If only every parish in the world could celebrate Mass as Pope Francis did this morning in the Sistine Chapel, what an improvement there would be in the faith and spirituality of Catholics, not to mention, their liturgical identity as Catholics!
But far more importantly, the sign and symbol of liturgical prayer directed to God the Father, through Jesus Christ (as sacramentally represented in the ordained priest) and by the power of the Holy Spirit would be greatly enhanced and made powerfully visible.
In other words, no one, the priest himself or the laity behind him, would think that the prayer of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, especially the words of Consecration, are directed toward them as though the Canon is a re-enactment of the Last Supper, but they will know the Canon as liturgical prayer that simply "remembers" the words of Consecration of the Last Supper, words directed to God the Father, not the congregation!
Folks, as Robert Cardinal Sarah knows, and multitudes of others in the Church, this manner of celebrating the Mass is a no-brainer. No need to call it the "reform of the reform" for this Mass celebrated by Pope Francis is the Mass that the Second Vatican Council's Sacrosanctum Concilium desired.
And there is a great blend of Latin and the vernacular. The parts of the Mass are in Latin while the priestly prayers are in the vernacular, Italian in this case.
11 comments:
Do as I say, not as I do!
I wish that so-called "Pope Francis bishops" and Pope Francis priests" would live up to those titles when they offer Holy Mass. That is, why do so many refuse to offer the Roman Mass devoid of Latin/Gregorian Chant? When will they offer Holy Mass ad orientem?
When will so-called "Pope Francis priests" who act akin to comedians and entertainers during Holy Mass begin to offer Mass in Pope Francis-like reverent fashion?
Pax.
Mark Thomas
This is good news. I think we all know that Pope Francis himself would never have initiated this custom, and he could easily discontinue the practice with minimal criticism. Therefore, it is truly something for which to be grateful to him in his liturgical generosity. God bless him.
Mark Thomas,
"Pope Francis" clergy, as you prefer to call them, are not interested in such things, which should be obvious to everyone. "Pope Benedict" clergy, as I suppose we could call another subset, would likely lose their parishes if they did such things.
I would be careful in interpreting the reverent liturgies of the Vatican as being an example of Pope Francis' liturgical sensibilities. The current Roman Pontiff inherited Pope Benedict XVI's reverent celebration of the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite and since he has little interest in liturgical reform (in any direction), he maintained these liturgical expressions. However, in any other area where he displays marked interest (the appearance and general public image of the Pope, approach to other religions, moral theology, etc.) he has been decidedly liberal.
The colloquial "Pope Francis" clergymen display no inconsistency in maintaining liturgical forms that the current Pope celebrated as a Cardinal, never disavowed, and makes interventions to ensure will never be removed.
Adam Michael said..."However, in any other area where he displays marked interest (the appearance and general public image of the Pope, approach to other religions, moral theology, etc.) he has been decidedly liberal."
-- His Holiness Pope Francis has displayed "marked interest" in the promotion of the Holy Sacrament of Penance. Time and against he's exhorted us to go to Confession. Is Pope Francis' marked interest in the promotion of Confession a "liberal" thing?
-- Pope Francis has expressed a marked interest in the defense and promotion of marriage as a holy union between a man and woman. In turn, he has condemned on several occasions homosexual unions. Does that inform us that Pope Francis is liberal?
-- Pope Francis has expressed a marked interest in promoting the Culture of Life. Does that signify that he's liberal?
-- Rorate Caeli identifies itself as "the most-read international traditional Catholic blog." On June 3, 2014 A.D., Rorate Caeli declared the following:
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2014/06/truth-be-told-pope-francis-more-often.html
"Very few indeed have been making the case, a case that is true, that the positions stated by Pope Francis on economic and social matters are much closer to the Traditional Catholic position on the economy and the State than not.
"Indeed, it can be said unhesitatingly that this is one area in which the Pope will find mostly allies in Traditional Catholics.
"By criticizing the current Pope when he indeed defends positions kept by his predecessors on Social Doctrine (admittedly, Pope Francis often fills such defense with unexpected idiosyncrasies, but not essential deviations), "Conservatives" bring themselves to an untenable position.
