layaut and design EDITORIAL and BUSINESS OFFICE:Glen Rock,N.J.,dial 201-0L2-4600 CHANGE OF ADDRESS:Notify your postmaster and THE CATHOLIC LAYMAN,Glen Rock,N.J.,30days before change is to take place.Include both old and new address,and mailing label fromrecent issue. THE CATHOLIC LAYMAN,published monthly;copyright,1963,by The Missionary Society of St.Paul the Apostle in the State of New York.Second class postage paid at Glen Rock,N.J.,andat additional mailing ffice.Rates U.S.and_Canada 1 year,$4.00;2 years,$7.00;3 years,$10.00;35c a copy;add $1.00 per year for Foreign. # WE STOOD ON OUR HEADS For a long,long time,the Catholic laity(and many bishops and priests,too)havefiguratively“stood on their heads”to justifyand defend aspects of Catholic thought andpractice which,in many cases,they couldnot subscribe to in their hearts.They tookthis position,no doubt,out of loyalty andobedience to Mother Church and the HolySee,since intellectual non-conformity wouldseem to question the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and the vicar of Christ.But in the light of recent events,stemming mainly from the holy freedom encouraged by PopeJohn and exercised by the shepherds of the laity at the VaticanCouncil,absence of intellectual assent no longer is equatednecessarily with non-loyalty to the Church. Take,for example,the matter of the language of the Mass.Ever since Protestant reformers in the 16th century insistedon use of the common language of the people in worship,Catholics have just as resolutely defended the superiority ofLatin in the celebration of Mass.Catholics argued that Latinwas precise and unchangeable in its meaning,that time hadhallowed it as a sacred language,that it is a symbol of unity,a safeguard of the Faith. Totally ignored in marshalling this array of defenses werethe reasonable and compelling arguments to the contrary.At the Council hundreds of missionary bishops as well as manyother Council Fathers agreed that the laity were being robbedof a deeper understanding of and participation in the Liturgyand that the spread of Catholicism was being hampered seriouslyby an artificial language barrier.But,up to now,Catholics ofthis persuasion generally felt obliged to defend a practice withwhich their minds and hearts could not agree. Likewise,the almost universal desire of the hierarchy,

FAQs

What is the central idea of “We Stood on Our Heads” in the November 1963 issue?

It argues that Catholics, including laity and clergy, have often defended Catholic thought and practices they could not genuinely accept in their hearts, using loyalty and obedience as justification.

How does the article connect the Mass language debate to broader participation in the liturgy?

It contrasts defenses of Latin with arguments from the Council that lay people were being deprived of deeper understanding and participation due to an artificial language barrier.

What financial practice does the editorial criticize regarding collections and missions?

It criticizes the emphasis on frequent parish and diocesan collections compared with a once-a-year second collection for the Propagation of the Faith, arguing it limits a wider perspective on the Church’s world mission.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine