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Thursday, October 5, 2017

THE REIGNING POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT XVI CONTINUES TO TEACH AND CLEARLY SO!


My comments first and the reigning Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's recent comments in writing on the Liturgy below my comments: 

 Sacrosanctum Concilium rightly describes the Liturgy of the 1962 Missal as the "Source and Summit" of our faith, our Catholic identity and who we are to be as the Mystical Body of Christ in the world, once dismissed from the Sacred Liturgy.  I say the 1962 Missal, because the 1970 Missal with its extremely poor implementation in rupture with the 1962 Missal had not been invented. 

Pope Benedict declares and promulgates again: 
 
"The deepest cause of the crisis that has upset the Church lies in the obscuring of the priority of God in the liturgy."


What does this mean? Since Vatican II, in my opinion, more emphasis has been placed on Vatican II in an idolatrous way, than on God and His omnipotence. More emphasis has been placed on the so-called revised "ecclesiology" of Vatican II in an idolatrous way, a kind of worship, that pushes God, the true God, to the side or obscures His omnipotence. This worship of "ecclesiology" emphasizes the ability of Catholics and congregations to formulate themes for the Mass, be busy about reading, offering Holy Communion, directing the singing of the congregation and a army of people doing, this, that and the other and less so contemplating the mystery and omnipotence of God! 

Active participation as opposed to "actual" participation means eating, drinking, listening, responding, processing and moving and all the other distractions that keep us from entering in to MYSTERY, CONTEMPLATION, REVERENCE and FEAR and TREMBLING OF THE LORD!

The key to the renewal of the Liturgy lies in the proper reading, meaning, going to the actual source of the renewal--Sacrosanctum Concilium and revising the 1962 Missal in the most conservative way possible, meaning doing what SC requested! That strikes fear and trembling into the hearts of modern liturgists who are throwbacks to the 1970's theology of rupture.  

From the Reigning Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI:

Let nothing be preferred to the sacred liturgy. With these words in his Rule (43:3) St. Benedict established the absolute priority of the sacred liturgy over any other task of monastic life. But even in monastic life this was not immediately taken into account, because agricultural and intellectual work was also an essential task for monks. In agriculture as well as in the crafts and the work of formation, there could be some temporal matters that might appear more important than the liturgy. Against this backdrop, Benedict, with the priority given to the liturgy, unequivocally emphasizes the priority of God himself in our lives: “On hearing the signal for an hour of the divine office, the monk will immediately set aside what he has in hand, yet with gravity.”
In the consciousness of the people of today, the things of God and thus of the liturgy do not appear at all urgent. There is an urgency about every possible thing. But the matter of God does not seem to be urgent. Now one might point out that monastic life is in any case something different from the life of people in the world, and that is certainly correct. And yet the priority of God whom we have forgotten holds true for everyone. If God is no longer important, the criteria for establishing what is important are displaced. Humans, in putting aside God, submit themselves to the constraints that make them the slave of material forces and thus at odds with their dignity.
In the years following the Second Vatican Council I became aware again of the priority of God and of the sacred liturgy. The misunderstanding of the liturgical reform which has spread widely in the Catholic Church has led to more and more emphasis on the aspects of education and one’s own activity and creativity. The doings of people almost obliterated the presence of God. In such a situation it became increasingly clear that the Church’s existence lives from proper celebration of the liturgy and that the Church is in danger when the primacy of God no longer appears in the liturgy nor consequently in life.
The deepest cause of the crisis that has upset the Church lies in the obscuring of the priority of God in the liturgy. All this led me to devote myself to the theme of the liturgy more than previously because I knew that the true renewal of the liturgy is a fundamental condition for the renewal of the Church. Based on this belief, the studies that have been collected in this volume 11 of the Opera Omnia were born. But fundamentally, the essence of the liturgy in the East and West, albeit with all the differences, is one and the same. And so I hope that this book will also help the Christians of Russia to understand in a new and better way the great gift that has been given to us in the sacred liturgy.
--translation by Fr. Anthony Ruff

20 comments:

Dan said...

We need these words not from a pope emeritus, but from the sitting pope. Oh Benedict, why oh why did you abdicate? This present nonsense is your reward, and our trial.

Anonymous said...

After reading this article “Reclaiming Orthodoxy” (https://priestofthechurch.wordpress.com/2017/10/04/reclaiming-orthodoxy/) would it be reasonable to describe the pre Vatican ll Roman Catholic Church as being “Orthodox”, and now, post Vatican ll, has irreconcilable elements of Orthodox and Unorthodox factions. Like oil and water, Orthodox and Unorthodox, just will not mix.

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TJM said...

But left-wing bishops and priests simply either do not care or lack the introspection and humility to admit failure and change course

Православный физик said...

Hes not wrong, i must say as an eastern its nice to not have liturgical wars.

ByzRus said...

The words of a pastor......

Separately, I agree wholly with and, have nothing to add to Joe Potillor's comment.

Bret said...

It helps me is the epiphany that the Francis papacy and the USCCB's current fetish to bring Muslims to America, is simply our "Job moment", and like Job, once it ends, we will be rewarded for our faith.

Bean said...

"...current fetish to bring Muslims to America..."

Matthew 25:35 "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,..."

No, it's neither "current" nor a "fetish."

