Posted on 06/15/2021 3:52:06 PM PDT by ebb tide
AldoMariaValli.it published an interview with Vasilios Koutsourás who is presented as a Greek-orthodox archpriest. Koutsourás is telling the Catholics to preserve the ancient Roman Liturgy. He explains that this is one of the oldest rites of the universal Church. The Roman Canon, which is virtually never used in the New Rite, is likely of apostolic origin.
According to Koutsourás, the ecumenical dialogue between the Church and the Orthodox should be based on the ancient dogmatic, patristic and liturgical texts, especially those of the first millennium, the time before the split. Quote, “In these texts, one can find the foundations for a path towards Christian unity and for a spirit of mutual respect.” Therefore, Koutsourás says, the Roman liturgy and its revaluation by the Pope is necessary on the path of dialogue, both because of the sacredness it exudes and because of its antiquity.
The modern liturgical developments in the Catholic Church – in order words: the New Rite - are met with “deep perplexity” and even with suspicion by the Eastern Churches, in terms of their authorship, value and pastoral and catechetical fruitfulness, Koutsourás explains. He adds that the innumerable liturgical abuses in the Catholic liturgy- he calls them “tragicomic cases” – which can be seen on the internet, confirm the perplexity and scepticism with which most Orthodox observe the present Catholic liturgy and the consequences it has for the spiritual life of the faithful.
For Koutsourás’, the Roman Rite is a great spiritual, cultural and religious treasure. This is testified by the countless number of saints who have sanctified themselves with it. Its contribution to European culture is confirmed in every city and town, in every church and museum of the West. Koutsourás stresses how Holy Mass inspired music, painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, miniature and all aspects of human culture.
Secularized humanity needs the presence of the sacred in their lives. Koutsourás explains this so, “The ancient Roman liturgical tradition achieved this in the best and most effective way! It helped people to adore together with the angels and saints the Lord of glory and, at the same time, it initiated them into the great mysteries of the Christian faith."
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Exactly !
If you mess with the Latin Mass ,
the Church becomes catholic (little "c").
Then again, the Church seems bent on revolution from within.
"Ite, missa est "
Amazing! This Orthodox Christian Patriarch comes to the defense of faithful Roman Catholics and the traditional rites while this Pope attempts to destroy his own church and everything held sacred since the beginning.
Please note that the services being referenced are those from the 1st millennium. So these would be ones that are more than 500 years older than the Tridentine.
These old Masses/Liturgies are amazing and should still be allowed.
One of the oldest services is the Liturgy of St. James. Definitely older than the Liturgies of St. John Chryssostum and St. Basil. It is rarely done as it requires at least 6 priests, but has not been deleted or banned. It was a great joy being able to attend this service last October.
There are equally old services from Rome that should still be part of the Church where possible (logistics being the obstacle), unfortunately, it appears that many like the Tridentine (relatively recent in terms of Mass) are being cast aside and made illicit.
If an older service was valid then, it should be valid now. I fully understand that some may fall from favour, but they should never be banned unless heretical!
Our Mass/Liturgy is our faith expressed as culture in time. Our faith does not change and thus our previous services should still be good and allowable. If previous services can not exist then our faith that existed before is not the same as we now have. Were the Apostles and Fathers of the Church wrong, or have we betrayed them and gone astray?
We will never arrive at union between our Churches, if the time of union is now illicit and sent to the dustbin of history to never be remembered. We need to look back to the early centuries of the Church (when it was one) and remember and enable the faith that was good then.
BTW, love your tagline.
The Tridentine Mass was just the universal (in the West) promulgation of the Roman liturgy. As such, it is at least 1500 years old, not much younger than the extant eastern rites.
Maybe I was a bit misinformed. I was under the assumption the Tridentine was a newer form, but that there are older ones. Either way, it doesn’t change my view. If a Mass has been valid in the past, it should still be valid today. The only reason to make it illicit would be something heretical about it.
We shouldn’t be seeing Cancel Culture in our Churches. Our Faith should be the same as when it was founded, is now and shall ever be (now and ever, until the ages of ages).
These are truly the times that try men’s souls. Wishing you all the best.
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