Author: Fr. Neil Xavier O’Donoghue
-
Pope Francis and the ever new amazement of active participation
This morning the Pope met with the students and teachers of the Pontifical Liturgy Institute. So far the text of his discourse is only available in Italian. Unsurprisingly the early coverage (for example here and here) is on the Holy Father’s comments on how liturgical renewal “scandalized closed-minded people,” where he compares the rejection in…
-
The Date of Easter
The date of Easter has always been a source of some controversy and disagreement among Christians. To this day, the fact that Christians celebrate Easter on different days puzzles some Christians and annoys others. Yet the issue is no longer a matter of huge controversy. Yet for centuries the Early Church was paralyzed by controversies…
-
We Do Not Intend to Offer Any Further Guidelines for the Holy Week Celebrations
Yesterday the Congregation for Divine Worship published a Note on the liturgies for Holy Week 2023. This Note does not contain any great innovations, but in a refreshing way leaves matters in the hands of the bishops’ conferences. The key section says: In view of the ongoing slowdown of the pandemic, albeit at different rates…
-
Versus Populum in the Syro-Malabar Church
It feels a little strange to write my fourth post on this matter (see here, here and here ). But problems with the orientation of the priest as he presides the Eucharist continues to be a issue in the Syro-Malabar Church. Last Thursday some disgruntled members of the faithful of the Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly…
-
“Extraordinary Form” returns – Updated
UPDATED: The term is a mistake which will be connected.
-
If we give scandal by our liturgical disputes … we play the game of the master of division
Last week the Congregation for Eastern Churches hosted a Liturgical Congress to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Instruction for the Application of the Liturgical Prescriptions within the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches In his opening remarks, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, encouraged participants “to avoid solitary escapes…
-
Is the Confiteor an obligatory part of Mass?
The Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI published a letter earlier this week regarding the report on abuse in the Archdiocese of Munich-Freising. This post will not deal with the important issue of abuse in the Church, but, given that this is a liturgical blog, I would like to comment on a liturgical assumption that seems to…
-
Resources for the Sunday of the Word of God
As we prepare for the Sunday of the Word of God some might find it helpful to look at the resources that are available on-line. The Congregation for Divine Worship published a note with some suggestions on how to mark this day. Additionally, there is a Liturgical-Pastoral Resource published by the Pontifical Council for the…
-
Priests on Hunger Strike in favor of Versus Populum
I start this post with two disclaimers. I am not an expert on the Syro-Malabar Church or her liturgical patrimony and having given a lot of thought and research to the matter, I believe that in the vast majority of cases, the spiritual lives of Catholics today are better served by the celebration of Mass…