MORE ON POPE LEO’S LITURGICAL VISION BUT I BELIEVE HE’S SPITTING IN THE WIND, JUST MY MOST HUMBLE OPINION….

 

MY MOST HUMBLE, BUT HIGHLY ASTUTE COMMENTS EMBEDDED IN THE POPE’S TEXT IN RED. 

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV

TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE COURSE FOR DIOCESAN OFFICERS

IN LITURGICAL PASTORAL CARE

PROMOTED BY THE PONTIFICAL LITURGICAL INSTITUTE OF SAINT ANSELM

Monday, November 17, 2025

__________________

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you!

Good morning and welcome to all!

I greet the Abbot Primate, the Rector of the Athenaeum of Saint Anselm, the President of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute, the professors, and all the participants in the refresher course for diocesan officials in liturgical pastoral care. I am pleased to welcome you at the beginning of your journey of further study.

The training program you are participating in corresponds to the dual mission of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute. As the Holy Father Benedict XVI hoped, it vigorously continues its service to the Church, in full fidelity to the liturgical tradition and the reform desired by the Second Vatican Council, according to the guiding principles of Sacrosanctum Concilium and the pronouncements of the Magisterium (see Address to participants in the conference promoted by the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm, May 6, 2011). On the other hand, initiatives like this implement the formative tasks set forth in the Apostolic Constitution Veritatis Gaudium, such as that of training ministers and faithful to prepare them for their service in pastoral ministry and the liturgy. (I have been complaining about the lack of training for both Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers, not so much on how to do it, but the reason, the theology behind what they are doing and the necessary spiritual and moral formation! More on that below!)

It seems to me that Pope Francis also extends a warm invitation to your Institute, as he recommended in the Apostolic Letter Desiderio desideravi: "It is necessary to find channels for formation as a study of the liturgy: starting from the liturgical movement, much has been done in this direction, with valuable contributions from many scholars and academic institutions. However, this knowledge must be disseminated outside the academic sphere, in an accessible way, so that each member of the faithful may grow in understanding the theological meaning of the liturgy […] as well as in the development of Christian celebration" (n. 35). (Not a full throated endorsement of DD, it seems to me?)

Indeed, such formation is needed in dioceses and parishes, and it is important, where they do not exist, to initiate biblical and liturgical courses. The Pontifical Liturgical Institute could provide these courses to help particular Churches and parish communities be formed by the Word of God, explaining the texts of the weekday and feast day Lectionary, and also to continue a Christian and liturgical initiation that helps the faithful understand, through rites, prayers, and sensible signs, the mystery of faith being celebrated (cf. Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium, 48). (Excellent, why hasn’t it be done before now???)

Regarding biblical and liturgical formation, I urge directors of liturgical pastoral offices to pay particular attention to those who proclaim the Word of God. Ensure thorough preparation for instituted lectors and those who regularly read the Scriptures during celebrations. Basic biblical skills, clear diction, the ability to sing the responsorial psalm, and the ability to compose the prayers of the faithful for the community are important aspects that implement the liturgical reform and foster the growth of the People of God. (I wonder if Robert Prevost has read my blog. I have been writing about this a long time, especially since the once clerical ministries of Lector and Acolyte have been opened to men and women, that every diocese should have a liturgical formation department, similar to the diaconate formation but not as stringent, to prepare lay people for these ministries, academically, spiritually, morally! The problem is that most dioceses, including my own, no longer have a liturgical department, which is sad, very sad. I am the last director of liturgy for my diocese and that ended in the late 1990’s!!!!! )

We know well that liturgical formation is one of the main themes of the entire conciliar and post-conciliar journey. Many steps forward have been made, but there is still a long way to go. Let us not tire: let us enthusiastically resume the good initiatives inspired by the reform and at the same time seek new paths and methods.

The Office for Liturgical Pastoral Care is responsible in each diocese for the ongoing liturgical formation of clergy and faithful, preparation for ministries, and the care of parish liturgical groups, altar servers, readers, and cantors. It seeks to foster the fruitful participation of the People of God, as well as a dignified liturgy, attentive to diverse sensibilities and restrained in its solemnity. (MOST DIOCESES NO LONGER HAVE THIS OFFICE, AND SADLY MINE IS ONE OF THEM!!!!)

Among the aspects related to your service as directors, I would like to highlight the promotion of the Liturgy of the Hours, the care for popular piety, and the attention to the celebratory dimension in the construction of new churches and the adaptation of existing ones. These are topics you will address during the Course and with which you engage every day. (EXACTLY!!! GONE IS THIS DEPARTMENT FROM MOST AMERICAN DIOCESES!!!!)

Many parishes also have liturgical groups, which must work in synergy with the diocesan commission. The experience of a group, even a small but well-motivated one, that takes care of the liturgy's preparations is an expression of a community that nurtures its celebrations, prepares them, and fully experiences them, in agreement with the parish priest. This avoids delegating everything to the parish priest and leaving only a few responsible for singing, proclaiming the Word, and decorating the church. Unfortunately, over time, some of these groups have dwindled to the point of disappearing, almost as if they had lost their identity; efforts must therefore be made to restore this area of ​​Church life to an attractive dimension, capable of involving people who are competent or at least inclined to this type of service. (ON THE PARISH LEVEL, WE NEED PEOPLE WHO CAN MAKE SURE LECTORS AND COMMUNION MINISTERS ARE WELL TRAINED, SCHEDULED, WITH NO MISSING OF THEIR SCHEDULED TURNS WITHOUT SOME RAMIFICATIONS AND MUSIC DIRECTORS WHO KNOW WHAT THE LITURGY DEMANDS IN TERMS OF LITURGICAL CHANTS!)

As directors appointed by the Bishops, you could propose training programs to your fellow parish priests to launch or consolidate liturgical groups in the parish, training their members and offering suggestions for their work. The Course's workshops will help you find and experiment with appropriate approaches that you can introduce into your local Churches. Your pastoral creativity will then find the most suitable forms.

Dear friends, as you begin this formative journey, I hope that your time in Rome during the Jubilee Year, in addition to offering you tools for deepening your understanding, will also reinvigorate your spiritual energies, so that upon returning to your local Churches you can continue your pastoral work in service of the liturgy with renewed vigor. This is my wish, as I cordially bless you. Thank you.