Posted on 08/11/2025 1:05:51 PM PDT by ebb tide
Young Catholics are flocking to the Mass in the Roman rite because of its beauty, Cardinal Burke told journalist Raymond Arroyo on his Youtube.com-channel (August 8). Main quotes:
- This more ancient form of the Roman Rite was celebrated from Gregory the Great (+604) until Vatican II (1962-1965).
- The reforms after the Council of Trent (1545-1563) were to address some elements, but the form of the rite was maintained and in continuity for more than 15 centuries. Whereas after the Second Vatican Council - not due to the teaching of the Council, but to the way in which that teaching was abused -, the rite was radically reduced.
- I don't question the validity [of the Novus Ordo] in any way. There is a continuity, but it's so strained. You don't take something so rich in beauty and start stripping away the beautiful elements without having a negative effect.
- The form of the ancient rite is such that it makes it clear that it's Christ who's acting. The priest is acting in the person of Christ, but the priest fades into the background and Christ emerges because of the form of the rite.
- There's no spontaneity, there's not this kind of familiarity that was introduced after the council, like introducing ordinary language into the sacred liturgy.
- We don't go to the Holy Mass to take part in some secular activity that keeps us in the worldly and what is not uplifting, what is not inspiring, we go there to encounter God.
- It's clear when one is assisting at this rite that something heavenly is taking place, something that's beyond this world.
- Worship is worship of God as God himself has instructed us to worship him.
Ad Orientem Worship
- The priest is acting in the person of Christ, head and shepherd of the flock. And so he's at the head of the flock, leading them in prayer, and everyone is facing God.
- The priest is not praying to the people, the priest is not putting on some kind of theater for the people. He is the head of the people leading them in prayer to God. The priest isn't interacting with the people, the priest is at their head.
- You wouldn't want the bus driver on the bus to be looking at you when he's supposed to be driving you somewhere.
- We need to teach again what the Mass is and what it means to worship God. People think it's some kind of social event, or some kind of a communal meal, whatever it might be.
Ping
Excellent summary by Card. Burke, truly one of the (few) good guys in the hierarchy. I remember his scourge Bergoglio tsk-tsking that “poor fellow” (and covid-vax skeptic) Burke was ill with covid. Well, last time I checked... Burke is alive and well while Bergoglio, God rest his soul, isn’t.
You know what I remember? The Dubia and Burke’s so-called “fraternal correction” that never happened.
A friendly question. Why not go back to the Liturgy of St Basil or St John Chryssostum? Better alignment with Eastern Catholics and the Orthodox.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.