InfoVaticana on the lost octave of Pentecost: the dates are right
InfoVaticana contrasts John XXIII’s hope for a “new Pentecost” with the 1969 calendar that ended the octave of Pentecost. The 1962 quotation and the 1955 and 1969 changes are accurate; what they mean is the outlet’s argument.
By TradWatch™ staff
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Verdicts at a glance
In this brief · 7 sections
On 19 October 2026 InfoVaticana argued that the liturgical reform that followed a Council hailed as a “new Pentecost” removed the octave of Pentecost from the calendar, in reply to a column by Thomas Reese, SJ. TradWatch™ looks at the quotation and the dates the argument rests on.
What was said
Statement 1: InfoVaticana
InfoVaticana · October 19, 2026
El 8 de diciembre de 1962, al clausurar el primer periodo de sesiones del Vaticano II , Juan XXIII expresó su esperanza de que el Concilio fuese «verdaderamente la “Nueva Pentecostés”»
In brief: Closing the Council’s first session on 8 December 1962, John XXIII hoped it would be “truly the new Pentecost”.
Our verdict: AccurateThe record supports the claim as stated.
See the recordThis content is embedded for purposes of commentary, criticism, and news reporting. TradWatch is not affiliated with InfoVaticana. Views quoted are those of the speaker.
Statement 2: InfoVaticana
InfoVaticana · October 19, 2026
Con el nuevo calendario romano de 1969, la semana posterior a Pentecostés dejó de ser octava.
In brief: The 1969 Roman calendar ended the octave of Pentecost; a 1955 decree had already cut the octaves to Christmas, Easter and Pentecost.
Our verdict: AccurateThe record supports the claim as stated.
See the recordThis content is embedded for purposes of commentary, criticism, and news reporting. TradWatch is not affiliated with InfoVaticana. Views quoted are those of the speaker.
Context
The piece also quotes Fr Reese and a video reply to him; those are views about the old Mass and are not rated here.
The record
What the sources show, statement by statement.
Verifiable factcan be checked against the sources cited.TradWatch analysisis our interpretation, clearly labelled.Statement 1 · InfoVaticana
Closing the Council’s first session on 8 December 1962, John XXIII hoped it would be “truly the new Pentecost”.
Verifiable fact In the Pope’s address
John XXIII’s closing address of 8 December 1962 says the Council “will be truly the new Pentecost” (Spanish text: «Será verdaderamente la “Nueva Pentecostés”»), bringing the Church’s inner riches to flower (vatican.va).
Source
- 2
Official Church source
Address of John XXIII at the close of the first session of the Second Vatican Council
Holy See (vatican.va) · December 8, 1962
- 2
Statement 2 · InfoVaticana
The 1969 Roman calendar ended the octave of Pentecost; a 1955 decree had already cut the octaves to Christmas, Easter and Pentecost.
Verifiable fact Two steps: 1955 and 1969
A decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites dated 23 March 1955 (Cum nostra hac aetate) kept only the octaves of Christmas, Easter and Pentecost; the 1969 revision of the calendar then removed the octave of Pentecost, leaving Christmas and Easter (Wikipedia; OnePeterFive).
Sources
TradWatch analysis A fair contrast, not a full account
The dates are right. Whether dropping the octave shows less attention to the Holy Spirit is the outlet’s argument; the present calendar keeps Pentecost as a solemnity closing Easter Time, a choice the reform made to tie the feast to the fifty days of Easter rather than to a separate week.
Source
Bottom line
The facts hold: John XXIII hoped for a “new Pentecost” in 1962, a 1955 decree cut the octaves to three, and the 1969 calendar ended the octave of Pentecost. The reading of those changes is the outlet’s.
The original
Sources
- 1.
- 2.Official Church sourceCited in statement 1
Address of John XXIII at the close of the first session of the Second Vatican Council
Holy See (vatican.va) · December 8, 1962
vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/speeches/1962/documents/hf_j-xxiii_spe_1962120…
- 3.
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