Prominent in a list of 'suggestions' released yesterday by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of Sacraments is more prayer and singing in Latin, particularly Gregorian chant.
Catholic News Agency reports that the document, titled The Year of the Eucharist: Suggestions and Proposals, encourages "familiarity of Latin, indicating its necessity, especially in housed of formation and in seminaries, for prayer and singing in Latin, particularly Gregorian chant".
The document, which has been put together by the Vatican congregation with the purpose of giving guidelines towards making the Year of the Eucharist as success, also asks that the tabernacle be conveniently located in a place conducive to private prayer.
Pointing out that the Holy Father asked particular dioceses to come up with pastoral initiatives, the document says it "does not pretend to be exhaustive, but rather limits itself to give, with a simple style, some working suggestions."
The Congregation "suggestions and proposals" include:
• Preparation of documents promoting the Year of the Eucharist, and reflection by priests and faithful local doctrinal and pastoral problems such as the lack of priests, low Sunday Mass attendance, and abandonment of Eucharistic adoration. • Promoting national Eucharistic congresses. • Encouraging knowledge of the saints. • Increasing perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. • Eucharistic adoration for young people around Palm Sunday. • Dedicating space to the theme of the Eucharist in diocesan magazines, internet sites, and local media. • Teaching the faithful to behave "properly" when entering a Church.
I love the idea of Gregorian Chant. Personally, I don't like singing during distribution of the Eucharist because it makes it very difficult to meditate. Now, Gregorian Chant...that is a different story.
The Congregation has got to realize that in the short term, a return to more Latin will result in a further dip in attendance. In the long term, it might be a wise idea however.
Most of the people who love Latin left a long time ago or died already, we are 35 years post-latin at this point in time.
Most of the people in attendance now either don't like Latin or are too young to remember it. Some of those folks will definitely be alienated, and I doubt if the Latin-philes out there will even know about it.
Catholic ping!
Much of the content of Mane Nobiscum Domine reflects the pope’s April 2003 encyclical on the Eucharist, Ecclesia da Eucaristia. In the apostolic letter, however, the pope adds some specific suggestions for observance of the eucharistic year, always cautioning that it is not his intention to disrupt pastoral programs already in place.
John Paul said the year will accomplish its purposes if two things happen: a revitalization of the Sunday liturgy, and a recovery of eucharistic adoration outside the Mass.
At an Oct. 8 press conference, Archbishop Piero Marini, the pope’s chief liturgist, summed up the various ways the pope calls the church to an examination of conscience about how the Eucharist is celebrated:
• Is the Sunday Mass a celebration of the entire parochial community (including all movements and sub-groups)?
• Is the proclamation of the Word of God, and especially the homily, truly effective in opening up the Scriptures? (The pope makes a special point of calling for care in the preparation and delivery of homilies).
• Are the reformed liturgical texts, and especially the Roman Missal, being applied in their integrity?
• Are the tone of voice, the gestures, the movements, the sense of respect, the moments of silence, the whole constellation of modes of acting consistent with the dignity of the Eucharist?
• Are people being educated in prayer, especially in the Liturgy of the Hours?
• Are communities engaging in genuine Christian witness outside the liturgy, acting upon the commission at the end of the Mass?
Not a bad check-up list, perhaps, for a parish community.
* * *
On Thursday, Oct. 14, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments released a document titled “Year of the Eucharist: Suggestions and Proposals.” It is intended to offer guidelines for reflection, along with concrete suggestions for pastoral action.
In building a spirituality of the Eucharist, the document treats the following themes:
• Hearing the Word
• Conversion
• Memory
• Sacrifice
• Thanksgiving
• Presence of Christ
• Communion and charity
• Silence
• Adoration
• Joy
• Mission
It’s striking that the document avoids reductionist tendencies of both the traditionalist and avante garde sort, insisting on uniting the communal and sacrificial elements of the Eucharist.
Under the heading of pastoral suggestions, the document calls upon bishops’ conferences to put out their own documents presenting the Eucharistic Year, addressing specific local problems (examples given: “lack of priests, weariness among priests regarding the importance of daily Mass, disaffection with Sunday Mass, abandonment of eucharistic adoration”). It also asks bishops to review the Masses broadcast on television or radio in their countries, ensuring that “questionable practices” aren’t being transmitted and that there isn’t an “excessive emphasis on show business.” It also suggests that bishops promote national Eucharistic congresses.
Parishes are encouraged to give particular attention to places where the Eucharist is reserved, meaning tabernacles and Blessed Sacrament chapels. Liturgy committees should be revived or expanded, with special attention to music. Special catechesis should be offered on what it means to be in church, including basics like genuflecting before the Blessed Sacrament (rather than generically in the direction of the altar). Communities should also educate their people about their own parish, reflecting on the art in the parish, the design of the ambo and tabernacle and sanctuary, the look of liturgical books, and other “visible signs that lead to the invisible.” Finally, parishes are asked to promote eucharistic adoration.
shameless plug:
All Catholic members of the iPod Party are strongly suggested to download, listen, and follow along in anticipation of an actual implementation. :-)
Nevertheless steps should be taken so that the faithful may also be able to say or to sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them.
Sacrosanctum Concilium, #54
The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services.
Sacrosanctum Concilium #116.
He is the one who filed heresy charges against Kerry. He announced that he is also now filing charges against other abortion supporters. A few of the names mentioned were, Ted Kennedy, Tom Harkin, Cumo, and Susan Collins. In total he said that he is submitting 40 politicians.
For those interested check out his web site
www.defide.com
From a flyer picked up at Friday night mass...
14th Annual Gregorian Solemmn High Mass in Latin
"Votive Mass for the Holy Spirit"
Celebrant: Peter Cardinal Shirayanagi
Concelebrant: Ambrose De Paori Nuncio to Japan
On: Saturday October 23rd 2004 3:00 p.m.
At: The Tokyo Cathedral of Saint Mary
Sponsored by Catholic Action Fellowship Association
http://www.tim.hi-ho.ne.jp/catholic-at-d/
Funny thing...
The flyer is in English and Japanese. In Japanse it says the Mass is at 2, and in English it says it's at 3.
Wonder why that is.