Posted on 01/21/2023 7:47:21 PM PST by ebb tide
Religious celebrations must foster the "fruitful participation of the people of God" and not just of the clergy, Pope Francis said.
Speaking to diocesan liturgical directors Jan. 20, the pope said that beyond a "deep knowledge" of religious celebrations, experts on liturgy must have a strong pastoral sense to improve a community's liturgical life.
A pastoral approach to the liturgy allows religious celebrations to "lead the people to Christ, and Christ to the people," which the pope said is the "principal objective" of liturgy and an essential principle of the Second Vatican Council.
"If we neglect this, we will have beautiful rituals, but without vigor, without flavor, without sense, because they do not touch the heart and the existence of the people of God," said Pope Francis.
The liturgical directors were in Rome to participate in a formation course on liturgy, "Living Liturgical Action Fully," at the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy.
The pope encouraged them to spend time in parishes, observe liturgical celebrations and help pastors reflect on how they prepare liturgy with their communities.
If teachers of liturgy are "in the midst of the people, they will immediately understand and know how to accompany their brothers and sisters, how to suggest what is suitable and feasible to communities, and what the necessary steps are to rediscover the beauty of the liturgy and celebrating together," he said.
The job of a diocesan liturgical director, said Pope Francis, is to offer parishes a liturgy "that is imitable, with adaptations that the community can take to grow in liturgical life."
A liturgical director should not care about a parish's liturgy only when the bishop comes to visit and then let the liturgy go back to how it was after he leaves, the pope said.
"To go to parishes and not say anything when faced with somewhat sloppy, neglected, poorly prepared liturgies means not helping the community, not accompanying them," he added.
Referring to his apostolic letter "Desiderio Desideravi" published in June 2022, the pope explained that the best way to develop proper care for the liturgy is by allowing oneself to be formed by its frequent celebration.
Pope Francis also encouraged the establishment of liturgical formation schools in parishes.
As a piece of parting advice, the pope encouraged the liturgical directors to "care for silence," especially before Mass, to help the assembly concentrate on what is about to occur.
"Often sacristies are noisy before and after celebrations, but silence opens one up and prepares one for mystery," said Pope Francis. "We must rediscover and value silence."
Apparently, after 60+ years, they still haven't perfected the mason Bugnini's "bogus ordo".
Barf Alert Ping
Do you disagree with his point on silence? I thought it a good one.
Low Mass. Yours to discover
That’s the only point I agree on.
Why are “diocesan liturgical directors” even required?
The Mass is not a theatrical performance; it’s a Holy Sacrifice.
Bergoglio will go to his grave partying like it’s 1969. For a man who rails against rigidity, he’s one of the world’s most rigid people, never varying or straying from his firmly held convictions (most of which are not reality-based).
This lout put the final seal on his credibility with his treatment of Pope Benedict a couple weeks ago.
Commissars.
That's what you get with the old (and newly booming) Latin Mass. For a high Mass, you might see 20 altar boys, deacons, and adult men processing in behind the celebrant. They serve with complete order, unity, and precision throughout Mass to focus our attention and awe on Christ. In the process, they represent a huge proportion of the faithful as family members or close friends. That's "community."
People show up early to pray at such parishes. And churches that offer such Masses almost invariably have well-attended and hearty coffee hours and occasionally, major banquets and feasts. In the nice weather, at parishes blessed with lawns or playgrounds, the (numerous) kids play softball, volley ball, soccer--or sometimes "bombardment"--after Mass. And generally, the youth of these parishes actually grow up (before you know it), get married in their 20s, and have children. Lots of them.
If you have the "pastoral sense" to start with a reverent, awe-inspired liturgical life, you will get families, and you will get communities and a future. The current Holy Father doesn't like that, and is trying to eliminate these communities. Thanks be to God, he will fail.
Do you disagree with his point on silence? I thought it a good one.
+++++
The typical modern mass is filled with percussion, something that was actually forbidden at mass in the past. (I walked out on a novus ordo that was too loud.)
I’ve tried to find a “quiet” Sunday mass when I cannot travel to a TLM. They don’t exist. Even the first mass of Sunday (when a parish has multiple Sunday masses) is a rock concert. Insane.
What will John and Mary Modern Catholic say is needed at their parish’s masses? More reverence or more entertainment? I’m not optimistic.
/rant
Look at the mega churches where there is little doctrine or preaching the actual gospel, but thousands pack the auditorium for the extravaganza level entertainment. My mother, a convert to Catholicism, frequently said that if you have to provide entertainment for people to attend church then their being there doesn’t mean much.
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