Posted on 11/25/2008 4:21:37 PM PST by NYer
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 25, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Erroneous applications of liturgical reforms implemented by Vatican II are generally not due to bad intentions, but simply to ignorance, says the Vatican official in charge of liturgy.
Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, affirmed this to L'Osservatore Romano on Saturday. The cardinal celebrated 50 years as a priest last Sunday.
The cardinal spoke with the Vatican daily about the responsibilities of his dicastery and its role in promoting and protecting the worship of God.
"The liturgy is the heart of the Church," he said. "If the Church were not to celebrate the Eucharist, she would become an obsolete institution." The congregation therefore is not an "ecclesiastical police force" but simply a "promoter of divine worship."
"If the Church doesn't pray, it doesn't live. The liturgy is the respiration of the life of the Church. The Church was born to adore God, to honor and praise him. The Mass is the highest act that the Church can perform; there is nothing higher. This is essentially the center of the activity of this dicastery," the prelate added.
Regarding confusion after the reforms to the liturgy implemented by the Second Vatican Council, the cardinal affirmed that the problem "is not the council itself, but those who have not received it correctly or those who in practice have even rejected it."
Differing views
"There are people who have not digested what Vatican II said, others who pretend to dictate the authentic interpretation of the council spirit, and others who even request a new council," he said.
Nevertheless, Cardinal Arinze affirmed, the situation today is much calmer than 30 years ago.
He contended that many abuses "are not due to bad intentions, but to ignorance. Some do no know, or are not aware that they do not know. They don't know, for example, that words and gestures have roots in the tradition of the Church. Thus, they think themselves more original or more creative changing them.
"Faced with these things, it is necessary to reaffirm that the liturgy is sacred; it is the public prayer of the Church."
The cardinal noted that his dicastery is currently studying possible changes to the liturgy, such as the placement of the sign of peace.
"Often, the significance of this gesture is not fully understood," Cardinal Arinze noted. "It is thought that it is an occasion to give a high-five to friends. Rather, it is a way of saying to the person beside you that the peace of Christ, really present on the altar, is also with all men."
The prelate said that the Church is considering moving the sign of peace to the moment of the offertory, "to create an atmosphere of more recollection while one is preparing for Communion."
"The Pope has asked for a consultation of all the bishops," the cardinal said. "Afterward, he will decide."
Often due to “protest” and rebellion also.
Well, well ... this was all part of a plan concocted by certain bishops who wanted to bring about a 3rd Vatican Council to 'complete' the work begun at VCII; i.e. - a married priesthood, women priests, and a banal liturgy. Surprise! They failed to factor in the work of the Holy Spirit.
“The prelate said that the Church is considering moving the sign of peace to the moment of the offertory, “to create an atmosphere of more recollection while one is preparing for Communion.”
How about moving it to out on the sidewalk, after Mass?
As a convert, I hesitate to offer criticism, but I have often thought moving it to the time of collection before the first prayers of the consecration would be better.
Right now it seems like an abrupt change of mood and intent, especially since some of our parishioners think it is time for extended conversation and jolly jokes.
I beg to differ. Many people I know consider some of their words and changes a return to the early church.
“Right now it seems like an abrupt change of mood and intent, especially since some of our parishioners think it is time for extended conversation and jolly jokes.”
You certainly have that right. And more, its inclusion is IMO a jarring departure from the solemn dignity of the Mass, a 2000 year old tradition.
Lines of communication at Mass, if represented by threads, should (again, IMO) show as one thread from each person leading through the priest and straight up. Nothing side to side. At all.
Matter of fact, I consider the “sign of hippy-dippydom” an intrusion upon my person, my privacy, and my prayers. Sign of peace? Bah! Protestant humbug! Get away from me. I’m trying to properly dispose myself to receive the sacrament, and that’s hard enough without hands shoved at me from all directions.
I have seen it don’t at the beginning of mass, or rather just before. By all means, let the people welcome each other since they are usually strangers.
Now, if only the latin-only types would accept that the local vernacular is the ordinary langauge for Mass — and stop looking down their nose at anything that is not latin — we would be in good shape.
