News reports and judgments made without sufficient information have created no little confusion. There have been very divergent reactions ranging from joyful acceptance to harsh opposition, about a plan whose contents were in reality unknown.The Pope first addresses the two difficulties most objectors have raised, but soon comes to his own reason for the decision --which amounts to a plea to his spiritual children that we be Christians.
It is a matter of coming to an interior reconciliation in the heart of the Church.It's the charity, stupid.
Looking back over the past, to the divisions which in the course of the centuries have rent the Body of Christ, one continually has the impression that, at critical moments when divisions were coming about, not enough was done by the Church's leaders to maintain or regain reconciliation and unity. One has the impression that omissions on the part of the Church have had their share of blame for the fact that these divisions were able to harden. This glance at the past imposes an obligation on us today: to make every effort to enable for all those who truly desire unity to remain in that unity or to attain it anew. I think of a sentence in the Second Letter to the Corinthians, where Paul writes: "Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return . widen your hearts also!" (2 Cor 6:11-13). Paul was certainly speaking in another context, but his exhortation can and must touch us too, precisely on this subject.And then, a beautiful line, which exemplifies for me the beautiful spirit of this Pope:
Let us generously open our hearts and make room for everything that the faith itself allows.It's not Christian to go about looking for anathemas. Specifically:
There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal. In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church's faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place.Which cuts both ways, see? No one is a poor sister in the Church; everyone is entitled to the liturgy which is dearest to him. Clearly this is aimed, as explicitly mentioned, the SSPX types. Equally, however, the Pope seems to have in mind this kind of thing (and its reverse), which, alas, has been too common an experience.
Fr. Z., as we might expect, has lengthy and excellent commentary on the Motu Proprio itself. What strikes me is that by this, the Pope intends a reform in charity in the entire Roman rite. And he has also truly liberated the liturgy from what Fr. Z. calls the "fly-in-amber" mentality. I note, for example, that the explanatory note accompanying the Motu highlights two matters:
The 1962 Missal does not provide for concelebration. It says nothing concerning the direction of the altar or of the celebrant (whether facing the people or not).I predict the free celebration of both forms of the Roman rite will have a salutary cross-pollination effect. Not a mixing of rites (horrors!), but a true re-discovery of liturgy and its meaning as Vatican II always envisioned. It's striking how often in talks to pastors & educators the Pope practically begs them to teach people to pray --and that's what this is about, make no mistake: prayer. All of this to take effect not immediately, but on September 14, the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross.
"The Pope's Letter envisages the possibility of future enrichment of the 1962 Missal(inclusion of new saints, new prefaces, etc.)."
In sum, the Pope is neither "returning" to anything, nor "caving" to anyone. He is insisting to all concerned on the unity of the Church. God bless Pope Benedict XVI, the champion of unity & charity. Don't you sense something beautiful afoot?
Update: More.
