This is all speculation, and it’s hard to know how well-founded any reports are that leak out… but Catholic News Agency foresees appointment of a new Secretary of State very soon, perhaps tomorrow – which is the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Rumors say it will be Archbishop Pietro Parolin, apostolic nuncio to Venezuela, CNA reports.
And of direct interest to this liturgy blog: the same story reports that the new prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship would be Archbishop Piero Marini.
Now that would be a shocker! Pray Tell reported earlier on “Marini-1” – with a wry comment that his meeting with the Pope was surely about coming eucharistic congresses. Of course I wondered about (and hoped and prayed for) a coming appointment.
Time will tell.
awr
From your keyboard to God’s inbox Fr. Anthony.
Heaven help us all.
Short term entertainment value, but is he really the right choice? I was kind of hoping for Rita.
@Todd Flowerday – comment #3:
Yes, Rita for Divine Worship prefect and AWR appointed chair of ICEL reform of the missal translation for the 4th Romal Missal.
Now THAT would be good news.
@Dale Rodrigue – comment #4:
…. Roman Missal, not Romal Missal.
TGIF.
We’re kinda close, Todd, I was hoping for Kathy Pluth!
Well, should be a fun ride to see who gets the steering position on this two Marini bobsled.
Rita Ferrone would fix ALL their wagons.
But, seriously, when will competent lay people (like that same Rita) be considered more appropriate for such charges than unprepared prelates?
Marini would be wonderful! He was secretary to Archbishop Anibale Bugnini, C.M. and was active with the work of Concilium from 1963! And, he’s supposed to come to the USA in October for the FDLC convention to speak on the 50th Anniversary of SC! Check out the FDLC website for more info!
Marini at the helm? Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Laudetur Iesus Christus!
First I would like to introduce myself: I am a Polish Roman Catholic. I have been observing lot of discussions throughout the English blogosphere (wtdprs, nlm, rorate caeli, F. Blake’s and Finigans blogs etc.). As you probably guessed I have rather traditional leanings (although I attend a Novus Ordo parish). I try to have an open mind but I am more convinced towards the pre VII Liturgy everyday (lately I have come to the conclusion that even the 1955 changes to the liturgy were excessive). I am also a follower of the belief that the papacy should maintain its regal stance.
The nominations of Parolini and Maradiaga do not worry me (maybe the latter is too much liberal for my taste but I acknowledge that he comes from a different culture).
But Marini for the Head of the CDW? I am shocked and upset about it. I would understand if a centrist be elected, although in my mind the position should go to Cardinal Ranjith because of his superb liturgical acumen). But giving the position to a extreme liberal who recently questioned the doctrine of Holy Mother Church on civil unions of homosexuals is outrages (especially in light of the recent scandal in the Vatican).
I try to be positive about his Holiness but it is getting harder everyday. For me this is the proverbial (at least in my country) nail to the coffin.
I hope that I have not offended anybody – the one thing I have always admired about pray tell is the candid level of discussion here.
Pax vobiscum!
There must have been a power outage in Macon!
Marini – now, that would really be the hermeneutic of continuity (properly understood, of course).
and a secretary of state who is from the third world – finally.
I’ve always liked Marini. In the time of Blessed Pope John Paul II, and for that time, the liturgies the Holy Father celebrated were striking and he had a nice chanting voice. The then papal MC, Mgrs. Marini assisted him at a wonderful Eastern Rite Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, in which Blessed John Paul II was the main celebrant. It is interesting to note in the Divine Liturgy that the Liturgy at the Papal Altar is with the clergy with their back to the nave of St. Peter’s, the opposite side on which Mass is normally celebrated there. So while it appears ad orientem, they are actually facing the geographical west. But at any rate the previous Marini was open to the treasures of the Eastern liturgy and hopefully he will also be open to moving forward and not backwards with liturgical renewal as we have experienced since Blessed John Paul II. If he is named, God bless him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9qasegnQ_Vc
@Fr. Allan J. McDonald – comment #13:
But of course you’ve always liked Abp Marini, Fr. Allan.
And if he’s named, you’ll go about re-creating him in your own image, as you’ve done with Pope Francis.
We all admire your great admiration for the current pope, and the obvious complete continuity between him and Benedict (and you).
🙂
awr
@Anthony Ruff, OSB – comment #17:
+1 but I’m amused that you know which Marini I like. 🙂
Parolin is an Italian who has held high level positions at the Vatican before becoming nuncio in Venezuela in 2009. At that time, John Allen wrote of him:
“Over the years, Parolin has acquired a reputation as one of the “best and brightest” of his generation of church diplomats. He’s generally seen as hard-working, well informed, and gifted with the capacity to see issues from multiple points of view.”
Damian D – Marini I is a centrist and Ranjith demonstrates very little liturgical acumen
If the rumors are right, and at this point, these are rumors only, it is quite possible with Bergoglio, Parolin and Marini, we’ll have an Italian sweep! It doesn’t get any better than that!
I was just thinking in terms of name confusion, what if the rumor mill had the wrong Marini and it’s Guido! That would be a hoot!
@Fr. Allan J. McDonald – comment #19:
If it’s Guido, I will make a $1,000 donation to your blog.
(Subject to abbatial approval.)
🙂
awr
Deus vult.
I do hope that Marini-1 would consider leaving the crucifix in the middle of the altar. There are other arrangements which show an wider view of the altar action from oblique angles. One example includes a close triangular formation of the candles on either side of the altar.
