[sinkspur]

I struggle with wondering somehow, if things like this are silly and not worth the time spent wondering or reading or writing about them,

You should stop wondering. Things like this are silly. Common sense should prevail, and usually does.

[american colleen]

Common sense should prevail, and usually does.

Depends on where you are.

[ninenot]

Really silly?

It's not hard to take the logic train on this one, Sink.

The acoutrements of a Catholic church are there because the Church recognizes that man is both body and soul. Were man a pure spirit, there would be no need for art, gold, pipe organs--

But since man is also bodily, the significance of these items is quite important. That's why the Church has specifically mandated retaining these items and utilizing them (e.g., Gregorian Chant.)

This re-inforces the necessary concepts of "sacred time, sacred space, sacred language."

The Puritans didn't think all this was necessary--following the iconoclasts in philosophy, and theology. Now we have a 'new Puritan' movement in the Church, not coincidentally associated with the 'married priests/homosex is OK with me/let's jump and screech at worship' people.

Pascendi was the right document--and should be revived, big-time.