The only current fetish is the attitude of hatred and fear that, probably, form the foundation for your comment.

Anonymous said...

Bean, so then what is your view on the Crusades? Was the Church wrong?

George said...


Today, October 7th, is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, intially known as the Feast of Our Lady of Victory. This Feast day was instituted by Pope Pius V to commemorate the victory of the combined naval fleet of the Holy League over the Islamic Ottoman fleet at the battle of Lepanto. Pope Pius V , being a Dominican, knew that the rosary was the most effective means of imploring Our Lady's intercession. It is important to note that prior to this battle, the Ottoman Turks had already conquered and occupied a large part of the land in the Danube River Valley. Knowing that the Christian forces were at a disadvantage, both in men and materials, the Holy Father exhorted the faithful to pray the rosary and he likewise led a rosary procession in Rome.A rosary was also recited every day by the men on the naval vsssels. After their defeat the Ottoman Empire never recovered from the loss of so many of its sailors and marines and never again was it to be the naval power it had become in the previous century.
To give further evidence of Our Lady's intervention and assistance in this victory, Andrea Doria, one of the principle admirals in the Christian fleet, carried on his ship an exact copy of the Holy Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe sent by the Archbishop of Mexico to King Philip II. A blue standard of Our Lady of Guadalupe also flew from the masthead of Don Juan's flagship. The Blessed Virgin intercession was also credited when John Sobieski forced the Turks to lift the Siege of Vienna in 1683 and in addition, after the victory of Prince Eugene of Savoy in the successful campaign to remove the Ottomans from Europe in the following century in the Austro-Turkish war.

Given the many evils and threats to Christianity so prevalent in our societies in so many ways throughout the world, It is incumbent on us as Catholics to pray the rosary every day.


Bean said...

Anonymous - Can you explain the connection between Bret's comment, my response, and the Crusades?

Are you of the mind that the Church is dogmatically opposed to the immigration of Muslims to the United States of America?

Then, can you explain why you think - if you do - that Bret is correct in calling the USCCB's position a "current fetish"?

Anonymous said...

We are told that Alonzo Pedro de Guzman, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia, prayed the rosary every day for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for victory against the heretical English.

de Guzman commanded the Spanish armada, by the way...

Anonymous said...

Bean, I can't figure out what your reply to Bret had to do with his comment. He was saying how current times for Catholics are like what happened to Job, and you start talking about helping the poor, which has nothing to do with Isis related Muslims coming into this country to cause terroristic acts, and the US bishops willing to be very un-vigilant about it.

Bean said...

"I was a stranger and you invited me in,..." does not refer to helping the poor.

The "stranger" is the alien, the foreigner, the one who does not belong to the community of Israel.

Deut 10:18-20 ""He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name.…"

The Bishops are reflecting the ancient Biblical tradition. This I neither a current thing nor a fetishistic thing.


Anonymous said...

But it still does not address the fact that Muslim terrorists are coming into America for the sole purpose to commit terrorist acts, and the US Bishops are recklessly turning a blind eye to this. And again, none of this has to do with Bret's original comment about how the current times in the Church are similar to Job. If you want to continue to hijack the discussion, then please answer my question on your view of the Crusades and if you think the Church was wrong, since it relates to Muslims foreigners in this day.

Bean said...

Anonymous - White, far-right radicals (terrorists) pose a far greater risk to anyone living in the United States than Islamicists.

'Since September 12, 2001,' noted a recent report prepared for Congress by the Government Accountability Office, 'the number of fatalities caused by domestic violent extremists has ranged from 1 to 49 in a given year. … Fatalities resulting from attacks by far-right wing violent extremists have exceeded those caused by radical Islamist violent extremists in 10 of the 15 years, and were the same in 3 of the years since September 12, 2001.'

SOURCE: April 2017 Countering Violent Extremism - Actions Needed to Define Strategy and Assess Progress of Federal Efforts. Government Accountability Office

So you and Bret and other of your mindset can go on and on about a fantasy threat as long as you want.

And if you don't like "hijacked" discussions, don't participate in them. (Actually, I see this not as a hijacking, but as a much-needed correction to Bret and those who share his/her ill-formed opinions.)

Anonymous said...

Wow, Bean. Your first posts were so deadpan, I thought you were serious. But your last post was so over the top and outlandish, I suddenly realized this is a comedy routine, and I walked right into it. Your screen name "Bean" was a total tip off, and it went right over my head. Very funny! Good job.

Bean said...

Wow, Anon, your nervous laughter doesn't change the facts, and they are serious. Cheers!

Bret said...

I think we can all agree, what is responsible for more deaths than Muslim terrorists, more deaths than left wing terrorist groups like BLM and antifa, more deaths than right wing gun hoarders, more deaths than nazis/kkk or socialists/communists, is abortion, and that is what should be top priority for eradication. All Catholics can agree on that, right, Bean? Right, anonymous? Let's stick with what unites us.

Anonymous said...

Bret, agree. (BTW, kind of funny how Bean goes out of his way not to answer the question if he thinks the Church was wrong on the Crusades. Double cheers, mate.)

Bean said...

The Crusades have nothing whatsoever to do with Bret's absurd comment about the USCCB's "current fetish." That's why I'm not "answering" it.