A personal preference for latin is fine. But the Church prefers the local vernacular for just about all parts of the liturgy.
When your personal preference is not available at all or as frequently as you like, be prudent. It would be wiser to try to influence the vernacular to be done well before agitating for latin Mass (novus ordo or extraordinary form).
NYer, my comments are not aimed at you, I hope you realize.
The Sign of Peace is ancient and purposeful. The Maronites place the Sign of Peace before the Consecration, which signifies that we are making peace with each other before Jesus is physically present with us in the Eucharist. The Sign of Peace flows from the altar through the priest who encloses the hands of the servers with his hands and the servers bring that Sign to the ushers and in turn to the congregation. In many Maronite parishes, the 'ushers' are young children who wait at the foot of the Sanctuary with hands folded. The server passes the Sign of Peace to the children who bring it to the first person in each pew to be passed along to the next person and so on. It is most reverent and very uplifting to watch such young children assume this important role at the liturgy. Recently we all watched in joyous amazement as a 2 year old toddled up to the Sacristy (behind her older sister), made a profound bow and extended her uplifted hands to receive the Sign of Peace.
Perhaps the Latin bishops will consider a similar approach.
Now, if only the Novus Ordo types would accept that Latin is the sacred language of the Mass-and stop looking down their noses at anything that is not in the vernacular-we would be in good shape.
I’m sure that the responsibility for the frequent liturgical abuses that infest NO Masses can be laid at the feet of us Latin-types who have not been active enough in trying to influence NO’s being done well, right?
Why the hostility towards Latin? Our numbers are small, what threat do we pose to you?
In addition to NYer’s comments, I should make it clear that in the Latin church also, the Peace is not an exchange between and among the members of the congregation. It is not about “our” peace; it is about the peace of Christ — something entirely different. Instead of being an expression of personal sentiment, it is, as NYer says, the reception and handing on of the peace of the Lord — passed down in strict hierarchical order, from the celebrant to the deacon, who gives it to the choir and the subdeacon, who gives it to the MC, who gives it to the thurifer, etc. The peace of Christ flows from the altar of Christ where the Blessed Sacrament is present; it doesn’t flow from me or you.
The placement of the Pax in the Mass just before Holy Communion is very ancient, and I would not like to see it moved without careful deliberation and an utterly convincing argument that we know more than the Church’s experience though a thousand-plus years of liturgical practice.
“let the people welcome each other since they are usually strangers.”
At Mass, I’d rather not be interfered with. People can socialize elsewhere.
“The Sign of Peace flows from the altar through the priest who encloses the hands of the servers with his hands and the servers bring that Sign to the ushers and in turn to the congregation.”
It sounds like you’re talking about something other than people just starting to shake hands with everybody they can reach and flipping the two-fingered “I favor tyranny over freedom” sign to those they can’t.
“The Sign of Peace flows from the altar through the priest who encloses the hands of the servers with his hands and the servers bring that Sign to the ushers and in turn to the congregation.”
The only thing I’ve seen in the Novus Ordo is “let us offer each other the sign of peace,” followed by a period of general disorder.
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Interesting. Just one more reason we were fortunate that Pope Benedict was chosen to succeed Pope John Paul.
No hostility at all.
Having suffered gravely at the hands of terrorists on the liturgy committee and a pastor who considered the Mass to be a constantly morphing work of performance art starring himself and a gaggle of “lay ministers,” I am well aware of the widespread abuses - and have paid a price for fighting them.
I actually have a personal preference for Novus Ordo in latin and for very liberal use of latin in vernacular Masses. And I had a romantic idea that I would prefer the old latin Mass until I began to attend it.
My view is that I am Catholic and I embrace what the Church does. The magisterial Church, that is.
But almost all of the people I know who prefer latin have little tolerance for the vernacular - and it is those whom I have criticized.
Am I describing you, voiceinthewind, or do you accept the absolute validity and licitness of rubricly correct vernacular NO Masses and that the rubricly correct vernacular NO Mass is the ordinary form of the Mass?
Well, now we see how little I learned in RCIA!
Thansk to both of you for that information. Perhaps then, the problem the way it is done in our parish. I will keep what you both told me in mind when I am in mass this week.
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