This seems to be the front runner for the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and if appointed a Cardinal, he could well one day be pope! Mark my word:
Bishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, O.F.M.
In the video below, Bishop Viola gives a homily in Italian. While you may not understand Italian, please note the things you can understand:
1. He is wearing Roman vestments and other vestments he has worn, while not ostentatious, are quite beautiful and one can tell he pays attention to detail.
2. His preaching is powerful and he comes across as a mystic. He uses what I call “Italian” emotion. When he preaches, his eyes are closed. But he is powerful. With eyes shut, I find that it moves me to really listen to the words and not watch the antics of preachers who move too much, use too many facial contortions and eye contact. His closed eyes focus the hearer on the words. Interesting, no?
3. This man has the potential to become a pope—the Italians would love him! Why? He’s a Franciscan and he is so Italian. This will endear him to the world as well.
I don’t know if he has any affinity to the EF Mass, although there is a photo of him celebrating Mass ad orientem and in Roman Vestments.
He is open minded about Ad Orientem. That would bode well for the Church.
For what it is worth, I endorse Bishop Viola as the Prefect for the Congregation of Divine Worship:
11 comments:
From whence comes the "mystic" appellation? Has he spoken of contemplative prayer? Of being a contemplative? Of the centrality of contemplative prayer to Christian life?
A mystic is that does just talk about it.
iPhone posting debacle.
A mystic is that. It isn’t just talking about it.
Rad trad traditionalists won’t like him as he wears his pectoral cross over his chasuble. Fr Z would probably declare him a heretic.
Personally I’m putting my money on ++Arthur Roche. We’ve had more than enough Italian Popes - it’s time overdue for an authentic Pope Augustine!!!
I was simply curious as there is a dearth of leaders who have much to say on interior prayer. They generally talk more as branch office managers giving a productivity pep talk.
To "uk priest", I would point out the latest news that Dr. Anthony Fauci has noted that folk such as him who wear a Patek Philippe are 30 times less likely to contract the virus compared to people who wear cheaper watches such as Seiko and Citizen, and is urging all citizens to buy, and most importantly, wear a Patek until the barbeque this coming summer, but to NOT wear while eating barbeque, trust him.
Am passing this along so you can avoid the rush.
Archbishop Viola was part of an event in 2012 in Perugia along with Father Cassian Folsom (prior of the Norcia Monastery), which discussed active participation in both forms of the Roman rite.
http://www.summorumpontificum.org/dal-buon-esito-della-conferenza-il-coordinamento-umbro-inizia-la-sua-missione/
UK priest,
You sound as ridiculous as your American counterpart
I wouldn't put a Franciscan in charge of a whelk stall, let alone a Vatican dicastery. Traditionally-minded Dominicans are a much safer bet. Domini canes - the Lord's dogs, and attack dogs to boot.
They went off the rails after Vatican II along with many others but seem to have bounced back. I have sung their distinctive chant and attended their distinctive liturgy many times.
According to an article on LifeSite News, Viola is a Bugnini fan and actually wears Bugnini’s episcopal ring—not a good indicator. .
Msgr Guido Marini had a papal audience today (his first since he was confirmed in post in 2017), so maybe he's in the running for prefect too...
Does it matter who is in charge of the CDWDS? In 2004 the Congregation, then under Cardinal Arinze, issued Redemptionis Sacramentum to correct widespread liturgical abuses. It had no effect, and was criticized in progressive circles for its 'negativity'.
Under PF's centralizing tendency, dicasteries are no longer able to issue directives on their own authority.
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