APPENDIX A
DECLARATION OF THE SECOND ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF THE VATICAN ON REVISION OF THE
CALENDAR
The
Second Ecumenical Sacred Council of the Vatican, recognizing the importance of
the wishes expressed by many concerning the assignment of the feast of Easter
to a fixed Sunday and concerning an unchanging calendar, having carefully
considered the effects which could result from the introduction of a new
calendar, declares as follows:
The Sacred
Council would not object if the feast of Easter were assigned to a
particular Sunday of the Gregorian Calendar, provided that those whom it
may concern, especially the brethren who are not in communion with the
Apostolic See, give their assent.
The sacred
Council likewise declares that it does not oppose efforts designed to
introduce a perpetual calendar into civil society.
But among
the various systems which are being suggested to stabilize a perpetual calendar
and to introduce it into civil life, the Church has no objection only in the
case of those systems which retain and safeguard a seven-day week with Sunday,
without the introduction of any days outside the week, so that the succession
of weeks may be left intact, unless there is question of the most serious
reasons. Concerning these the Apostolic See shall judge.
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