I recognize that for some the “Benedictine” altar style excludes the assembly from the celebration both personally and theologically. The internal logic of this argument is sound even if I disagree with the premise. As I understand, the encouragement of an highly abstract perspective on the Mass (i.e. a highly lopsided stress on the mental apprehension of sacramental reality at the expense of the concrete actions of a celebrant/provider and assembly) is not conducive to the cohesion of a assembly. In the case of a televised papal Mass, the assembly is the universal Church assembly.
From the abstract thought perspective, placing a crucifix before the emphasizes that the sacramental significance of the Mass retains the greatest importance. I fear that we will return to papal Masses, such as those of John Paul II, where the “show” is the Pope from the perspective of human and televised eyes. Then again, on a calmer level, I appreciate those who also seriously consider the affective aspects of liturgy.
@Jordan Zarembo – comment #21:
Well, if a crucifix (perhaps an ikon, as the many Tuscan exempla of the Middle Ages could demonstrate) could be *suspended* over the altar….
@Karl Liam Saur – comment #22:
The question is, how much does the head of the CDW influence the Papal MC whoever that priest is? How much authority would Marini 1 have on M2 in terms of papal ceremonies?
@Father Allan J. McDonald – comment #23:
I don’t expect much in the short-term. I suspect the Holy Father is fully capable of steering Marini 2 when he cares to do so and is not focused on other matters. If Marini 2 is sufficiently co-dependent with whatever boss he has – normally, a requirement for any servant (to know what the master wants before the master wants it) – the Holy Father won’t have to do much active steering, but Marini 2 will gradually internalize things to a certain level.
Andrew Rex – you say: Ranjinth exhibits very little liturgical acumen. Allan has posted on his kerfuffle blog the mass/talk by Ranjinth for the NLM in Rome. Ranjinth’s talk only highlights your statement:
– Per Ranjith: “I think this is the most important aspect of the Liturgy that we have lost over 50 years, that the Liturgy is the work of God and not what we do to get closer to God.” (note what Ranjinth has imposed upon his diocese – guess that doesn’t have anything to do with *what he does to get closer to God*)
Allan says: “Cardinal Ranjith sums it up beautifully: The faithful must be taught the true meaning of the sacred liturgy” (yep, folks such as Allan only know the true meaning of the liturgy)
– Per Ranjith: “People have misconceptions about evangelization as if it is something we ourselves, with human effort, can achieve. This is a basic misunderstanding.”
– Allan says: “In other words, the narcissism of the Liturgy and the Church these past 50 years is the biggest problem to be overcome by a fruitful “reform of the reform” in continuity of course with the entire history of the Church and her liturgy.” (yep, only God can do it; not human efforts – geez, sounds like a Protestant theology from the year 1540 – didn’t we argue about works + grace vs. grace only)
– Ranjith:
“Yes, because the older liturgy has some elements in it that can enrich the new liturgy, which can sort of act like a mirror into which you look”
( so, help me understand – he starts by stating that liturgy comes from God – no human part to play. But, then he posits two thoughts which betray his lack of logic and consistency and only works if he things the 1962 liturgy came straight from God; and his other thought is that we can resurrect the unreformed liturgy and the two can create a third liturgy…..sounds like a lot of human intervention and does echo his first statement that liturgy is about God and not people.
Chris – suggest Macon is overloaded – waiting to see what Allan says about the SSPX statement – completely reject VII, reformed Mass, religious liberty, ecumenism. Allan said that SSPXers were better than the folks in the 1960-70s – really?
Also, he is busy watching the papal mass on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul and, of course, bringing us bombshells e.g. statues with tiaras (!!!); communion to cardinal deacons by intinction; Benedictine altar set up; and reinterpreting Francis’s homily – esp. diversity in unity since the Eastern Patriarch is there, but of course Allan inserts that diversity in unity would be best exemplified by enlarging the 1962 missal permission. Really? (guess it all depends upon your hermeneutic of continuity in the reform of the reform – properly understood, of course (Allan will tell you).
And poor Bill thinks Italy is a third world country!
Re-read what I wrote – a choice that comes from the third world which is exactly where Parolin is currently, Venezuela. Mr. McKay provided Parolin’s bio – nothing more; nothing less. And Francis is second generation Italian – you yourself has repeatedly made a big deal about that – and yet, he is from Argentina.
Care to comment on what I have written or will you continue to *bob and weave* and change the subject.
Ranjith – “Yes, because the older liturgy has some elements in it that can enrich the new liturgy, which can sort of act like a mirror into which you look”
…sounds like Ranjith believes the older liturgy fosters a sort of narcissism whether he realises it or not!
@Andrew rex – comment #28:
+1 Andrew.
Mirror mirror
on the wall
who’s the fairest
of them all?
Ranjith
Please not +Marini at the CDWDS!
Canizares is going to Madrid. Robert Mickens via Rocco
http://www.periodistadigital.com/religion/espana/2013/06/29/francisco-comunica-a-rouco-que-canizares-sera-su-sucesor-religion-iglesia-espana-vaticano-papa-sistach.shtml
No doubt some of us would like to see a change at CDWDS, but does sending the nearly sixty-eight year old Cardinal Canizares to the capital of Spain, a diocese of three and a half million, make pastoral sense? It will be his FOURTH diocese! The cardinal has been a lackluster prefect. And for this he deserves to be rewarded? It looks, to me, like “careerism” is still alive and well. Yet another move in ecclesiastical politics. Plus ca change ….
I find it interesting that even the Los Angeles Times commented on the Marini possibility:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-popes-benedict-francis-20130701,0,4862290.story