The ‘heresy’ of rubricism

[John_Higgins]

The ‘heresy’ of rubricism

by Bishop Richard J. Sklba, Milwaukee Catholic Herald

The Eucharist belongs to the entire church, universal as well as local. The dynamics of its structure are deeply rooted in the theology of God’s grace and in the reality of human religious experience. The Eucharist, rooted in Scripture and Jewish prayer, has been shaped by centuries of tradition, and then reshaped as it was handed over from one culture to another.

As if to signal that its elements were not subject to the whim of individual congregations or presiders, the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy stipulated changes could only be made by those authorized to do so (§ 22). Thus, the liturgy, belonging to the whole church, should not be arbitrarily changed. Preserving its integrity is the duty of the individual presider.

At the same time, the Council decreed the guiding goal of full, conscious and active participation for all the baptized faithful (§14), each in his/her respective role. That means every effort should be made to tailor the celebration to the mentality, culture and needs of any given community. One sign of that obligation is the explicit exhortation regularly found in the rituals themselves that presiders say something “in these or similar words.” Thus, in another sense, the church’s liturgy belongs in a unique manner to the local gathering of faithful and must be adapted accordingly. This is also the duty of the individual presider.

Historically the official missals and rituals of the church have been published with directions on how the sacraments should be celebrated in small red print, called “rubrics” (from the Latin word, ruber meaning “red”), and the actual words to be said by presider or congregation printed in larger black type. Thus, the word “rubrics” has come to signal attentiveness to the directions in fine print which should be followed in any sacramental celebration.

Rubrics, as I indicated above, are important because they give direction, structure and purpose to the flow of the liturgical celebration. They help prevent serious lapses or deficiencies in the sacramental sign itself. The rubrics can protect the sanctity of the ritual. They serve to keep the individual celebration of each parish’s liturgy in communion with the larger church, diocesan and universal.

When I use the word “rubricism,” however, I mean such an obsessive and driven preoccupation with the directives in red print as to risk losing sight of the Eucharist’s main purpose. The primary goal of sacraments, especially the Eucharist which is the source and summit of the church’s life (§ 10), is sharing in the death and resurrection of the Lord and in Christ’s praise of the Father which accomplished the new creation of God’s people by divine grace and mercy.

While rubrics are important, they can also become obstacles to God’s grace if taken out of context or given exclusive attention. For that reason the Council also included a solemn warning: “Pastors of souls must therefore realize that, when the liturgy is celebrated, more is required than the mere observance of the laws governing valid and licit celebration. It is their duty also to ensure that the faithful take part knowingly, actively and fruitfully” (§ 11).

Part 2, next message

John

 

[John_Higgins]

Part 2

Now to the other part of my title for this column. Heresy is the deliberate and knowing denial of a divinely revealed truth. Like serious sin, formal heresy required full knowledge and a deliberate act of the human will.

There is also the type of heresy called “material,” namely a de facto denial of God’s truth which is not fully understood nor freely made. Such an act can be a denial of God’s truth without the individual realizing it. Good and holy people can have seriously erroneous (namely, heretical) opinions. This latter sense is the notion I’m addressing, and that’s the reason for the title’s use of the word in quotation marks.

There are two reasons for suggesting that total and narrowly exclusive preoccupation with the rubrics of the Eucharist might be heretical, that is, embodying a serious denial of a fundamental truth of our Catholic faith.

First of all, excessive and exclusive preoccupation with the directives governing the human actions of our Eucharistic worship could be heretical because it suggests that our salvation depends upon our own actions alone, not God’s grace and mercy. The error of acting as if we can achieve our own salvation by our works, howsoever holy and attentive, is a serious one, called “Pelagianism” after its fourth century proponent.

Secondly, excessive and exclusive preoccupation with the rubrics might be heretical because it totters on the brink of indulging in magic. Whenever anyone thinks the blind recitation of certain words or the performance of physical actions themselves causes the effect, that is magic … hardly consistent with our faith or with our Christian recognition of God’s sovereign power.

In Catholic tradition there is an historical recognition that an action can have its own immediate effect … ex opere operato … but that is by the promise of God, not the action of any human being as such.

These are things I as a bishop worry about, given today’s increasing focus on correct rubrics as if they were the means to salvation, rather than an occasion for God’s loving mercy. Keep an eye on the mystery, not merely the pathway to it.

