Vatican Reaffirms Right to Kneel for Communion
Kenneth Whitehead’s article “The Struggle for Uniformity in the Liturgy” (December 2003) is very informative and makes some excellent points. However, its conclusion seems inconsistent with prior points it made, especially the quotes from Cardinals Ratzinger and Medina.
Having been confused over this issue, I wrote to the Divine Congregation for guidance. The letter I recently received in response stated in pertinent part:
“While this Congregation gave the recognition to the norm desired by the bishops’ conference of your country that people stand for Holy Communion, this was done on the condition that communicants who choose to kneel are not to be denied Holy Communion on these grounds. Indeed, the faithful should not be imposed upon nor accused of disobedience and of acting illicitly when they kneel to receive Holy Communion.”
Clearly, the Congregation is not merely allowing an exception to the rule, but rather provides a protection and reaffirms a right of the faithful who desire to humble themselves before the presence of the living God.
Barbara LiMandri
Rancho Santa Fe, California
Editor’s note: Ms. LiMandri included a copy of the full letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments signed by undersecretary Msgr. Mario Marini.
A Chill on Further Innovation
There is a lot more ink yet to be spilled on the subject of the reformed liturgy. Kenneth Whitehead gives us more to think about in the latest efforts at unity (“The Battle for Uniformity in the Liturgy,” December 2003). I believe that before we can think about unity we have to shoot for stability. The very notion of this reform is not to “rigidify.” We can’t go back, you know. There must be a rethinking on the very principles of this reform or there never will be stability and therefore perpetual restlessness. Is there not a tendency of yesterday’s abuses becoming norms?
Look back at Pope Pius XII’s Mediator Dei. Some of the very things that cautious Pope warned against became standard in the new Mass. The trend has followed ever since. Currently there is still discussion on liturgical dancing. A recent example: In Hawaii, Rome acted against the hula Masses, and the issue was quiet for a while. Then the next bishop went to Rome and got the permission for the use of “sacred gestures of a particular cultural expression.” The hula Mass returned under new packaging.
Once an innovative abuse settles in and is approved, then loyal faithful like Whitehead will once again try to make sense out it and persuade other loyal Catholics to show their support by obedience. So it was with Communion in the hand and altar girls. What else can the faithful do?
Think about it: The reformed liturgy got into the hands of the innovators, there it remains, and there it will remain by its very nature. I suggest that loyal faithful support expanded use of the Tridentine rite even if they don’t want to “go back in time.” By writing letters in support of it (even if they don’t like it) and attending it at least occasionally, they will help throw a chill on further innovation for the new rite. Its use is fully approved by the Holy Father and even encouraged as he asks all bishops to make it available to those who desire it. So it is not a question of disloyalty to Rome; the Pope referred to the desire for it as a “rightful.aspiration” of the faithful.
There is no more effective “chill out” for a liturgically adventurous bishop than numerous requests for the old Latin Mass.
Fr. John A. Peek
Bakersfield, California
Further Non-Uniformity Codified
This latest round of liturgical changes seems futile (“The Struggle for Uniformity in the Liturgy,” December 2003). Why would priests and parishioners who haven’t followed the rubrics for years follow the new directives?
I would imagine what has happened in my parish isn’t uncommon: Last fall our pastor announced that we should stand before the closing offertory prayer rather than after it and that we should bow before receiving Communion rather than genuflect. The congregation did it right the first Mass at prompting from the celebrant. But the following week most people had forgotten the change and so the standing was something less than uniform, although everyone was standing at the end of the response.
Because no one remembers to stand before the priest says, “Pray, my brothers and sisters, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God the almighty Father,” my parish has settled into the habit of standing after the priest’s part as the congregation responds, “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands” etc. So we’ve got it wrong, and since no more instruction has been forthcoming, it’s now a habit.
I grit my teeth and stand before the priest’s prayer like we are supposed to, hoping that others will follow, but no one does. So now further non-uniformity in the liturgy, at least in my parish, has been essentially codified. Oh, and I bow now rather than genuflect before receiving, but I don’t like that, either.
Donald Clarke
Arcada, California
Caveat Emptor
I was surprised at Jimmy Akin’s suggestion that one of the best ways to have your apologetic questions answered by an expert: “Just call a local college, ask to talk to a particular department, and then ask to speak with whoever teaches the subject you’re interested in” (“Brass Tacks,” December 2003).
I don’t know about your local Catholic college, but call the theology department of almost any Catholic university at random and the odds of finding an orthodox Catholic professor to answer your questions are slim to none. Perhaps it would have been advisable to list a few orthodox colleges (e.g., Thomas Aquinas College, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Magdalene College, Christendom College, Ave Maria University) rather than give blanket advice such as this.
Annamarie Francantonio
Dearborn, Michigan
One-Two Punch
I was moved by Marcelo Marino’s conversion story (“Damascus Road,” November 2003) and by his great witness to the power of truth in the Church’s teaching about marital love and openness to life. (His wife is one lucky woman!) Was it a coincidence that his story appeared in the same issue as Christopher West’s fine article, “God, Sex, and Babies”? The two pieces were like a one-two punch, West explaining the theology and Marino exemplifying the grace that flows from living that theology.
Monica Gastineau
Beaumont, Texas
Editor’s reply: The two articles appearing in the same issue was one of those small editorial conceits that we hope readers will pick up on. Thanks for noticing.
Lay Off the Pope
In the October 2003 issue, Catholic thinkers weighed in on John Paul II on matters of Church discipline. There is no need to wonder whether Pope John Paul II will be called “the Great.” As is well known, the Catholic Church is in its greatest crisis ever. However, Jesus promised that the Church would not fail in its mission. It is no accident that John Paul II was chosen to guide it through this portion of history.
I disagree that it is useful to publicly criticize a reigning pontiff, for these reasons:
1. The pope answers to God alone for his decisions. There is no human tribunal to which he needs to explain the reasons for his choices.
2. We can see only a portion of the information the pope uses in making his decisions. What appears to us to be passivity may in fact be the wisest approach.
3. Whatever may be unwise or incorrect in a pope’s leadership can be addressed by future popes. And we should never forget that God will bring greater good out of everything.
The question needs to be asked: Is it better to tolerate present evils for decades or to prolong them for centuries by provoking a schism? My vote is to try to keep the Church whole and to outlast the workers of evil who have moved into key positions in the Church.
Similarly, the Pope is criticized for reportedly kissing a copy of the Qur’an. Let’s look at this question: Is it better to appeal to what is good in Islam or to take a belligerent posture? I would pick the “good will” approach.
I appeal to Mr. Hitchcock, Fr. Harrison, and the editorial staff to have a change of heart. When the ship is sailing through rocky waters, don’t worry. We have a Rock steering the ship!
John Manney
Dexter, Michigan