Benedict XVI: ‘Obscuring’ God from the liturgy has led to crisis in the Church

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The former pontiff said liturgy had become too centred on man's 'activity and creativity'
God has become “obscured” in the liturgy, resulting in a crisis for the Church, Benedict XVI has said.

In a foreword to the Russian edition of his book Theology of the Liturgy, reproduced in La Stampa, the former pontiff said a misunderstanding of the nature of liturgy has led to man putting “his own activity and creativity” at the heart of worship.
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http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/new...-the-liturgy-has-led-to-crisis-in-the-church/
 
This is true. The trend has been to focus on “the community”. God is seen as having a purpose, that is, drawing people closer together. This is reflected in recent church architecture, or shifting pews around in existing churches so people sort of face each other, even at an angle.

The crucifix is often removed, or replaced by a stylized “resurrection” cross. The whole idea of “Sacrifice of the Mass” has been deeply obscured. The tabernacle is de emphasized, removed to a remote location within, or even outside the Church proper.
 
I agree. The focus is supposed to be on Jesus. People now prefer to think of the Eucharist as a “communal meal” rather than a sacrifice. The sacrificial element is de-emphasised.
 
Every mass I’ve ever been to has been focused on the Eucharist. What are some examples of what he is talking about? It’s God from top to bottom from where I sit.
 
Why do they call it communion if it’s not a communal meal? It’s a foretaste of Heaven and I guarantee it will be a communal meal in Heaven. We will all be one through God, doesn’t get more communal than that.
 
Yes but it’s both a sacred meal and a sacrifice. There needs to be a balance. I was once at a Mass where the priest invited the children of the congregation to join him at the altar DURING the consecration. One boy rested his elbows on the altar looking bored. There was no sense of sacrifice at all. They were all around the table for a meal with Father.
 
They did that at a parish I sometimes attend for the family mass (not sure if they still do). I thought it was beautiful. What sense of sacrifice is there when the children aren’t at the alter vs. when they are? The words of consecration is the same and the end result is the same. Besides, kids are cute, Jesus was a fan too.
 
For one, the Church has forbidden this practice. Symbolism matters. The action at the altar is so sacred, the very sacrifice of the cross made present, that our utmost reverence is required.
 
How has this been obscured? How can anyone not know the Mass is a sacrifice when the congregation says, “May the Lord accept the Sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and the glory of His Name, for our good and the good of all His Holy Church?”
 
mythbuster1 said:
How has this been obscured? How can anyone not know the Mass is a sacrifice when the congregation says, “May the Lord accept the Sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and the glory of His Name, for our good and the good of all His Holy Church?”
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The congregation may say these words, but sometimes other things distract from the whole idea of “sacrifice”:
  • The absence of a crucifix (or a stylized, sanitized version)
  • Pictures on the walls that focus attention on whatever is in the headlines this year, while stations of the cross are stick figures
  • The pews are turned slightly, so as to focus attention on other people rather than the Crucifix, and altar, and specifically the Consecration.
  • The consecration may happen in a routine way, with no emphasis that something sacred is taking place here and now. It does not necessarily have to be accompanied by bells, but that is good. The priest’s body language, and way he says words, and pauses, communicates to the people the importance of this.
  • In many parishes the Sign of Peace not the Consecration, is the main focus.
 
It has been obscured. I have had cleric friends who use terms like active Eucharistic Species and inactive Eucharistic Species as if the real presence in the hosts reserved in the tabernacle do not possess the real presence of Christ unless the people are gathered together. This idea likely has the council of Trent Fathers rolling in their graves. (just a figure of speech folks)

More times than I care to count I have heard pastoral associates, DREs, and Catechists say things like the primary sign of the real presence of Christ in the Mass is the gathering of the people and the sharing of the meal. There was a time period in the 70s and 80s where the idea of sacrifice seemed to be jettisoned. It was a painful time. I might add that the focusing the emphasis of sacrifice can lead to forgetting about the community. The Mass is both a sacrifice and a meal.
 
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deacon3b said:
It has been obscured. I have had cleric friends who use terms like active Eucharistic Species and inactive Eucharistic Species as if the real presence in the hosts reserved in the tabernacle do not possess the real presence of Christ unless the people are gathered together. This idea likely has the council of Trent Fathers rolling in their graves. (just a figure of speech folks)

More times than I care to count I have heard pastoral associates, DREs, and Catechists say things like the primary sign of the real presence of Christ in the Mass is the gathering of the people and the sharing of the meal. There was a time period in the 70s and 80s where the idea of sacrifice seemed to be jettisoned. It was a painful time. I might add that the focusing the emphasis of sacrifice can lead to forgetting about the community. The Mass is both a sacrifice and a meal.
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If you emphasize the people unified in focusing on the crucifixion and resurrection, the Holy Sacrifice re-presenting the Sacrifice at Calvary, this unity can lead to community. If you try to skip sacrifice and try to use the Mass as a means to an end - community - you end up with no sacrifice, and no community. If you skip Good Friday, you lose both Good Friday and Easter.
 
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Pope Benedict is too big for us… Like all the Popes I ve known…And there is so much, that we often stay with parts.
Here is some more that will probably resonate more with you,J Peterson,. and made sense to me . There is a lot from Pope Benedict to discover…Súper Pope his own way.
Things do not often exclude but complement others. Read his words in this article,if you want… Then we also understand a bit more what he says in Abyssinia’ s.
Not to derail,just brackets for you to go on with,
J Peterson. Hope it helps.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/church-in-west-suffering-crisis-of-faith-says-pope/

Here is some more from documents in the Vatican.
I haven t finished reading them yet,but so far they ve been helpful

http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/documents/index_insegnamenti-liturgia_en.html
 
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