Pray Tell is running a series on the liturgical history of Collegeville. The sub-series “From the Archives” reprints some of the Liturgy Committee meeting minutes from 1963 to 1969. This sub-series is a behind-the-scenes look at liturgy in Collegeville during and immediately after the Second Vatican Council.
The next record from the Liturgy Committee:
Joint Meeting of the Liturgy and Opus Dei Committees Together With Other Members of the Community
Jan. 20, 1964
Present were Fathers John, Daniel, Godfrey, Emeric, Bertram, Vitus, Michael, Benedict, Gerard, Aelred, Ronald, Camillus, Hilary, Urban, Wenceslaus, Leon, Fraters Philip, Adam, Sylvester (C), Thomas (B), Brothers Gerard and Matthew.
Three basic questions were discussed at this meeting.
The first question was whether or not we would want to recite the Office in English when possible. The vote was unanimously in favor of English recitation.
The second question was when we should begin reciting the Office in English. The answer was that we should make no attempt to recite the Office in the vernacular until after the diocesan priests have begun vernacular recitation and it would seem a prudent time for us to follow suit.
The third question was what text should be used for vernacular recitation. Fathers John and Aelred pointed out that we would have a substantially approved text if we had the Confraternity edition of the Psalms plus hymns, responsories, versicles and antiphons taken from an approved text of the Roman breviary or some other approved text (such as the monastic diurnal, when the respective monastic hymn, etc. was not to be found in the Roman breviary).
Fathers Emeric, Benedict, Ronald, and Wenceslaus suggested using the Roman breviary. Father Hilary recommended that it be used provisionally at least, so that the prefects, confreres in parishes and missions, and others not present at the choir recitation of Office would have a text.
Father Godfrey said that a legal question was involved here, namely changing Rites.
Father Michael thought that we should ask competent people two questions: the legal justification for vernacular recitation and for changing Rites.
The majority of the people present suggested that we ask the competent people whether or not we could change to the Roman Rite.
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