Pentin on Francis on Liturgy

Regina has an interview with Vatican-watcher Edward Pentin with comments about liturgy that will interest Pray Tell readers:

REGINA: And what of the recent purging of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the naming of a big group of different prelates. What will this mean for the liturgy?

Edward Pentin: The replacement of almost all the members of the Congregation has been largely viewed as another example of Pope Francis’ wish to mold the Curia to suit his own vision — which every pope will do — but in his case, some say it shows a revolution in full swing. I understand that since Francis was elected, a large number of so-called “sound”, orthodox clergy have either voluntarily left serving as curial officials or been forcibly removed. This was particularly true of the Congregation for Divine Worship which had had many Benedict appointees. As to what the changes to the Congregation mean for the liturgy, given that most of the new members, though not all, are in favor of innovative approaches to the Novus Ordo, it’s likely that that liturgical emphasis will be coming out of the Vatican in the months and years ahead. But these changes are just a small part of an acceleration in changes being enacted by Francis who has privately voiced his wish for his legacy of radical change to continue after he is no longer Pope.

Read the whole interview here.

Posted

December 9, 2016

Pope Francis, Reform of the Reform

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13 responses to “Pentin on Francis on Liturgy”

Todd Flowerday

December 9, 2016

Innovation and radical change in liturgy don’t seem to be a particular priority of Pope Francis. The list of appointees I’ve seen are bishops–and that is definitely not a demographic that indulges change for the sake of change.

I suspect that the Holy Father sees traditional-styled liturgy as less a magic pill for entry back into the 50’s and more as something that doesn’t align with a more open and welcoming Church.

Across all congregations, it’s been noted that pronouncements and such have slowed significantly. It seems we are leaving behind an age and a worldview that sees power in change-from-the-top. Few enough in Mr Pentin’s camp were disappointed when Marini I was sidelined in ’07 or whenever it was.

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Karl Liam Saur

December 9, 2016

My impression is that Pope Francis doesn’t share a magical view of liturgics that many liturgy enthusiasts may assume without realizing it.

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Fr. Steve Hartley

December 9, 2016

What this kind of “revolution” is often replaced with is polarization and division, a pendulum swing if you will. He is sowing the seed for a polar-opposite response from the Cardinals and a new polar-opposit Pope.

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1. Jordan Zarembo
  
  December 9, 2016
  
  @Fr. Steve Hartley:
  
  I’m not entirely sure. I strongly suspect that the next pope will be from the developing world. He will probably be more concerned with questions of equality, equity, and sustainability. In this case, liturgy might not be a top priority. Perhaps it will be good for the liturgically conservative faithful in developed countries to turn from a focus on altar orientation and turn towards a focus on questions such as, “how will the Earth sustain nine billion people by mid-century?”
  
  There will always be liturgical poles, with stalwarts on both ends. Pope Francis has taught me this: one may focus as much as he or she wants on liturgy, but an entire parade of concerns will pass on by. The Church cannot dwell in one place.
  
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  1. Jay Edward
    
    December 11, 2016
    
    @Jordan Zarembo:
    Cardinal Sarah perhaps (please God)?
2. Reyanna Rice
  
  December 10, 2016
  
  @Fr. Steve Hartley:
  Should the “polar-opposite” scenario come to pass, and Please, God, No, there will very quickly not be enough people left in the church to pay the Vatican’s light bill. Also, the possibility of that happening grows less with each new group of cardinals he names. He saw what John Paul II did and figured two could play that game. Look for him to name another list of cardinals shortly after the first of the year…all within a few degrees of center.
  
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  1. Jay Edward
    
    December 11, 2016
    
    @Reyanna Rice:
    If you believe that John Paul II packed the College of Cardinals with those who thought like him, how do you explain Mahony, Danneels, Lehmann, Kasper, and Bergoglio (even against the advice of the recently deceased former head of the Jesuits) being given red hats?
  2. Reyanna Rice
    
    December 11, 2016
    
    @Jay Edward:
    John Paul II was not a man who bucked tradition. I know in at least one of the cases you mention the red hat went with the territory I.e. Bergoglio. Off the top of my head, I don’t know about the rest. Also Bergoglio had a reputation for holdin to the correct “policies”on the key issues, those that were the main ones as far as JP2 was concerned and he still does.
Agman Austerhauser

December 10, 2016

There was a lot more to Pentin’s interview than just this. He seems very worried about the things Catholics in Rome and elsewhere are NOT talking about.

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1. Elisabeth Ahn
  
  December 10, 2016
  
  @Agman Austerhauser:
  
  Like what?
  
  IMO, Edward Pentin’s claims, which he always bases on “reliable” — but somehow, always and curiously anonymous — sources, should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism (and eye-rolling).
  
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  1. Jay Edward
    
    December 11, 2016
    
    @Elisabeth Ahn:
    
    I find Pentin trustworthy…like when he made claims about a Cardinal making comments about Africans and many said his claims were unreliable…until those comments were found to have been recorded and the cardinal in question had to apologize.
Robert Addington

December 10, 2016

Again, it is high time the term ‘Novus Ordo’ was retired from service. It has no official status and, when used by the Society of St Pius X and others of like mind, is always a pejorative.

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James Wahl

December 11, 2016

The whole interview is worth the read… It strikes me as paranoia under the guise of journalistic rationality… The “rigidity” comment especially has seemed to have gotten under the skin of quite a few.

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