Currently underway in Rome is a Plenary Assembly of the Dicastery of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. They are gathering with some consultors. Their reflection will center on the theme “Euntes parate nobis Pascha (Lk 22:8): pathways of liturgical formation for ordained ministers and lay faithful.”
According to the press release from the Holy See, the gathering is prompted both by the sixtieth anniversary of Sacrosanctum Concilium, and the 2022 Apostolic Letter of Pope Francis on Formation: Desiderio desideravi. Here is how it is described:
“The intention is to explore the theme of liturgical formation sixty years after the promulgation of the Apostolic Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium, outlining practical pathways based on the indications contained in the Apostolic Letter Desiderio desideravi, published in June 2022, in which Pope Francis affirms:
“The non-acceptance of the liturgical reform, as also a superficial understanding of it, distracts us from the obligation of finding responses to the question that I come back to repeating: how can we grow in our capacity to live in full the liturgical action? How do we continue to let ourselves be amazed at what happens in the celebration under our very eyes? We are in need of a serious and dynamic liturgical formation.”
To their credit, they have designed a process in which lectures will be punctuated by periods of reflection, prayer, and discussion in groups. The way in which they are approaching their topic, in other words, reflects a fine perception of the multi-faceted and spiritual qualities that are always helpful in carrying out liturgical formation. Those who would form others must also practice a suitable methodology of formation for themselves.
An article concerning this meeting appeared in CNA, which also suggested that a possible outcome is that the group would “provide bishops with practical suggestions.”
Please pray for the participants in this gathering, that they may engage this important topic wisely and well, in light of the riches of Vatican II and the Holy Father’s own worthy letter on this very subject.
And, hey, has anyone told them that Liturgical Press recently came out with a Pastoral Guide to Pope Francis’s Desiderio Desideravi? Just sayin’… 🙂