Thank God this was said…….
April 29, 2008 by chrisjohn06
I am sick and tired of the liturgy being used as a weapon to separate Catholics into camps. I felt that when Pope Benedict allowed for a liberalizing of the extraordinary form of the Latin Mass last year in the motu proprio that he was in some ways allowing Catholics to reclaim their heritage but he was in no way condemning the Ordinary form of the liturgy (as even some clerics where assuming). The pope has time and again stressed the Vatican II reforms and has always said his concern was not that they were wrong but that they needed to be applied properly. I’d like to express thanks to Archbishop Marini for attempting to put this to rest.
Vatican II liturgical changes “irreversible,” Archbishop Marini says
Rome, Apr. 28, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Archbishop Piero Marini, the former chief liturgist for the Vatican, told L’Osservatore Romano that the liturgical changes following Vatican II are “irreversible.”
Archbishop Marini, who is now the president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, told the Vatican newspaper: “Liturgical reform was necessary because it was based on profound theological principles.” He added that the changes following the Council were “of perennial validity.”
Commenting on the motu proprio that allowed for broader use of the traditional Latin liturgy, Archbishop Marini pointed out that the document from Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) did not involve any change in the Roman Missal as it is used for the “ordinary form” of the Mass. Moreover, he said, in allowing for the “extraordinary form” the Pope did not intend in any way “to judge negatively the liturgical reforms desired by the Council.”
The motu proprio, the archbishop said, was intended primarily to appeal to those Catholics who have a special connection with the pre-conciliar liturgy. He said that the document was “only a a gesture to serve unity.”
chrisjohn06
I couldn`t agree with you more. I feel the same about these alleged “liturgy wars”. Congratulations for being brave enough to actually say it out loud. If you follow other blogs and comments I`m sure you know that every word Archbishop Marini writes about love and unity ends up with nasty remarks and severe attacks on his personality.
So thank you again and keep up the good work.
Eva I think we are the silent majority. The conservatives and liberals both get press because they are divisive and that is what people unfortunately look for. The truth however is we are suppose to be coming together as a community during the Mass, and I really feel strongly there should be repercussions for trying to turn our holiest moment into a weapon of division.
But that’s just my opinion and I could be wrong.
Chris Johnson
Bravo Chris !
Like Eva , I’d very much like to thank you for your comments on Archbishop Marini ’s interview, because he spoke the thruth . He spoke about love and unity among us which was a very important reason for the “motu proprio” of Pope Benedict XVI.
You’re quite right in your opinion. Indeed we are not suppose to turn the Holy Mass into a weapon of division.
It’s heartbreaking to read some blogs.
Our Holy Father during his beautiful homily at Saint Patrick Catherdral said:
“For all of us, I think, one of the great disappointments which followed the Second Vatican Council, with its call for a greater engagement in the Church’s mission to the world, has been the experience of division between different groups, different generations, different members of the same religious family. We can only move forward if we turn our gaze together to Christ! In the light of faith, we will then discover the wisdom and strength needed to open ourselves to points of view which may not necessarily conform to our own ideas or assumptions. Thus we can value the perspectives of others, be they younger or older than ourselves, and ultimately hear “what the Spirit is saying” to us and to the Church (cf. Rev 2:7). In this way, we will move together towards that true spiritual renewal desired by the Council, a renewal which can only strengthen the Church in that holiness and unity indispensable for the effective proclamation of the Gospel in today’s world.”
Wise and clear words … cannot we follow and listen to our Holy Father ?
Well thank you.
God Bless,
Chris