Benedict XVI Wants a New TV Director (Magister)

[stumbler]

Joseph Ratzinger has always had serious reservations about Piero Marini, choreographer of John Paul II’s masses. “La Civiltà Cattolica” explains how to coordinate the pontifical liturgies with the medium of television

by Sandro Magister

ROMA, June 10, 2005 – Of the two men who constantly appeared in public at the side of John Paul II, the first – his personal secretary, Stanislaw Dziwisz – is no longer seen, having been promoted to the metropolitan see of Krakow.

But the second is still there, and continues to appear beside the new pope, Benedict XVI. He is Archbishop Piero Marini, master of ceremonies for the pontifical liturgies.

Marini has been the director of the papal masses since 1987. Very often, thanks to the fact that these are broadcast on television, they are seen by hundreds of millions of people all over the world, and are thus raised to the level of a universal model.

And it is thanks in large part to Marini that the masses of John Paul II took on their characteristic form. It is a form that is less Roman and more international. Gregorian chant and polyphony have been mostly removed, and their place in the papal rites has been given frequently to music, texts, and dances taken from Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

But in addition to being international, John Paul II’s liturgies were typical television fare. Marini himself theorized – in a July 19, 2003 interview with “La Civiltà Cattolica” – that “the direction of the liturgy is obliged to harmonize itself with television direction.”

The systematic use of television for the papal masses will remain with Benedict XVI.

But it can be foreseen, on the other hand, that the “direction of the liturgy” will not be the same. As a cardinal, Joseph Ratzinger never kept secret his criticisms of some aspects of Marini’s preferred approach.

And even with his inaugural mass Benedict XVI has made it clear that he wants to accomplish a “reform of the reform” in this area, with increased fidelity to the great tradition of the Church. . . .

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Full article

 

[Ani_Ibi]

Wow!

 

[Richardols]

stumbler:

Joseph Ratzinger has always had serious reservations about Piero Marini, choreographer of John Paul II’s masses.

The man worked for John Paul II and had his confidence.

And it is thanks in large part to Marini that the masses of John Paul II took on their characteristic form. It is a form that is less Roman and more international.

This is bad? The Church is an international institution.

But in addition to being international, John Paul II’s liturgies were typical television fare.

Ah, yes. Mass is like a sit-com or a soap. I always though it had something to do with Re-enactment.

But it can be foreseen, on the other hand, that the “direction of the liturgy” will not be the same. As a cardinal, Joseph Ratzinger never kept secret his criticisms of some aspects of Marini’s preferred approach.

Now that he’s in charge, he can change it. But, that doesn’t mean that John Paul II’s Masses were faulty.

 

[HagiaSophia]

Richardols:

Now that he’s in charge, he can change it. But, that doesn’t mean that John Paul II’s Masses were faulty.

No ti doesn’t but it has been no secret that many of the curia and a number of diocesan bishops have been highly disturbed and some openly critical about Marini’s penchant for “incense bowls, writhing dancers,” and felt that because of the tv cameras, the Mass was being turned into pure spectacle rather than a solemn liturgy giving praise and worship to Christ. The distribution of Eucharist at some of the Youth Days was particularly singled out.

It is no surprise that the new pope would wish a new Master of Ceremonies, it is also no surprise to me that Marini would like to do something else since he’s been doing it for JPII for so many years.

I do not consider this a major “story” - it’s more a natural happening under a new administration who would prefer a different “take” on how things are done. We will IMO see Marini receive some nice post for his years of service to the former pope and a new liturgical Master of Ceremonies who will do things to suit the new Pope. It’s a win-win situation.

 

[Eden]

I was always wondering who the man was who always appears over the Pope’s left shoulder in the Masses broadcast on TV and what his role is. So, now I understand who Piero Marini is. Anyway, I think that the fact that Pope Benedict XVI wants a new TV director is not a judgment on Pope John Paul II. JPII’s style was a perfect fit for the times in which he was chosen to lead us. The TV Masses reflected the growing new concept of multiculturalism of those times. But Pope Benedict XVI is, in my opinion, a perfect answer to our current times. As our society becomes more and more secular, I think many Catholics are seeking security in our traditions and a more traditional televised Mass is something that would appeal to Catholics who yearn for tradition.