Redemptionis Sacramentum- Chapter I, Section 3

[deogratias]

Section 3 outlines the roles of the Priest.

Although the Bishop is responsible for overseeing the Diocese and his priests and they act in accordance with his instructions, they have responsibilities regarding knowing the liturgy as well.

33.] Finally, all “Priests should go to the trouble of properlycultivating their liturgical knowledge and ability,so that through their liturgical ministry, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit will be praised in an ever more excellent manner by the Christian communities entrusted to them”.[75] Above all, let them be filled with that wonder and amazement that the Paschal Mystery, in being celebrated, instills in the hearts of the faithful.[76]

I have found this not to be true. Often when you ask a priest about something liturgical you may get a blank stare or an answer that says, “this is the way the Bishop says to do it” - and I have found that not always true since I started reporting liturgical abuses to the Bishops’s office.

Probably the honest answer for some priests might be “this is the way my minister of the liturgy told me to do it”

Hopefully with this Instruction (RS) this will change.

 

[pnewton]

Pratically speaking, wouldn’t most on-going liturgical training come from the diocese anyway and therefore reflect the way the bishop wants the GIRM implemented?

Someone asked an interesting question on another thread. “Who interprets the CCC?” The same could be said for the GIRM and documents like RS. Who is responsible for the implementation? The bishop.

Still, if all priests would attempt to obey even the GIRM, even the most liberal interpretation of it, the document Redemptionis Sacramentum would not have been needed.

 

[deogratias]

This is true - Redemptionis Sacramentum gives no new rules, only clarifies those already in existence and reaffirms the roles of Bishops, Bishops Councils and laypersons.

What this instruction does do that has never been stressed before is charge us all with reporting liturgical abuses and even gives us permission to go all the way to the Holy See if no local resolution occurs.

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

Agreed. Some priests truly do not seem to know or perhaps care when certain liturgical functions (as so eloquently put in Inaestimabile Donum) “offend the ecclesial sense.”

And in the past, it seemed that there was little we could do about it. (I say “seemed,” because we always did have recourse through reporting to the Church hierarchy.)

But now it has been spelled out for us, that each of us has the duty to preserve and protect the Liturgy as it has been given us by the Church.
Still though, if a bishop doesn’t act on RS or instruct the diocese to implement it, what is a priest to do?

 

[deogratias]

I think I answered your question in one of the other RS sections Panis

 

[deogratias]

Read the entire section mentioned in my signature line.

 

[pnewton]

The fact that we have a right to address liturgical problems with the bishop and the Holy See does not mean that any given Catholic is mandated to do so. Implied in any right to an action is the right to inaction.

We do have a duty to do what we can. In some situations addressing the priest is needed. In all situations of liturgical abuse, prayer is a tool we must use. We can and should pray for our priests.

 

[deogratias]

The fact that we have a right to address liturgical problems with the bishop and the Holy See does not mean that any given Catholic is mandated to do so. Implied in any right to an action is the right to inaction.

We do have a duty to do what we can. In some situations addressing the priest is needed. In all situations of liturgical abuse, prayer is a tool we must use. We can and should pray for our priests.

I think you will see in the other sections on RS that I have said the same thing - start with the priest (or at least with the pastor) and I have also said several times that we need to pray for them and our Bishops.

However if we continue to just let George do it, nothing will change.

I do think the language in Redemptionis Sacramentum is a little stronger than just a right.

6. Complaints Regarding Abuses in Liturgical Matters

[183.] In an altogether particular manner, let everyone do all that is in their power to ensure that the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist will be protected from any and every irreverence or distortion and that all abuses be thoroughly corrected. This is a most serious duty incumbent upon each and every one, and all are bound to carry it out without any favouritism.

Wouldn’t you agree that “serious duty” is a little stronger than -
“you have the right if you want to”?

 

[pnewton]

Yes, “serious duty” is stronger, but that phrase does not refer specifically to notifying the Bishop and Holy See. That is why I said that particular action does not always have to be taken, especially on matters that do not reflect directly on the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Besides, in taking an active role in prayer, specifically through the rosary, you are taking a problem to the Mother of the Church.

 

[deogratias]

I do not underestimate the power of prayer.

However since these two paragraphs follow each other - I stand by my conviction that we are to do all that is in our power (as charged) and if that requires notifying the Bishop, when other action fails, then we are morally bound to do so in my opinion.

BTW, do you mind my asking if you have read this entire document yet?

I would like to add that we not only pray for our priests and Bishops but take the time to also write them not just with complaints but definite words of encouragement. If we get discouraged by negative E-mail addressed to us, think how they might feel if that is the only mail they get.

I am extremely pleased with my Bishop and write him frequently to let him know of my support. It is probably why he has responded so promptly on the two occasions when I did have to bring serious liturgical abuses that involved the handling of the Holy Eucharist to his attention. (Yes I tried repeatedly to address this on the parish level).