Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: NYer
"Catholics may not question the power of the Holy Father to implement another Rite."

Where did you get this truly crackpot idea? Why do you keep making such WRONG sweeping statements? OF COURSE we may question the pope's authority to do this--and some of the best liturgists in the world have done so. Here is Klaus Gamber himself on this very subject:

"Since there is no document that specifically assigns to the Apostolic See the authority to change, let alone to abolish the traditional liturgical rite; and since, furthermore, it can be shown that not a single predecessor of Pope Paul VI has ever introduced major changes to the Roman Liturgy, the assertion that the Holy See has the authority to change the liturgical rite would appear to be debatable, to say the least." (The Reform of the Roman Liturgy, p. 39.)
63 posted on 07/26/2003 11:38:02 AM PDT by ultima ratio
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies ]


To: ultima ratio; sitetest; sandyeggo
the assertion that the Holy See has the authority to change the liturgical rite would appear to be debatable, to say the least."

UR

In his book "The Reform of the Roman Liturgy", Msgr. Gamber never in any way calls into question the validity of the New Mass due to any changes in the ritual of the Novus Ordo Mass. His basic contention is that the new ritual of the Mass is just that, a new ritual of the Mass. Thus, for all practical purposes the Roman Rite is dead, when not using the Roman Canon in the Novus Ordo Masses. Because of his knowledge of ecclesiology and sacramentology, Gamber never insists that the new ritual of the Mass is somehow invalid.

On the other hand, there must be said something for the defense of the authority of the Catholic Church, which has the power to guard and protect the sacred liturgy. Msgr. Gamber does not question the papal authority and power to determine liturgical reforms. He does question, however, whether or not it is really in the best interest of the Church to radically interrupt what were traditionally the liturgical rites of the Mass, which had roots for over a millennium, not to mention the very center of the liturgy, the Roman Canon (which had been determined already, almost in its entirety by the fifth century, even before the time of Gregory the Great). Gamber questions the prudence of the Roman Pontiff in discarding these venerable traditions without sufficient cause, especially when there had been no outcry on the part of the faithful, before, during, or even after the Council to discard or destroy any of the elements of the Roman Rite. And even if there had been a general outcry for change, there still would have been on justification for destroying a veritable work of art, a treasure for the Church for all time.

There are 17 oriental rites (give or take a few variations), that are officially recognized by the Church, and whose development also hearken back to the ancient Church. Would you have all of these rites replaced with the Tridentine Rite?

68 posted on 07/26/2003 12:19:54 PM PDT by NYer (Laudate Dominum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson