New appointments mark bold papal move for Liturgical reform

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Comments: 8

Vatican City, Sep 25, 2008 / 11:10 am (CNA).- Pope Benedict XVI made a low profile but significant move in the direction of liturgical reform by completely renewing the roster of his liturgical advisors yesterday.

A hardly noticed brief note from the Vatican's Press office announced the appointment of new consultants for the office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff. It did not mention, however, the importance of the new appointees.

The new consultants include Monsignor Nicola Bux, professor at the Theological Faculty of Puglia (Southern Italy,) and author of several books on liturgy, especially on the Eucharist. Bux recently finish a new book "Pope Benedict’s Reform," printed by the Italian publishing house Piemme, scheduled to hit the shelves in December.

The list of news consultants includes Fr. Mauro Gagliardi, an expert in Dogmatic theology and professor at the Legionaries of Christ's Pontifical Athenaeum “Regina Apostolorum”; Opus Dei Spanish priest Juan José Silvestre Valor, professor at the Pontifical University of Santa Croce in Rome; Fr. Uwe Michael Lang, C.O., an official of the Congregation for the Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and author of the book "Turning Towards the Lord" -about the importance of facing "ad orientem" during Mass; and Fr. Paul C.F. Gunter, a Benedictine professor at the Pontifical Athenaeum Sant Anselmo in Rome and member of the editorial board of the forthcoming "Usus Antiquior," a quarterly journal dedicated to the Liturgy under the auspices of the Society of St. Catherine of Siena. The Society, which has an association with the English Province of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), promotes the intellectual and liturgical renewal of the Church.

Also relevant to the appointments is the fact that all former consultants, appointed when Archbishop Piero Marini led the office of Liturgical Celebrations, have been dismissed by not renewing their appointments.

Comments: 8

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Sherry
British Columbia, Canada 01/13/2009 12:12 AM EST

Thanks be to God. Now, if only the Bishops in Canada will follow the Vicar of Christ.

Published by: Mary Weber
Rosamond, CA USA 09/27/2008 03:57 AM EST

Glory to God! He is faithful to His promise that "the gates of hell shall not prevail.” For some time now, God, in His goodness, has seen fit to let us actually believe His kingdom is a democracy. We have been reaping the only results that our fallen nature could ever hope to produce via such arrogance: extremism verging on legalism on the one hand, license on the other.

Bottom line, it’s only when the two hands come together – read: as in earnest prayer - that we’ve got ourselves in the proper posture before Him to be guided unto all Truth. And this latest development - despite our adversary’s most exhaustive efforts – is a most wonderful answer to said prayer!

Published by: Gabriel Castillo
Houston/Texas/USA 09/26/2008 10:29 PM EST

I am glad the Pope is changing things, but what about our mass. Can he start taking some more concrete steps that hit a little closer to home. God bless Pope Benedict XVI and God bless the day I can go to Mass without losing my patience.

Published by: Joseph Mansfield
Casas Grandes, Chih. 09/26/2008 01:23 PM EST

One more step. The Holy Father appears to move as fast as he can without provoking a backlash. Let us pray he lives to be 100 -- at least.

Published by: Don Schenk
Allentown/PA/USA 09/26/2008 11:32 AM EST

For decades now the average Catholic was stuck between the extremists who rejected Vatican II and the Missal of Paul VI and the extremists who ignored the call of the various popes for moderation in the use of the revised missal. (How many remember that in the early 1970s Paul VI released "Jubilate Deo," a booklet of basic gregorian chants that he requested all parish choirs to learn?)
My personal hope is that the Missal of Paul VI in the near future will be celebrated in a range of styles from today's "folk Mass" (but with an accurate English translation) to a solemn Mass that many would confuse with the older Missal, and that individual Catholics will be left to decide which style they prefer.

Published by: Edgar
Mexico 09/26/2008 11:14 AM EST

Excellent news!!!

Published by: Fr. Fintan Cummings
Reynilds, IN, USA 09/26/2008 08:30 AM EST

You go, Your Holiness!!

God bless you!!

Published by: Frank G Heron
Quarryville, PA USA 09/25/2008 06:29 PM EST

Its about time! Thanks be to Godt

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