Response of Eugene McCOY (Apostolic Prefect of Oyo, Nigeria) to Vatican II’s Antepreparatory Commission

Eminentissime Domine,

Pergratum mihi respondere epistolae Tuae (N. 1 C/59-1975) diei 18 iunii 1959, quae mihi communicat desiderium Commissionis Antepraeparatoriae cognoscendi opiniones vel sententiae Praelatorum, quae in futuro Concilio tractari potuerunt.

Gratias agimus quod multae innovationes relate ad disciplinam ieiunii Eucharistici, celebrationem Sacrae Liturgiae, et recitationem Officii Divini iam instituuntur. Interrogavi caute viros ecclesiasticos peritos et prudentes ad opiniones eorum cognoscendas sed non possunt aliquid maioris momenti proponere praeter desiderium magnum faciendi omnia possibilia ut fratres separati reconcilientur. Paucas opiniones sequentes minoris momenti, forsan, proponemus cum deferentia pro Tua consideratione.

1. Quoad praeceptum ieiunii et abstinentiae.

Hoc praeceptum, in praxi, non amplius observatur propter circumstantias, dispensationes, vel alias rationes. Non multi manent qui hanc legem observant. Si preces determinatae, e.g., rosarium, litaniae, exercitium viae crucis substituentur ieiunio, complures, forsan, preces recitabunt quam nunc ieiunium observant.

2. Quoad linguam vernaculam in Sacra Liturgia.

Quamquam multae concessiones iam permissae sint pro universa Ecclesia, concessiones ampliores per indulta in casibus particularibus saepe obtinentur. Hoc confusionem in mente fidelium seminare potest. Si concessio in principio latissima fuisset, necessitas indultum postulandi diminueretur. Hoc, nullo dubio, difficile erit sed olim lingua latina in usu ubique fuit. Hodie lingua vernacula magis utitur in uno loco quam in alio. Si uniformitas possibilis esset, bonum fuerit.

3. Quoad Officium Divinum.

Complures inter cleros disputant circa possibilitatem reducendi omnia festa ad ritum simplicem. Postulant ut officium diurnum sit simplex et officium Dominicae vel festorum maiorum sit ut in Dominica Paschatis.

Hae opiniones, Eminentissime Domine, ego submitto pro consideratione Tua, si dignae alicuius momenti sint.

Reverentiam ex corde profiteor Eminentiae Tuae et preces pro Commissionis munere promitto.


EUGENIUS McCOY
Praefectus Ap. Oyoënsis

Most Eminent Lord,

I am very delighted to respond to Your letter (N. 1 C/59-1975) of 18 June 1959, which communicates to me the desire of the Antepreparatory Commission to know the opinions or thoughts of the prelates, which could be discussed in the upcoming Council.

We are grateful that many innovations related to the discipline of the Eucharistic fast, the celebration of the sacred liturgy, and the recitation of the Divine Office are already made. I cautiously consulted knowledgeable and prudent ecclesiastical men to ascertain their opinions, but they are not able to propose anything of major importance apart from the great desire of doing everything possible in order that the separated brothers may be reconciled. We will perhaps propose the following few opinions of lesser importance with deference for Your consideration.

1. Regarding the precepts of fasting and abstinence.

In practice, this precept is no longer observed due to circumstances, dispensations, or other reasons. There remain not many people who observe this law. If designated prayers, e.g., the rosary, litanies, the exercise of the way of the cross are substituted for fasting, many, perhaps, will recite the prayers than they now observe fasting.

2. Regarding the vernacular in the Sacred Liturgy

Although many concessions have already been given for the universal Church, further concessions are often obtained through indults in particular cases. This can sow confusion in the minds of the faithful. If the concession had been very extensive in the beginning, the necessity of requesting an indult would be diminished. This, no doubt, will be difficult, but in the past Latin was in use everywhere. Today, the vernacular is used more in one place than in another. If uniformity were possible, it would be good.

3.  Regarding the Divine Office.

Many among the clergy discuss about the possibility of reducing all feasts to a simple rite. They ask that the daily office be simple and, that the office of Sunday or of major feasts be as on Easter Sunday.


These opinions, Most Eminent Lord, I submit for Your consideration, if they are worthy of any significance.

I heartily profess my reverence to Your Eminence and promise prayers for the task of the Commission.

EUGENE McCOY
Apostolic Prefect of  Oyo