The new Codex of the General Rubrics of the Roman Breviary and Missal set forth in the decree Novum Rubricarum of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, dated 26th July 1960, and approved by the Motu Proprio Rubricarum Instructum of Pope John XXIII of 25th July 1960, comes into force on 1st January 1961. It marks an important stage in the progress of the general liturgical reform inaugurated by St Pius X and continued by Pope Pius XII and by the present Pope. This codex is of special interest to both the clergy and the laity and it is desirable that the full text, with an English translation, should be available to them.