SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS (VA released; full text)

  • Thread starter Thread starter John_Lilburne
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
J

John_Lilburne

Guest
According to Catholic News Service the Vatican have announced that the Apostolic Exhortation will be published on 13 March 2007. It is on the Synod of Bishops of 2005 on the Eucharist. The title is “Sacramentum Caritatis” or “Sacrament of Charity.” The CNS report is at catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0701273.htm .
 
That Vatican Information Service announcement is at 212.77.1.245/news_services/press/vis/dinamiche/b1_en.htm . It says that the press conference will be at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 13. At the press conference will be Cardinal Angelo Scola, patriarch of Venice, Italy, relator general of the 11th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which was held in October 2005, and Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops.
 
POST-SYNODAL
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION
SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS
OF THE HOLY FATHER
BENEDICT XVI
TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY,
CONSECRATED PERSONS
AND THE LAY FAITHFUL
ON THE EUCHARIST
AS THE SOURCE AND SUMMIT
OF THE CHURCH’S LIFE AND MISSION

Full text…
 
Some notable sections (to me at least 😃 )

**The Structure of the Eucharistic Celebration **[43]The intrinsic unity of the liturgical action [44]

The liturgy of the word [45]

The homily [46]

The presentation of the gifts [47]

The Eucharistic Prayer [48]

The sign of peace [49]

**The distribution and reception of the Eucharist [50] **

The dismissal: “Ite, missa est” [51]Actuosa participatio [52]Authentic participation [53]

Participation and the priestly ministry [53]

The eucharistic celebration and inculturation [54]

Personal conditions for an “active participation” [55]

Participation by Christians who are not Catholic [56]

Participation through the communications media [57]

Active participation by the sick [58]

Care for prisoners [59]

Migrants and participation in the Eucharist [60]

Large-scale celebrations [61]

The Latin language [62]

Eucharistic celebrations in small groups [63]

**Adoration and Eucharistic devotion**The intrinsic relationship between celebration and adoration [66]

The practice of eucharistic adoration [67]

Forms of eucharistic devotion [68]

The location of the tabernacle [69]
 
A fascinating section on the dismissal:
*Finally, I would like to comment briefly on the observations of the Synod Fathers regarding the dismissal at the end of the eucharistic celebration. After the blessing, the deacon or the priest dismisses the people with the words: Ite, missa est. These words help us to grasp the relationship between the Mass just celebrated and the mission of Christians in the world. In antiquity, missa simply meant “dismissal.” However in Christian usage it gradually took on a deeper meaning. The word “dismissal” has come to imply a “mission.” These few words succinctly express the missionary nature of the Church. The People of God might be helped to understand more clearly this essential dimension of the Church’s life, taking the dismissal as a starting- point. In this context, it might also be helpful to provide new texts, duly approved, for the prayer over the people and the final blessing, in order to make this connection clear *
Click to expand...
Interesting in that this, at least in initial language, moves towards the tone (not the words, people, the tone) of LifeTeen… aka… “Mass never ends, it must be lived”.

Also, the subject of blessings at communion is not dealt with, but rather it is suggested that for occassions with large numbers of non-Catholics the Liturgy of the Word alone might be used. Still not much of an answer for the stray non-Catholic that comes up for a blessing.
 
The sign of peace
  1. …during the Synod of Bishops there was discussion about the appropriateness of greater restraint in this gesture, which can be exaggerated and cause a certain distraction in the assembly just before the reception of Communion. It should be kept in mind that nothing is lost when the sign of peace is marked by a sobriety which preserves the proper spirit of the celebration, as, for example, when it is restricted to one’s immediate neighbours (150).
Participation through the communications media
  1. …with regard to the value of taking part in Mass via the communications media, those who hear or view these broadcasts should be aware that, under normal circumstances, they do not fulfil the obligation of attending Mass
The location of the tabernacle
  1. …the place where the eucharistic species are reserved, marked by a sanctuary lamp, should be readily visible to everyone entering the church. … in churches which do not have a Blessed Sacrament chapel, and where the high altar with its tabernacle is still in place, it is appropriate to continue to use this structure for the reservation and adoration of the Eucharist, taking care not to place the celebrant’s chair in front of it. In new churches, it is good to position the Blessed Sacrament chapel close to the sanctuary; where this is not possible, it is preferable to locate the tabernacle in the sanctuary, in a sufficiently elevated place, at the centre of the apse area, or in another place where it will be equally conspicuous. … Obviously it is necessary to follow the provisions of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal in this regard. (197) In any event,** final judgment on these matters belongs to the Diocesan Bishop**.
 
