English bishops may transfer Ascension, Epiphany back to traditional days
May 20, 2011
The bishops of England and Wales will decide at their November meeting whether to reverse a 2006 decision and transfer the celebration of the Epiphany and the Ascension from Sunday back to their traditional days. If the transfer is approved, January 6 and Ascension Thursday will again become holy days of obligation.
“The Epiphany and the Ascension are still part of the rhythm of many people’s lives in this country, and so we are weighing up how we stand,” said Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster. “Bishops have gone away [from their May meeting] ready to listen to their priests and their people as to what is to be best gained, either by marking those two days in the rhythm of the calendar or with the advantages of an easier and fuller liturgical celebration of them on a Sunday,”
At their May meeting, the English and Welsh bishops restored the discipline of mandatory abstinence from meat on Fridays.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Bishops consider reinstating some Holy Days (Catholic Herald)
- English bishops reestablish meatless Fridays (CWN, 5/16)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: hartwood01 -
May. 23, 2011 6:26 PM ET USA
Don't do that in the USA. We'd HAVE to go to Mass two more days!
-
Posted by: -
May. 20, 2011 5:54 PM ET USA
I have always resented the "drive-by" liturgists who deprived the church of those splendid celebrations as holy days of obligation and on their proper day. They took shots, left us wounded (some dead), and went on their anonymous and doubtlessly unrepentant way.
-
Posted by: samuel.doucette1787 -
May. 20, 2011 1:48 PM ET USA
Wow, this is a two-fer: 1) traditional Epiphany and Ascension and 2) mandatory meatless Fridays. Can we do this here in the USA?
