"Urge" or "encourage" is not going to cut it. Needs to be "command" and "mandate".
Or as St. Francis said of how his Rule was to be followed: "to the letter, to the letter, and without a gloss."
I'm sure you are right.
I agree. I've heard exhortations like this before somewhere. Still holding my breath, sadly.
patent
Agreed. An "invitation" just ain't gonna do it. I think this is partly out of ill-will on the part of the clergy, control mania on the part of the "liturgy committees," and vested interests such as the OPC (Oregon Catholic Press), etc.
However, I think a lot of it is because many priests, even those who might be willing to do all these things, lack the training to be able to do so. They simply don't have any Latin, they have very little knowledge of Catholic music, and they are theologically too weak to be able to explain things to their congregations or fight for such changes. Believe me, they'd have to fight to be able to get the Mass out of the grip of the "Eucharistic ministers" and others who essentially control the liturgy nowadays.
I think he should mandate these changes, but first he should mandate studies for all of the priests in the Church - one year of liturgical Latin with study of the Old Mass to give modern priests a better foundation in tradition, combined with an introduction to chant and Catholic music and art. And he should do it in such a way that any bishop who refuses to obey should have to go out and find himself a job flipping burgers at McDonald's to pay for his retirement.
Pope Benedict proposes, ICEL disposes.