Ecumenism - Problems with Mass & Prayer Services

[Nikhil]

Hi,

I live in India where we sometimes face a problem of the mass and prayer services being tampered with in the name of ecumenism. Some of our catholic schools and institutions have gone to the extent of having Hindu priests / swamis conduct prayers etc which is taking ecumenism too far.

I have downloaded the ECCLESIA DE EUCHARISTIA and am in the process of reading it. I would like to know if there is a clear concise document available on the Dos and Don’ts for Mass and other services.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Regards

Nikhil

 

[John_Lilburne]

The 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum is a useful document on “dos an don’ts”. It is at vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html .
On Ecumenism it has:
“[8.] It is therefore to be noted with great sadness that “ecumenical initiatives which are wellintentioned, nevertheless indulge at times in Eucharistic practices contrary to the discipline by which the Church expresses her faith”. Yet the Eucharist “is too great a gift to tolerate ambiguity or depreciation”. It is therefore necessary that some things be corrected or more clearly delineated so that in this respect as well “the Eucharist will continue to shine forth in all its radiant mystery”.[footnote 19: Cf. Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n. 10: AAS 95 (2003) p. 439.]”

“[167.] “Similarly, it is unthinkable on the Lord’s Day to substitute for Holy Mass either ecumenical celebrations of the word or services of common prayer with Christians from the . . . Ecclesial Communities, or even participation in these Communities’ liturgical services.”
[footnote 272: Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n. 30: AAS 95 (2003) pp. 453-454; cf. also Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, Directory for the application of the principles and norms on ecumenism, La recherche de l’unité, 25 March 1993, n. 115: AAS 85 (1993) pp. 1039-1119, here p. 1085.]
Should the diocesan Bishop out of necessity authorize the participation of Catholics for a single occasion, let pastors take care lest confusion arise among the Catholic faithful concerning the necessity of taking part at Mass at another hour of the day even in such circumstances, on account of the obligation.
[footnote 273: Cf. Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, Directory for the application of the principles and norms on ecumenism, La recherche de l’unité, n. 115: AAS 85 (1993) p. 1085. ]”

 

[Nikhil]

Thank you very much. I knew there was a better document. I just could not get the name Redemptionis Sacramentum. I will be looking around for more commentaries on this topic and will post them on here.

Thanks again.

 

[aetratus]

Nikhil, thank you for putting Jesus first and defending orthodoxy.

 

[Nikhil]

Nikhil, thank you for putting Jesus first and defending orthodoxy.

Not a problem. I actually meet a lot of priests & religious and my intention is to give them a document that they will respect. Some very well meaning people have been taken in by the liberal thinkers who sometimes don’t think things through.