More interesting, that some traditionalists won’t like:
54. On the basis of these fundamental statements of the Second Vatican Council, the Synod Fathers frequently stressed the importance of the active participation of the faithful in the eucharistic sacrifice. In order to foster this participation, provision may be made for a number of adaptations appropriate to different contexts and cultures. (163) The fact that certain abuses have occurred does not detract from this clear principle, which must be upheld in accordance with the real needs of the Church as she lives and celebrates the one mystery of Christ in a variety of cultural situations.
Click to expand...
The possibility of “new adaptives” is also discussed at the end of that section, and not in a ruling-it-out way.
 
What a joy! I’ve just read this new Apostolic Exhortation, and I think that this really addresses the issues we face in the Church’s Liturgy.

Things such as Gregorian Chant, the specific words of Consecration, and the use of Latin for international prayer groups are really instruemntal for the Church’s continuing strength. They truly show us, as catholics, that we are One Church, One Body, One People.

What are your thoughts on this new document?
 
A lovely set of words; but just that: Words.

I’m sorry, but we’ve had over 40 years of words. Unless words are backed up with action, they are useless.

Please don’t get me wrong. I love the Holy Father; I think what he says in this exhoration is absolutely true. However, do any of you know of any parishes who don’t already do the things this exhortation asks for who will change because of Sacramentum Caritatis? Do any of you think any church that does not offer a Latin Mass or who does bilingual Masses (which are never a good PR move) that will change to doing multi-cultural Masses in Latin?

Do you think any seminaries not now encouraging Latin will do so because the Holy Father has now written they should? Do you think parishes who riggle in the “spirit of Vatican II” will do anything different because the phrase “Full, ACTIVE, conscious participation” was incorrectly translated and actually meant “full, ACTUAL, conscious participation”? Heck, do you think the people of that mindset will even READ this document? Do you think any of them even know any of the documents from Vatican II or what document that nauseously over-used and out-of-context quote comes from?!?!?

No, friends, I’m afraid, as lovely and as poignent as this document is, it is completely useless unless a) it is actually read and heeded and b) liturgical law is enforced. I’m afraid the axe is going to have to fall from the CDW and the CDF and the norms and laws of the liturgy will have to be enforced by the bishops, and those bishops who refuse to enforce them will have to be removed. Whole congregations will probably leave. However, lets remember St. Benedict’s words: “Succisa virescit”…“pruned it will grow again”. Forgive me, but I would prefer a smaller, devout, intelligent and intensely spiritual Church far more than a big-tent, half-the-people-don’t-know-what’s-going-on-and-don’t-really-care, never-preach-on-anything-that-might-anger-people-and-lower-the-collection mess that we have now.

Forgive me for the rant…I’ve been trying to figure out why I wasn’t as excited as all of you when the exhortation came out…I think the above says it fairly well.

As always, obedient to Rome:

Adam
 
It’s up to the bishops and priests to act on this. Let us pray that they may be empowered and that they may not be afraid to correct the wrongs otherwise going unnoticed.

If the world had more bishops who actually acted on what the church teaches, ones who aren’t afraid of political correctness, the Church would not be in its current position as the “little brother you can beat up, who says nothing, but who still loves you.”
 
NetNuncio said:
A lovely set of words; but just that: Words.

I’m sorry, but we’ve had over 40 years of words. Unless words are backed up with action, they are useless.

As always, obedient to Rome:

Adam
Click to expand...
I agree, Adam.

If they would not listen to Redemptionis Sacramentum which was an Instruction “to be published and to be observed immediately by all concerned” then why will they listen to an exhortation?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top