"The traditional Catholic Social Doctrine is ours, it is wholly traditional, and it is our responsibility to defend it, to put it into practice in our communities (including with specific actions for the benefit of the most derelict in society), and also to defend His Holiness in those cases in which he makes its defense in the current economic environment."
Does Pope Francis' marked interest in traditional Catholic Social Teaching signify that he's a liberal?
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Well he does have to play the part in order to ram his ideology onto the Church.
Mark Thomas,
Are you aware that there is a distinction between the valid administration of the sacraments, on one hand, and of promoting the liturgical rites of the Latin Church, on the other?
Also, are you aware that there is a distinction between divine worship, on one hand, and social and economic teachings, on the other?
Mark Thomas,
“-- His Holiness Pope Francis has displayed ‘marked interest’ in the promotion of the Holy Sacrament of Penance. Time and against he's exhorted us to go to Confession. Is Pope Francis' marked interest in the promotion of Confession a ‘liberal’ thing?”
By not disciplining, and in one instance expressly approving as a model, bishops of the Church who allow unrepentant habitual adulterers to receive the Sacrament of Penance, Pope Francis takes a decidedly liberal approach to this sacrament, which allows one’s deliberately erroneous conscience to determine the matter of a sacrament of the Church. This, in essence, is what Catholic liberals have sought since the 1960s – preservation of Catholic teaching, but a “conscience clause” that permits one to act in accordance with their claimed “autonomous conscience” in the confessional and at the altar rail. By permitting and furthering this liberalism among the shepherds of the Church, Pope Francis takes a decidedly liberal approach to the Sacrament of Penance.
“ -- Pope Francis has expressed a marked interest in the defense and promotion of marriage as a holy union between a man and woman. In turn, he has condemned on several occasions homosexual unions. Does that inform us that Pope Francis is liberal?”
Don’t obscure the facts by focusing on partial statements. Pope Francis has also referred to a transgendered couple by their preferred but false nomenclature. Is this not the perfect example of preserving the doctrine, but expressing the doctrine in a manner that, unfortunately, promotes falsehood? Is this not the essence of ecclesial “liberalism”?
“-- Pope Francis has expressed a marked interest in promoting the Culture of Life. Does that signify that he's liberal?”
And yet he praises pro-abortionists such as Elena Bonino as models of political culture, decries a perceived over-emphasis on the sin of abortion (if only!) by the Church’s clergy, and promotes a less confrontational pro-life message (i.e. consider Pope Francis’ instructions to Archbishop Paglia to situate the pro-life apostolate into a holistic service of human dignity and the removal of the pro-life vow for members of the Pontifical Academy for Life). You have previously stated that “liberal” does not mean “heretical” – I agree. Instead, liberalism entails the profession of the true Faith, but in a manner that confirms the enemies of the Faith. Many would say that this approach to the Church’s pro-life teachings is the very definition of such “liberalism” since it ensures that not being pro-life does not hinder one’s ability to be an asset to the social and international order, is not preferred for pastors of souls to emphasize, and the modern world should remain less confronted regarding the gravest stain on its current moral conscience.
“Does Pope Francis' marked interest in traditional Catholic Social Teaching signify that he's a liberal?”
Can a Catholic liberal emphasize Catholic social teaching or is this an ontological impossibility? If a Catholic liberal can emphasize Catholic social teaching, which form would this assume? Since, as explained earlier, liberalism is the general accommodation of the Faith to expressions accepted in the world, a Catholic liberal would emphasize those parts of the Faith that are most accepted in today’s world, while downplaying those that conflict with dominant social mores. Catholic social teaching does sometimes correspond to mainstream liberal societal concerns, while evangelization, unchangeable morality, and emphasis on the importance of pro-life causes is looked down upon. Pope Francis says that attempts to convert others are a sin, rigidity in moral theology is pharisaical, and the greatest problems of modern society are loneliness and unemployment, all the while emphasizing Catholic social teaching. This is utter liberalism – allowing the emphasis of one’s expression of Faith to conform to those elements that are popular in contemporary society, while downplaying or even attacking those practices toward which the modern world is hostile.
Seeing as he's done this before, this isn't that big od a deal. So he'll do Ad Orientem when the altar allows it. That's not the question. I'm glad for his openness, even if he may well be indifferent/ slightly opposed.
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