Pope: Wider Celebration of EF not a "Rollback" of VII

[TMC]

I found this article interesting, and maybe contrary to what a lot of people assume about the future of the liturgy. In response to a question, the Pope reaffirmed that he authorized wider use of the Latin Mass as “an act of tolerance,” and that it does not signal a rollback of Vatican II.

“Certainly, there are different accents” between the two rites of the Mass, Benedict said, but fundamentally they express the same faith. He also said that “development” in the liturgy is a natural feature of church life in every century.

[ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/1796](Pope: Fears ‘unfounded’ Latin Mass roles back council)

 

[brotherhrolf]

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[Dauphin]

The Council called for a liturgical revision, but the Pope has made clear that he doesn’t believe that the will of the council was done in the ensuing reform. So, even a radical return to tradition would not be a rupudiation of the council - it would simply be a reimagining of its directives, in which the liturgical revision is simply a small (not fundamental or doctrinal) change to the Traditional Latin Mass, in continuity with the past.

 

[japhy]

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This link works fine. Here is the article from Zenit.

I’d be interested in seeing the exact answers the Pope gave (in French, preferably, and English). One thing to point out is that, according to the article, he said “the liturgy approved by Vatican II”. Now, Vatican II did not approve a liturgy, per se, but a particular set of reforms to apply to the liturgy as it was in 1962. Pope Paul VI approved the liturgical reform afterwards.

So the Pope might be (but I do not guarantee this) distinguishing between the Council (and the reforms it mentioned) and the reforms as they occurred later.

Update: This quote from the Pope doesn’t seem in line with my musings above: “It’s clear that the renewed liturgy is the ordinary liturgy of our times.”

 

[TMC]

This link works fine. Here is the article from Zenit.

I’d be interested in seeing the exact answers the Pope gave (in French, preferably, and English). One thing to point out is that, according to the article, he said “the liturgy approved by Vatican II”. Now, Vatican II did not approve a liturgy, per se, but a particular set of reforms to apply to the liturgy as it was in 1962. Pope Paul VI approved the liturgical reform afterwards.

So the Pope might be (but I do not guarantee this) distinguishing between the Council (and the reforms it mentioned) and the reforms as they occurred later.

Update: This quote from the Pope doesn’t seem in line with my musings above: “It’s clear that the renewed liturgy is the ordinary liturgy of our times.”

I had the same thought about “the liturgy approved by Vatican II” as opposed to the liturgy currently used. But I think you are right that his statements do no support the idea that he was referring to anything other than the OF as currently celebrated. I get the impression he would still like to make some changes – some of which may seem (to some) to be a move back towards the older form. But I think the Pope Benedict has been pretty consistent in insisting the current Mass is an evolution, not a break from the past, and that it will be appropriate to make minor adjustments in this and future generations.

 

[ethelzguy]

While this commentary “should” clear things up, it will no doubt create hot debate for many. It seems pretty clear to me.

 

[japhy]

So the Pope might be (but I do not guarantee this) distinguishing between the Council (and the reforms it mentioned) and the reforms as they occurred later.

Update: This quote from the Pope doesn’t seem in line with my musings above: “It’s clear that the renewed liturgy is the ordinary liturgy of our times.”

Wait, I take that back. The Pope is simply re-iterating what he said in the Motu Proprio and in the related letter, that the Ordinary Form of the liturgy is the “renewed liturgy”, meaning, the Missal of Paul VI, using a phrase the French bishops would be sure to recognize. It’s nothing different from what he has said before.