Sir, - The recent decision of the Hierarchy - with Vatican approval - to celebrate the feasts of Ascension Thursday and Corpus Christi on the Sunday following the traditional Thursday celebration, is in no way an abolition of these feasts, as certain press reports would suggest.
In the wake of Vatican II, several mainland European countries, to mention but these have made similar pastoral modifications, eg Saturday evening anticipation of the Sunday Eucharist, rather than see families deprive themselves of Mass in order to take some rest in the country at the weekend. Again, given the less regular Church attendance today, it could be an added burden on the more conscientious person who must work all day and fulfil a Church obligation, to use that legalistic word.
The concern of the bishops is that Catholics, i.e. their flock, will not be prevented from celebrating important Mysteries of their faith. - Yours, etc.,
Griffith Avenue,
Dublin 9.