Vatican reportedly weighing liturgical proposals for "Reform of the Reform"

[rpp]

Very interesting developments here. It is important to note that this is still a rumor.

The Congregation for Divine Worship has presented Pope Benedict XVI with a list of proposed changes to the liturgical norms for the Mass, according to a report by Andrea Tornielli of the Italian daily Il Giornale. The suggestions-- which, according to Tornielli, were approved at a meeting of the Congregation in March-- are designed to restore a greater sense of the sacred. The Rorate Caeli web site, which has furnished a translaton of the Giornale report, suggests that these proposals could be the basis for the “reform of the reform” that Pope Benedict has sought in the liturgy, enriching the Novus Ordo with elements that reflect the liturgy of the Tridentine Mass. Among the proposals under discussion, reportedly, are a call to end the practice of receiving Communion in the hand, and a return to celebrating Mass ad orientem.

The suggestions submitted to Pope Benedict were, according to Tornielli, matters worthy of further discussion and study rather than concrete proposals for immediate change. And the Giornale report has not been confirmed by the Vatican. But Tornielli has compiled an impressive record in recent months, accurately predicting several important developments at the Vatican.

For the full story and additional links, click here.

 

[rpp]

Well, it appears this is not correct.

catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=3863

 

[rep140]

We have all heard “more Catholic than the Pope”. I like Benedict, but this kneeling and receiving on the tongue only rankles me. Does anyone think that this duplicates the Last Supper?

 

[johnnykins]

Perhaps the better way (and I might add the right way) to look at the Mass is that we are at Calvary - the one continuing eternal sacrifice - and we should be humble, devout, sorrowful and yet filled with hope, love, joy and awe in the complete Paschal mystery. Then maybe kneeling and receiving on the tongue would make more sense to you? The Last Supper prefigured the mystical sacrifice - it was not, and is not, itself what we remember and represent. Pax te cum

 

[brigid12]

Perhaps the better way (and I might add the right way) to look at the Mass is that we are at Calvary - the one continuing eternal sacrifice - and we should be humble, devout, sorrowful and yet filled with hope, love, joy and awe in the complete Paschal mystery. Then maybe kneeling and receiving on the tongue would make more sense to you? The Last Supper prefigured the mystical sacrifice - it was not, and is not, itself what we remember and represent. Pax te cum

 

[SEBASTIANMARTIN]

I would love to see those reforms to the NO. I favor receiving kneeling on the tongue. It is more reverent. We have had 2000 years to contemplate the miraculous gift of the Holy Eucharist. IMHO our reverence while receiving should grow not lessen. It is also much easier (especially for tall people like me) to receive on the tongue while kneeling.

I have been to three NO facing east. IMHO it was more reverent than facing the people. The prayers of the people were funneled through God’s holy priest to the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity held in his anointed hands. The people worshiping Christ who is facing God the Father. The liturgical worship all flows in on direction with one end, God.

 

[rlg94086]

I favor receiving** kneeling on the tongue**. It is more reverent.

Even if that were possible, it sounds painful!

SEBASTIANMARTIN:

I have been to three NO facing east. IMHO it was more reverent than facing the people. The prayers of the people were funneled through God’s holy priest to the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity held in his anointed hands. The people worshiping Christ who is facing God the Father. The liturgical worship all flows in on direction with one end, God.

I haven’t experienced that yet, but it is my preference liturgically. Question: did the priest face East only during the consecration? What was the flow like regarding his orientation?

 

[rwoehmke]

In some of our dioceses we are fortunate to have Mass, any Mass to attenjd on a given Sunday. There are not enough priests and some are having to ride the Sunday circuit and celebrate a Mass in as many as three different parishes. Consequently “reform” has become for me an exercise for the purist elite. It reminds me of the old story about Nero, fiddling while Rome burns.

 

[RobbyS]

We have all heard “more Catholic than the Pope”. I like Benedict, but this kneeling and receiving on the tongue only rankles me. Does anyone think that this duplicates the Last Supper?

The mass is not supposed to “duplicate” the Last Supper. It is also not supposed to duplicate what was done in the first or the fourth or the fourteenth. It is also not supposed to duplicate a Lutheran service, which in fact it does. The liturgical movement long preceded Vatican II and many of its proposals were quite moderate. I was aware of them in the '60s and I expected changes on that line. The actual reforms were far more radical, at least in maany place, because many priests just went wild in the experimentation, and even Rome did more than I expected.

 

[rlg94086]

In some of our dioceses we are fortunate to have Mass, any Mass to attenjd on a given Sunday. There are not enough priests and some are having to ride the Sunday circuit and celebrate a Mass in as many as three different parishes. Consequently “reform” has become for me an exercise for the purist elite. It reminds me of the old story about Nero, fiddling while Rome burns.

Sounds pretty defeatist to me. Are you expecting the Church to die out?

 

[brigid12]

Even if that were possible, it sounds painful!

If health problems make kneeling painful/impossible, people have always been able to stand, they’d just get a dispensation from the Bishop. (I imagine that when you are saying painful/impossible you are referring to kneeling to receive.)

 

[Tantum_ergo]

No, it was a misplaced modifier which made an unintentionally humorous misstatement.

Kneeling on your TONGUE? Ouch, you’d have to have a 7 foot long tongue in order to kneel on it and it probably WOULD be painful.

I suppose the only person who might manage this would be Mick Jagger. . .

 

[brigid12]

No, it was a misplaced modifier which made an unintentionally humorous misstatement.

Kneeling on your TONGUE? Ouch, you’d have to have a 7 foot long tongue in order to kneel on it and it probably WOULD be painful.

I suppose the only person who might manage this would be Mick Jagger. . .

 

[rlg94086]

If health problems make kneeling painful/impossible, people have always been able to stand, they’d just get a dispensation from the Bishop. (I imagine that when you are saying painful/impossible you are referring to kneeling to receive.)

As Tantum Ergo points out, I was having fun with the misplaced modifier.

I always receive on the tongue now but only kneel if there is an altar rail. Personally, I think they should go back to the altar rails.

 

[Adonis33]

We have all heard “more Catholic than the Pope”. I like Benedict, but this kneeling and receiving on the tongue only rankles me. Does anyone think that this duplicates the Last Supper?

I don’t understand by “More Catholic than the Pope” - unless it is your comment critisizing Pope Bendicts decision to have us kneel for communion.

Why does this “rankle” you?

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Heck, if we were going to ‘duplicate the Last Supper’, we’d wear tunics and sandals and recline at table. Let’s try to address the real issue and not throw up strawmen. The Mass is not 'duplicating the last supper." The Mass IS the Last Supper.

 

[katy]

As Tantum Ergo points out, I was having fun with the misplaced modifier.

I always receive on the tongue now but only kneel if there is an altar rail. Personally, I think they should go back to the altar rails.

Our parish has done this, and it’s great!!!

 

[brigid12]

I don’t kneel since none of the parishes around me have altar rails and I need something to hold onto getting up and down. I still receive on the tongue, tho’, and when there is a good steady pew next to me, I genuflect. I’d love altar rails to come back!!!