Happy With Ratzinger! (No, Really!)

The "reform of the reform" has begun, says Vatican analyst

ROME, Italy, April 29 (CNA) - In his weekly column, the renowned Vatican analyst Sandro Magister of “L’Espresso” says recent actions and statements by Pope Benedict XVI signal the beginning of the “reform of the reform.”

Magister reveals that the Pontiff had originally wished to celebrate his solemn inaugural Mass inside St. Peter’s rather than in the square, “Because there the architecture better directs the attention toward Christ, instead of the pope.”

In addition Magister notes that the Holy Father told the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel that he would make the Eucharist the center of his program as the successor of St. Peter. This centrality of the Eucharist, Magister points out, is evident in the attention given to the celebrations that have taken place thus far and have been marked by “lavishness and eloquence of symbols.”

Magister highlights certain details of the inaugural Mass of Benedict XVI that might have escaped the notice of the untrained eye and are eloquent signs of the new Pope’s style.

“With his extraordinary passion for the liturgy, Benedict XVI is unquestionably a pope of the great tradition of liturgical texts, rituals, art, and music,” writes Magister.

He also analyzes some recent writings of Ratzinger the cardinal which provide clues as to what reforms one should expect from the new Pontiff.

The entire article can be found at:
http://www.chiesa.espressonline.it/dettaglio.jsp?id=29626&eng=y

At last there seems to be some small hope that the many questionable practices that have attached themselves to the current liturgy will be exterminated. However, in my hope I also have a larger than normal amount of reserve. Let's face it, the problem has never been the Novus Ordo Liturgy itself as it was originally proposed. The problem has always been disobedient bishops, priests and laypeople who have sought to refashion the Sacrifice of the Mass in their own image.

So here is the hurdle that Pope Benedict must clear: disobedience. John Paul the Great wrote at length about abuses in the Mass. He re-clarified proper norms and he set liturgical standards; all of which were largely ignored. How is Pope Benedict to fare any better with his mission to clean up the liturgical mess he has inherited unless he has the cooperation of his bishops, priests and ideally the "people in the pews"?

I do not want to second guess the strategy of John Paul the Great, but my guess is that his hope was directed at education of the clergy and faithful. He hoped, I think, that through his prolific writings, large numbers of the clergy and faithful would return to the traditions of the Church based on the strength of Revealed Truth as well as his detailed, reasoned explainations of It. Unfortunately for all of us, that has not proven to be the case. Nor, I fear, will it be unless some other strategy is employed to encourage people to see the logic of John Paul's teachings.

What strategy that will be is ultimately up to Benedict XVI. In my own humble opinion, the time for mercy alone has come to an end. Whereas John Paul had hope that the de-facto schism in the Church could be healed peacefully, the sad facts of the situation may prove that hope to be hollow. In order to save the faithful that he has left, our new pope may have to content himself with a smaller but more faithful Church. Those currently disobedient to the Church that Jesus Christ founded two-thousand years ago must make a choice: either join with the Church with all their heart, mind and strength...or leave...please. If they insist on continuing their disobedience within the Church, then I think that Pope Benedict would do well to act as a Divine Surgeon: save the body by sacrificing a diseased limb.

Labels: Catholic, Catholicism

posted by Norm Johnson @ 10:18 AM