The Holy Father promised a meditation, and that is what it is; best to read it yourself.
I must say I came from it a bit disappointed, in that nothing on my "wish list" was in it, but to be honest, I didn't expect it to be. What I do expect is that Benedict now having produced a theological basis, the various dicasteries will now produce follow up documents. Benedict believes in collaboration. He is also aware that the various documents produced in the last years of John Paul's pontificate have been sent to the recycling bin by most Bishops
It is a meditation on the points raised by the Synod Fathers which were published in 2005.
I was struck by his insistence on Latin being taught and on the formation of Seminarian both in that tongue and in chant, but also the history of art. His encouragement of Exposition and what it had to say on the Sacrament of Penance and Indulgences.
There is nothing new, but that isn't the Benedictine way. What there is, is a slight deepening of already existing teaching, for example he speaks of the Eucharist as "marriage feast", then goes on to explain why it is impossible to receive Holy Communion if one is divorced and remarried.
Googling "exhortation", I came up with a lot of stuff about Gays being excluded from communion, not quite true, in fact no mention of them but a call for politicians to follow a properly formed conscience.
There is again a call to Bishops to follow the liturgical books precisely, their liturgical celebrations to a sign of "art of celebration", difficult, even impossible for some. There is talk of inculturation and its limits, a definition of the meaning of "actual participation".
He also speaks of the connection between the Eucharist and celibacy.
There is lots here, and even more will present itself on further "meditation".
21 comments:
Afternoon Father... I shan't go into the Exhortation, as I am on my blog and as so many others are too...
Do have a look at the BBC, for what it is worth on their take of it... amusing and insulting as per always.
Have linked on my blog... and I may shift the focus of mine as they have chosen to venture into Medieval history.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6445313.stm
In BMV
I'm really sorry about your wish list Father
Fr Blake, for heaven's sake edit what you have written, it's scarcely literate - look at the opening sentences, they are almost meaningless and full of grammatical errors. You seem to have written hastily in your unfulfilled expectations. But, apart from that, what did you expect? The document was never intended to promulgate new sets of rubrics, although there is a reference to a change in the position of the sign of peace. I suspect that there are many more disappointments to come. As for the binning of Pope John Paul II's later documents, the majority bin all papal documents these days. What you have written suggests that you might want to bin him too. The Roman way is to shower complements on them and then ignore them completely. Surely you've noticed that? It's mostly converts, the reactionary and Anglo-Catholics who take notice of them.
It was to be expected that you would concentrate on the manner of celebrating Mass - all of which in this inspired document are excellent - rather than looking at it as a whole. Nor do you seem to realise that it is the fruit of an episcopal synod and not a motu proprio. Despite all that is written about the divine imperative of beauty, the necessity of studying the history of sacred art and architecture, the desirability of the use and study of Latin, the majority of the clergy world-wide are insufficiently educated to understand these things and are threatened by those who are. As for the implementation of the document by the bishops. Most bishops don't fall into crude categories like 'conservative' or 'liberal'. Like most responsible people, they make up their minds on the merit of a case. rather then party lines. They also know how untypical of the clergy and faithful are those who are always agitating, like many of your commentators. They are influenced not by agitation, but by reasoned argument and experience. I suspect that, as far as the majority are concerned, they will let sleeping dogs lie.
Peter, Fr Blake always writes hastily but we understand and value what he says
Thank you Peter, yes, you are right I was just about to read it through and posted it rather hastily, not for the reasons you suggest but because of a sick call.
I am so sorry if you really think what you say in the last lines of your comment and even more so if you believe it. It seems to show a distance from the rock, the shepherd chosen by Christ.
"Where the Church thrives, there the sheep and lambs eat the food Christ has given them through the hands of Peter who was told, "Feed my sheep" and "Feed my lambs".
That seems true today!
OVERHEARD IN THE SACRISTY
Enthusiastic young man: Father, have you read the new document?
Parish priest: What document?
EYM: You know, the one on the Eucharist? It's on the web.
PP: Didn't that come out years ago?
EYM: No, its the result of last year's synod on the Eucharist.
PP: What synod?
EYM: The episcopal one in Rome.
PP: Never heard of it.
EYM: Aren't you going to read it?
PP: Life's too short.
End of conversation.
quo vadis,
The BBC really doesn't bother to read anything from the Pope, sometimes, deliberately misrepresents things.
Well now, do you see, I don't see a problem, here in S. Orison's in sung we have already acted on it all. The altar girls have been told not to wear green noses at Mass on S. Patrick's day..to show reverence, I have visited Miss Flyn and told her to keep her sweaty palms to herself in the peace and I have been to the parochial school and asked our Classical Scholar (Classical Civilizations GCSE Grade 8) to translate Kum-By-ya into Latin for the Folk Mass on Sunday. There. you see. One exhortation in action already.
Yes... only to true as always.
It just struck me this morning as an example of how easy it is though to miss the point sometimes with these things.
I am still hopeful though despite the reaction of many, slowly slowly perhaps.
John Fitzpatrick,
I have always thought I had an affinity to the Deputy Prime Minister!