John

 

[Ann_Cheryl]

I don’t know this bishop but I would bet that his diosces is rift with illicit mass’s. He protest too much and boy does he stretch the definition of heresy. In fact, imho, this piece is non-sense. His premise is false. The liturgy is the providence of the Holy Father. I guess he wants to shut up the critics to his toleration and encouragement of his disobedience to follow the Pope.

 

[Veritas]

given today’s increasing focus on correct rubrics as if they were the means to salvation

Feels like a “Straw Man” to me. Has anyone argued for right rubrics as a “means to salvation”? Or does the good bishop cover himself adequately by using “as if” (which nevertheless imputes motives to others)?

Does the good bishop suffer from the “heresy” of “rubric indifferentism”?

Peace,

 

[Ann_Cheryl]

Does the good bishop suffer from the “heresy” of “rubric indifferentism”?

Right On!

 

[Minerva]

I have sometimes felt like an “auditor” at Mass, because so many things were done incorrectly that it distracted me from every thing else. Catholics wouldn’t have to be auditors at Mass if they could once again have the guarantee that no matter where in the world they went, the Mass would be celebrated correctly and reverently. If McDonalds can be the same everywhere, I think the Catholic Church could manage to do likewise.

 

[kwitz]

I liked Minerva’s comparison to McDonalds and I understand the emphasis on doing it right. But… (you knew I’d throw a but in here), has anyone read the altar girl thread? Even when something like altar girls are allowed, you have people getting pretty worked up because they’ve decided they don’t like them. That’s an example of what I would definitely call rubricism.

Kris

 

[Agomemnon]

kwitz:

I liked Minerva’s comparison to McDonalds and I understand the emphasis on doing it right. But… (you knew I’d throw a but in here), has anyone read the altar girl thread? Even when something like altar girls are allowed, you have people getting pretty worked up because they’ve decided they don’t like them. That’s an example of what I would definitely call rubricism.

Kris

girl-atlar-boys has always been condemned by all popes and patriarchs as if written in stone -JPII

girls may not serve - JPII Ineastimable Donum

the evil practice of women serving is always condmend - Pope Boniface Altae Sunt

It is the intention of this pontificate that all bishops retain the noble and holy Traditino of only have boys serve the altar - JPII

 

[Fast_ed75]

Heresy is more likely to result from an arrogant priest and “liturgists” thinking that the liturgy of the Church is his own personal plaything to alter as he sees fit.

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

The rubrics are laid down by the Church.
Does the Church believe that by establishing rubrics, She is attaining our salvation through works? No. For the bishop to suggest such a thing, is not only ludicrous, even dangerous, but dare I say, possibly even “heretical”!
Does the Church teach that by using the proper form, matter, intent, and following specific rubrics laid down by Her, one engages in the practice of magic? No. Another ludicrous, dangerous, and possibly even “heretical” accusation lodged against the faithful by one of their shepherds.

• It’s really a shame that so many priests and bishops are so arrogant as to disobey the rubrics of the Church.
• It’s a shame that the faithful have to study the Mass on their own in order to understand how It should be celebrated and what the rubrics mean.
• It’s a shame that the faithful must report or request clarification of the liturgical infractions committed by their celebrants.
• It’s a shame that this “hapless bishop” shoots the messenger by trying to label people who desire a Mass properly celebrated as “heretics.”

Little wonder why St. John Chrysostom said, "The floors of hell are paved with the skulls of bishops."

---

We wonder why there is a crisis of Faith today? A lack of vocations?

We need only look to “Church leaders” such as this one, who disparage faithful Catholics ~ for being faithful Catholics!

 

[Fast_ed75]

http://www.archmil.org/Images/PHOTOS/bishops_sklba_small.jpg

Bishop Richard J. Sklba was born in Racine, Wisconsin, on September 11, 1935.
Bishop Sklba was one of America’s younger bishops when ordained on December 19, 1979 and has been appointed to many different committees of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. These committees include such major concerns as Priestly Life and Ministry, Pastoral Research, Doctrine and Practice, Liturgy, Permanent Diaconate and Inclusive Language.

He likened Weakland’s quarter century of pastoral care and service in our midst to a gate and good shepherd.

