Wednesday, March 4, 2009

"Theological continuity is only correct reading of Vatican II"

The Motu Proprio "Summorum Pontificum" is presented as the most important activity in the papacy of Benedict XVI. What is your opinion?

I do not know whether it is the most important but it certainly is an important document. It is not only so because it is a very significant step towards a reconciliation within the Church, not only because it expresses the desire to arrive at a mutual enrichment between the two forms of the Roman Rite, the ordinary and extraordinary, but also because it is the precise indication, in law and liturgy, of that theological continuity which the Holy Father has presented as the only correct hermeneutic for reading and understanding of the life of the Church and, especially, of Vatican II.

(OFFICE OF THE LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF, INTERVIEW OF MONS. GUIDO MARINI IN THE PERIODICAL "RADICI CRISTIANE” N. 42 OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH 2009, "Without words before the greatness and beauty of the mystery of God" by Maddalena della Somaglia.)

1 comment:

Bob said...

Well, I’m not sure I can respond on the level of “because it is the precise indication, in law and liturgy, of that theological continuity which the Holy Father has presented as the only correct hermeneutic…”, I do believe Summorum Pontificum is potentially the most important activity in the papacy of Benedict XVI.

For the vast majority of Catholics, Sunday Mass is not only their most important contact with their faith, it is almost the only contact (and unfortunately not even every Sunday). Because of this (while the law of prayer and the law of belief is often a reciprocal relationship), I believe that for most Catholics how they pray really does determine what they believe. If “the spirit” of SP (opening the EF for all the faithful – even the just mildly curious- unfettered by “stable group” requirements twisted beyond their intent and other imposed obstacles) is truly adhered to, it can be the most concrete activity in Benedict’s papacy that will reach all the faithful.

By the way, I have question; can a priest, by himself, say the Ordinary Form of the Mass?