I am surprised that you describe this document as a 'meditation'. There is little doubt that it deserves serious consideration, provides some fruitful points for meditation, and should be read many times but it is clearly a theological, doctrinal and practical document that addresses the needs of the universal Church and its identity as a Eucharistic community drawn from the reflections of the universal episcopate. I can't help scratching my head a little when you say that some of Pope John Paul II's later documents have been 'binned' by the same bishops, when the footnotes frequently refer to them, after you insist that everything that proceeds from Rome must be obeyed to the letter. Perhaps many are ignored, as Peter suggests (I think he is writing about what happens in Rome itself via the religious congregations that have their generalates there - most of them are masters of strategy), but they exist, and most, in their different ways, are referred to when necessary to strengthen praxis. Let's pray that the Church as a whole takes this document seriously. I hope that, because it is the fruit of an episcopal conference, the bishops themselves will make sure that it is properly interpreted and not left to liturgical committees (like the prejudiced one that meets in Eccleston Square). They are often determined to get round documents rather than implement them. Cf the way they neutered Liturgum Authenticum in England and Wales. And, by the way, the document is directed towards the continuance of the novus ordo and makes it clear that it is as much a part of the Church's tradition as other rites. If you read Peter Hebblethwaite's biography of Pope Paul VI, he quotes the document that authorised it in which Pope Paul said that the rite was promulgated in the name of tradition, based on the most authentic sources. He goes on the say that no Council obscured and disfigured these sources more than Trent. It's worth consulting in the light of some of the observations that have been made recently, against which Pastor in Valle has come to the rescue. So far everything that has come from Rome in the present pontificate gets things right, but would we expect anything else at whatever period of history?
Damian,
I refer to it as a "meditation" because that is what is what the Pope described it as when he spoke to the Roman Clergy.
Maybe I am being hard on the Bishops, I certainly share your view about the English scene.
I suppose like many I was hoping that all the problems we have with the Novus Ordo would be solved with the Pontifical signature, forgetting, as you point out, the liturgical problems of Trent, which are themselves emblematic of the foreshortend ecclesiology of that council.
I presume that what Benedict has in mind is responding to the VII's call to a return to the Scriptures and the Fathers, which if anything, have been a mark of his Catechesis so far.
I had hoped he would give "roots" to the present rite, assuming that would come by a smoothing over of the rift with the immediate past, I suspect that Benedict is wiser and is looking for even deeper roots that are planted in the very depths of what the Church is.
There is a need to meditate on this.
anonymous said,
"Most bishops don't fall into crude categories like 'conservative' or 'liberal'."
But recently I was present at Mass in a seminary at which a Bishop, I will not embarass you with names, actually added the name of a non-Catholic, and according "Dominus Jesus", a non-bishop, to the Eucharistic Prayer, that seems to fall into a pretty obvious category.
The tacit support of gay partnerships, by many of our bishops would seem to indicate some sort of categorisation, so too might the shock of many of them at the election of the Holy Father.
Damian mentioned Ecclesdon Square so many of the quangoes their would indicate a certain categorisation of bishops too.
The dismissal of various documents like Cardinal Hume's statement "On the Unordained Faithful" as "not applying to England", could also indicate a certain categorisation.
"...recently I was present at Mass in a seminary at which a Bishop, I will not embarass you with names..."
JB - too late, the cat was let out of the bag a week or so ago - can't remember which blog, now - it might have been Gerald Augustinus at 'The cafeteria is Closed' in connection with the scandalous 'consecration' of an anglican episcopal cleric at a Catholic cathedral in St Petersburg, FLA.
Hopefully the bishop you allude to will digest what the pope has said in relation to the liturgy being correctly carried out - in so doing, he will have the humility to add the word "unworthy" to the said Canon.
I'm sure he will continue to be a great example to the seminarians.
Hebdomadary,
I am so sorry, I did discard it, three copies came up, I thought you had problems, I skimmed them all quickly and didn't recognise "Potty" and pressed the delete button.
I will be more careful in future, again my appologies.
I only delete the very rude, I believe in liberality in ideas.
I think I might have a vocation to the priesthood, I am looking for a diocese were the bishop takes the teaching of the Church, of Rome especially, seriously. Where should I look?
Idealistic and Catholic,
I would always recommend my diocese, but I am partisan.
Several other young men have asked me this question lately, using more or less the same words. Bishops are important, good bishops attract vocations. It is sad that young men now feel obliged to ask this question, but I think it is important that they do.
Ring me, if you want, on 01273 326793, I presume you live in the UK.
Idealistic and Catholic,
Look at the Southwark vocations site. Our archbishop is very sound, but then we could loose him to Westminster.
"I would always recommend my diocese...Bishops are important, good bishops attract vocations. "
Fr B - do I take it that your worthy bishop attracts lots of vocations to his diocese?
Tom,
God gives us what we deserve.
All the younger clergy of our diocese are excellent men, much better than me.
When I was ordained I promised before God respect and obedience to the Bishop and to his successors. I pray that when I stand before the throne of God I will not be found to have broken such a sacred promise.
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