Dr Alcuin Reid a collaborator with the Pope whilst he was Prefect of the Congregation for Doctrine Faith on Liturgical matters, writes in the Tablet today in response to a pretty air headed piece in last week's by Fr. Andrew Cameron-Mowat, SJ, of Heythrop College. He seems to sum up the mind of the Pope about avoiding divisions in the Church over liturgical reform. He argues that the last 40 years have been the most prescriptive in the Church's history, that the Pope wishes to re-introduce a greater degree of legitimate and organic plurality, which seems consistent with his ecclesiology.
9 comments:
I found interesting the following article displayed at http://remnantnewspaper.com/archives/archive-woodstock.htm
The article at screen brings an interesting perspective relative to the present topic ("One rte, sveral usauges")
Thank you for providing access to Fr Alcuin's excellent article as I don't expect all your readers see the Tablet. It is one of the best and most balanced commentaries on the present liturgical situation in the Church and I congratulate the Tablet on being so even-handed in publishing it. Fr Alcuin is entirely responsible in his assessment, and he is not as bitchy as Fr Cameron-Mowat about people who don't agree with him. I hope some of the more hidebound commentators on your post, 'Leaping Priests', will also take the trouble not only to read it but understand what he is saying. To be frank, Fr Ray, I think you, too, need to look at it more closely because he sees the limitations of prescription as much as false creativity. His position has considerable mileage and I hope what he outlines will come into being, not least because he knows the Holy Father's mind well and I am sure presents the problem and solution as Pope Benedict sees it.
Fr Alcuin Reid's article is essential reading and makes a refreshing change from moth-eaten ferrioulos and beaver hats which eemed to be the main centre of interest when I last looked at your blog some weeks ago.
Forgive me being prescriptive but do not the "anonymous" option in future. It makes it hard for people to respond, without quotations.
Whoever you are, if you know me, you will know, I have always favoured Dr Reid's organic approach to liturgical development which if you take time his books, is not quite as free and easy as you might think. It demands a certain obedience to liturgical principles.
Pauline, mention of "ferrioulos and beaver hats" have appeared in one post only on this blog, so look in more often.
Organic Development of the liturgy demands an authentic adhernce to liturgical principles, especially by the Bishops.
What it is not about is mere congrgationalism.
Well said Father... and I like mny hope and pray that Dr Alcuin Reid's work will have an impact. He is one of the 'scholars' I had in mind whne posting before in the other blog.
Like you said Father...obedience to liturgical principles, thus allowing development in a truly Catholic way.
Thanks for the link.
"He argues that the last 40 years have been the most prescriptive in the Church's history"
What does "prescriptive" mean?
Thomas Shawn, when a doctor give you a prescription it enables you to order medicine from a drug store which you could not get without one. It is an official document. In the last forty years the Church has prescribed liturgical orders which are now followed universally and mould our worship. These changed earlier prescriptions that had, with occasional amendments, been in force for five hundred years. Fr Alcuin Reid argues that further prescriptions, reversing those fairly recently made, would do more harm than good. In liturgical terms they are called rubrics. I hope this helps.
Post a Comment