Response of Charles Heerey, Archbishop of Onitsha, Nigeria, to Vatican II’s Antepreparatory Commission

1. Ut definiatur doctrina de B. M. V. Mediatrice Omnium Gratiarum.

2. Ut aliquid positivum de charactere sacramentali et de sacerdotio fidelium definiatur, ad praebendum fundamentum solidum spirituale apostolatui laicorum.

3. Ut definiatur doctrina Ecclesiae de salute hominum extra Ecclesiam, quoniam apud fratres separatos mens Ecclesiae in hac re male intelligitur.

4. Ut Opus Pontificale internationale fundetur ad assistendos ministros acatholicos qui volunt redire ad unitatem Ecclesiae. 

5. Ut Christifideles qui pro fide persequuntur quotidie in Sacra Missa recordentur, sive per modum commemorationis pro re gravi, sive per extensionem precum pro Russia in fine Missae ad alias nationes quae hodie in magno periculo fidei versantur. Ut haec intentio annuntietur in unaquaque Missa, ne fideles tam magnam necessitatem fratrum suorum obliviscantur.

6. Ut lingua latina retineatur in Missis de ritu Latino (cf. n. 7 et 11).

7. Ut permittatur lectio Epistolae et Evangelii in lingua vernacula ab alio dum sacerdos ea in Missa legit.

8. Ut Festa quae in Breviario Romano partim Ordinaria partim Festiva sunt fiant sive simpliciter Ordinaria sive simpliciter Festiva.

9. Ubi numerus baptizandorum excedit certum limitem, puta viginti, ut preces omnes, sola forma essentiali excepta, recitari in plurali permittatur. (In locis missionum aliquando numerus excedit centum).

10. Ut clarius exponatur relatio inter superiores ecclesiasticos et superiores religiosos in locis missionum ubi missionarii religiosi laborant.

11. Ut partes Missae doctrinales reapse fiant denuo ministerium verbi, immediate nempe promulgando S. Scripturae lectiones in lingua vernacula et quidem a competenti ministro versa facie ad populum a loco ad hoc destinato (e cancello seu ambone).

12. Ut reducantur et simplificentur vestimenta pontificalia ad congruendum cum conditionibus in regionibus tropicalibus.

13. Ut forma usualis in distributione S. Communionis mutetur in aliam breviorem.

14. Ut veneratio manus Episcopi S. Communionem distribuentis supprimatur.

15. Ut Sacramentum Extremae Unctionis administretur lingua vernacula, et ut compleatur Benedictione Papali, quae sine ulla iteratione quarumcumque orationum Extremae Unctionis administrationi finem imponat.

16. Ut Sacramentum Matrimonii arctius cum Eucharistiae Sacrificio connectatur et Missae ritui integretur, e. g. post lectam epistolam. Ut benedictio nuptiarum revideatur et transferatur in finem canonis.

17. Ut sacramentalia omnia prouti sunt benedictiones ad utilitatem fidelium vel catechumenorum destinatae, lingua vernacula fiant. Ut Ordinariis locorum detur opportunitas respectu habito ad necessitates et consuetudines suorum fidelium, redigendi benedictionum formulas, quae S. Sedi comprobandi gratia submittantur. 

Forsitan alia vota et consilia sequentur.

+ CAROLUS HEEREY
Archiepiscopus Onitshaensis

1. That the doctrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mediatrix of All Graces be defined.

2.   That something positive on the sacramental character and on the priesthood of the faithful be defined, to provide a solid spiritual foundation for the apostolate of the laity.

3.  That the teaching of the Church on the salvation of people outside the Church be defined since the mind of the Church in this matter is scarcely understood by the separated brethren.

4.  That an International Pontifical Work be established to assist non-Catholic ministers who want to return to the unity of the Church.

5.     That Christians who are persecuted for the faith be remembered daily in the Holy Mass, whether by way of commemoration for a grave issue or through the extension of prayers for Russia at the end of the Mass to other nations that today are in great danger of the faith. That this intention be announced in every Mass, lest the faithful forget the so great necessity of their brothers.

6.     That Latin be retained in the Masses of the Latin rite (cf. no. 7 and 11).

7.  That the reading of the epistle and the Gospel in the vernacular by another person during the time when the priest reads them in the Mass, be permitted.

8.   That Feasts which are partly Ordinary and partly Festive in the Roman Breviary be made either simply Ordinary or simply Festive.

9. Whenever the number of those to be baptized exceeds a certain limit, say twenty, that it be permitted to recite all prayers in the plural, except only the essential form. (In places of missions, sometimes the number exceeds one hundred).

10. That the relationship between ecclesiastical superiors and religious superiors in mission places where religious missionaries work be clearly explained.

11. That the doctrinal parts of the Mass really become once again the ministry of the word, namely by immediately proclaiming the readings of Sacred Scripture in the vernacular and indeed by a competent minister, facing the people from the place designated for this purpose (from the chancel or the ambo).

12.  That pontifical vestments be reduced and simplified to suit the conditions in tropical regions.

13.  That the usual form in the distribution of the Holy Communion be changed to another shorter form.

14. That the veneration of the hand of the bishop distributing the Holy Communion be suppressed.

15. That the Sacrament of Extreme Unction be administered in the vernacular, and that it be completed with the Papal Blessing, which without any repetition of any prayers puts an end to the administration of Extreme Unction.

16.  That the Sacrament of Marriage be more closely linked to the Eucharistic Sacrifice and be integrated into the rite of Mass, e. g. after reading the epistle. That the nuptial blessing be revised and transferred to the end of the canon.

17.  That all sacramental blessings, as they are intended for the benefit of the faithful or catechumens, be done in the vernacular. That the opportunity be given to local Ordinaries, taking the needs and customs of their faithful into consideration, of drafting the formulas of blessings which should be submitted to the Holy See for approval.

Other wishes and suggestions will probably follow.

+ CHARLES HEEREY
Archbishop of Onitsha