Sir, - What a pity that the Catholic Hierarchy should unilaterally seek to dismantle some of the principal ingredients of the Christian year by moving some of its great days to the nearest Sunday, where their distinctive character will quickly be forgotten.
The Ascension marks the close of the Easter season and has been kept on the 40th day after Easter "Sunday since the fourth century. The Epiphany is as old and commemorates the decision to extend membership of the infant Church to the gentile world, without which none of us would be Christians today.
The virtual abandonment of the season of Lent by the Roman Church has seriously undermined our traditional observance of Lent, which is by weekday Lenten services and study groups. This further abandonment of the riches of Christian tradition will make it more difficult for all of us to teach the rudiments of Christian belief and practice to our people. - Yours, etc.,
Provost of Tuam,
The Rectory, Taylor's Hill, Galway.