Liturgical lessons

First, the Eucharist is at the center of Catholic life and faith. Second, the Eucharist is the same, regardless of accidentals and nonessentials in ceremonial. Third, the Eucharist comes only through the visible church. Fourth, God leads the church of the Apostles today as much as he did 19 centuries ago in the days of Peter and Paul. Last, the church is a community of "brothers and sisters in Christ," as the New Testament often describes it, with all members bound to help each other, trusting the Holy Spirit and respecting each other, to find life in Jesus.

Pope Benedict acted as a pastor and a father in his long expected, although not that revolutionary, decision to allow priests to celebrate Mass according to the Tridentine rite, amended 45 years ago by Pope Blessed John XXIII, but originally drawn by Pope St. Pius V more than 400 years ago. In his decision, he was expressly reaching out to Catholics who earnestly feel that liturgical practices after the Second Vatican Council do not enhance their sense of prayerful union with God.

In no way was the pope coercive or reactionary. He forced no priest to do anything beyond reason, only calling priests essentially to love those in the flock with uneasy hearts. He insisted that nothing in his action should be construed to diminish or question the "value and holiness" of Vatican II's liturgical reforms. While he encouraged use of the older rite if it is requested, he restricted its use.

Following this example, if requests for the older rite come, bishops and priests cannot arbitrarily refuse the new rite or offer it grudgingly.

However, it is not just about the hierarchy and clergy. Catholics in the pews must realize that while some find the newer liturgy quite satisfying, others feel very differently. Those preferring the older rite must recognize the fact that those who prefer the newer form are not, therefore, less than good Catholics. All must respect and care for others.

Regardless of intentions, good or bad, serious practical problems await almost every parish in the United States in providing the Tridentine Mass. The number of priests who can read and speak Latin actually is quite small. Few priests know the old rubrics. Granted, the basics are the same in the old and the new, but there are noticeable differences.

Training priests in Latin and in the old rubrics will not be easy, if reasonable at all, given the already very heavy demands on priests, and considering predictions that not that many will want the older rite.

The old sacramental books are as scarce as hen's teeth. Some sanctuaries would need considerable rearranging or even remodeling. Then there is the matter of music. Pope Benedict stressed that the renewed rite should be celebrated with decorum and propriety.

Providing, or denying, Mass in the Tridentine rite will not in itself alone solve all the problems of dwindling Mass attendance and Catholic inaction.

Another issue is the concern that this provision compromises the council's, and Pope John Paul II's, repudiation of anti-Semitism. This concern must be frankly faced through catechetics and dialogue. The church cannot seem to reverse itself or talk out of both sides of its mouth.

The point common to us all right now, be we personally interested in this provision or not, is that we all learn from the positive lessons evident in the pope's action.

Contact

Our Sunday Visitor
http://www.osv.com ,
- ,

Email

Keywords

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »

A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain

Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul

A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell

My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz

Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell

Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online

Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online

Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online

State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online

Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online

2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online

Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online

Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online

Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online

Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online

Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online

Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online

Full Circle
Robert Gieb

Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite

Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony

Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell

World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online

Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA

Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online

A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe

Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly

Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard

The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely

Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow

A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow

Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea

Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard

Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol

Edging God Out
Paul Sposite

Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow

George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online

Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell

Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey

Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite

Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol

Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol

Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online

Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online

Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online

Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online

Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online

Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online

Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »