[franky]

***"A source close to the Vatican said the document was part of a drive to "solemnise" the celebration of Mass and to counter a perceived lack of reverence for the Eucharist among Catholics."****

Yes, I am tired of seeing teenagers chomping on gum while recieving. And the lack of reverence after the concentration when leaning over two pews to shake hands.

And the hundreds who go to communion without knowing what a sin is or been to confession in a year.

[B Knotts]

The presence of "girl altar boys" is an attack on the priesthood.

[k omalley]

I hope it will end the practice of applause during Mass. Too often our priest encourages it, like "let's give a hand to show our support of the newly baptized baby", or "let's applaud the choir." Yesterday I attended Mass in another diocese and the parishoners broke into spontaneous applause at the end of Mass, like "good show!"

[johnb2004]

It is also likely to challenge the view that the Second Vatican Council gave local bishops the authority to adapt the liturgy. It will also emphasise that Rome must guarantee the universality of the Mass.

GOOD!

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Any Details?

[Salvation]

**A source close to the Vatican said the document was part of a drive to "solemnise" the celebration of Mass and to counter a perceived lack of reverence for the Eucharist among Catholics.**

This is looking good to me.

[cebadams]

Back on January 7 Catholic World News had this to say about the new norms:

A long-awaited new document on the Eucharist, delayed by high-level disagreements within the Vatican, will soon be made public. The document will not contain any striking innovations, CWN has learned.

The new document, which was promised by Pope John Paul II when he released his encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia in April 2003, has been expected for several months. In September, the Italian monthly Jesus published what it claimed was the text of a draft version of the document, and reported that the draft had been rejected because it was deemed excessively conservative.

Several subsequent drafts have also met opposition, according to Vatican sources. The editors of the document-- which has been prepared primarly by the Congregation for Divine Worship-- were reportedly under heavy pressure to avoid causing controversy by taking positions that would be judged as extreme. The final document will avoid that danger by confining itself to a repetition of previous Vatican statements and standards. In effect, informed sources report, the new document will be a distilled version of the liturgical norms already published in the General Instructions for the Roman Missal.

In Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Pope John Paul had said that the new document would provide juridical norms regarding the celebration of the Eucharist. The purpose of the document, Vatican officials disclosed at the time, was to curtail liturgical abuse-- a problem that was viewed by the Holy See with grave concern.

In December 2003, the influential Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica provided an insight into the current thinking of Vatican officials, in an article on the liturgical renewals since Vatican II. (Civilta Cattolica is generally seen as reflecting the views of Vatican officials, since all articles in the magazine are cleared in advance by the Secretariat of State.) The article condemned liturgical abuses and unauthorized innovations, but cautioned against responding to the abuse with new regulations.

"From an excessively rigid framework, we have passed over to an excessive freedom," the Civilta Cattolica article argued. The article spoke of "spontaneity without restraints" in liturgical celebrations. But it also warned against "a nostalgic return to formalism." The Jesuit journal made the argument that "abuses are best regulated not by reprimands," but by proper instruction and formation in proper liturgical celebration.

[ultima ratio]

This is useless. The Novus Ordo itself is the problem.

[.45MAN]

ping

[kstewskis]

It is also likely to challenge the view that the Second Vatican Council gave local bishops the authority to adapt the liturgy. It will also emphasise that Rome must guarantee the universality of the Mass.

/sigh of relief

After a little "tidbit" which was sounding contrary from what I heard Fr. Fragomeni say this evening, this is wonderful news.

Have faith in The Church, not the human failings that occur in it.

(stay tuned, I'll update you all later when I have a chance to compose my notes from these last two nights with Fr. Fragomeni).