“I will never forget my very first view of the man, as I sat here in what was once the front pew of the cathedral, waiting for the afternoon practice for his ordination and installation the following morning,” said Sklba. He said he heard quite a bit of commotion and turned toward the door to see him striding up the aisle. Sklba described Weakland as wise, bright and a careful listener.

 

[cestusdei]

I am amused when accused of being preconciliar for obeying the rubrics. All the rubrics are post-Vatican II. The Holy Father has specifically commanded priests to obey the rubrics and given his reasons for so doing. His Excellency should meditate on the obediance we ought to render the Supreme Pontiff. Of course given that this was Weakland’s diocese it should not surprise anyone that obediance is an unknown term.

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

I rest my case.

 

[cestusdei]

Let me add that if I did what Weakland did ie. violate my promise of celibacy with a man and then stole diocese money to cover it up I would be laicized right now. What happened to him? He has a pension, office, website, still does public speaking, and attends the USCCB conference. Is it any wonder that priest morale is low? There is a different standard at work.

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

“Pastors of souls must therefore realize that, when the liturgy is celebrated, more is required than the mere observance of the laws governing valid and licit celebration. It is their duty also to ensure that the faithful take part knowingly, actively and fruitfully”

More is required than merely observing the rubrics, true. But, please tell me how disobeying or not observing the rubrics ensures that the faithful take part knowingly, actively and fruitfully.

“These are things I as a bishop worry about, given today’s increasing focus on correct rubrics…”

Perhaps if you obeyed them, (the rubrics, that is) there would be less to “worry” about?

 

[deogratias]

Tried to answer your request but…

Panis Angelicas has exceeded their stored private messages quota and can not accept further messages until they clear some space

.

 

[Agomemnon]

cestusdei:

Let me add that if I did what Weakland did ie. violate my promise of celibacy with a man and then stole diocese money to cover it up I would be laicized right now. What happened to him? He has a pension, office, website, still does public speaking, and attends the USCCB conference. Is it any wonder that priest morale is low? There is a different standard at work.

I think its shows America is in schism and the USCCB should be disbanded and a Papal Legate sent to correct the USA

 

[Anna_Elizabeth]

Minerva:

I have sometimes felt like an “auditor” at Mass, because so many things were done incorrectly that it distracted me from every thing else.

Me, too. :yup: It makes me feel guilty, and so the violation seems to be doubled. I spend too much time entirely trying to figure out how to minimize this, but here’s an interesting note:

When Rudy Giuliani (sp?) took over New York City he greatly curtailed the Big Crime in the city by starting with small crimes, e.g., jay-walking, illegal parking, graffit, etc. This program was based on a study done by some psych people at Stanford that demonstrated an interesting pattern. When little infractions are done with impunity, gradually the level of seriousness mounts. It has been noted that such has been the case with civility in the US.

The way to regain conformity in the Church is to give due importance to the small infractions first. If it worked in NY (and it did), it should work for us.

Besides, as is frequently noted: Ours is not an either/or Church, but rather a both/and. Thus, both the big and small violations of the rubrics must be addressed, and I suppose some of us are destined to be auditors.

It’s a comfort to me to know that you are out there!

Pray always,

Anna

 

[Confiteor]

Bishop Richard J. Sklba was born in Racine, Wisconsin, on September 11, 1935.
Bishop Sklba was one of America’s younger bishops when ordained on December 19, 1979 and has been appointed to many different committees of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. These committees include such major concerns as Priestly Life and Ministry, Pastoral Research, Doctrine and Practice, Liturgy, Permanent Diaconate and Inclusive Language.

He likened Weakland’s quarter century of pastoral care and service in our midst to a gate and good shepherd.

“I will never forget my very first view of the man, as I sat here in what was once the front pew of the cathedral, waiting for the afternoon practice for his ordination and installation the following morning,” said Sklba. He said he heard quite a bit of commotion and turned toward the door to see him striding up the aisle. Sklba described Weakland as wise, bright and a careful listener.

Keeping in mind that Bishop Sklba is not the head of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, his statement may be a reaction to changes implemented by Archbishop Dolan who succeeded Weakland (and is a very different sort of shepherd). Heresy, indeed. Sounds like an employee chafing under a new boss.

 

[otm]

Lookout everyone, here come the “rubrics” police!