LITURGIAE DEGRADATIO
In quibusdam regionibus difussam est schema cuiusdam « Missae » ab anonimo compositae, circa thema « homophiliae ». Incredibile dictu quo perveniat immoderata libertas et sensus moralis imminutio!
Merito Episcopi Belgici contra huiusmodi liturgicas depravationes reclamaverunt, proprios sacerdotes monentes, ne textum quemcumquae liturgicum adhibeant, a competenti Auctoritate haud approbatum.
* * *
In quodam articulo describitur et commendatur Missa pro iuvenibus Supra thema « de la drogue » (Une Messe des jennes sur le thème de le drogue , in Paroisse et Liturgie , 1970, pp. 80-81).
Initio duo iuvenes ad ambonem ostendunt ceteris quaedam diaria cum titulis themati aptis: « Louvain: de la marijuana dans une poubelle » … « Liège: du haschich dans un banc de collégien ».
Sequitur diversorum instrumentorum musicorum ( « batterie » ) strepitus et sonus alicuius « dischi ».
Cantus introitus: Pèlerin, étranger, sur cette terre, Pèlerin, éntranger, Seignur, pour marcher vers toi .
Kyrie, Gloria, Collecta. Postea « l’un après l’autre, plusieurs jeunes moment au lutrin et évoquent, à travers poésie, articles de revues, flashes d’actualité le rèseau des questions, qui habitent la société et l’Eglise d’aujourd’hui comme autant de causes proches ou lointaines du phénomène de la drogue … A travers tout cela se des sine la figure d’un Christ défiguré, évoquée par la diffusion de la chanson de Freddy Seghers: Christ … ».
Prima lectio: Act. 2 : « Il se fera, dans le derniers jours, que je répandrai de mon esprit sur trute chair. Alors leurs fils et leurs files prophétiseron, les gens auront des visions et les viellards des songes … ».
Cantus meditationis: Mon âme a soif du Dieu vivant, quand le verrai-je face à face?
Et autor commentatur: « N’est-ce pas là le désir sincère des vrais Hippies? Et nou chrétiens, où est notre mystique? ».
Estne vere haec via pastoralis apta ad vitia corrigenda et iuvenes educandos? Qua ratione vitia, aliquando verae degenerationes, createntur a « notre Eglise de quarelles »? Cur « juger » et « condamner les drouges » esset « attitude pharisaïque »?
Misericoridam habere oportet pro personis, adiuvare necesse est errantes, sed cur accusare Ecclesiam, uti « causam » « du phénomène de la drogue »?
Et cur phantasticam liturgiam eucharisticam construere, Liturgiam mortificando, dum aliae formae educationis spirituals exstent, talibus iuvenibus aptius et efficacius congruentes, quas optime novit traditionalis et materna paedagogia Ecclesiae?
* * *
Pro Puebla quae ad duodevicesimum annum pervenit et ab aliqua familia adoptata est, sacerdos quidam Missam composuit, ut celebraretur occasione illius puellae ingres sus in familiam adoptivam.
Haec personalis circumstantia familiaris potetne argumentum constituere pro peculiari formula sactae ac divinae Liturgiae eucharisticae? Nonne sufficiunt elementa, quae, iuxta normas communes, assumi possunt, ex. gr. in orationem universalem?
* * *
Quo ducitis, « ministri Domini », Liturgiam?
THE DEGRADATION OF THE LITURGY
In certain areas, a proposal has been passed around for a certain « Mass », composed by anonymous, concerning the theme of « homophilia ». Incredible to say how far unhampered freedom and a lessening of the moral sense have gone!
Rightfully did the Bishops of Belgium decry these liturgical deviations, cautioning their own priests not to use any liturgical text that had not been approved by the competent Authority.
***
In a certain article, a Mass for young people on the theme « of drugs » (Une Messe des jeunes sur le thème de la drogue , in Paroisse et Liturgie , 1970, pp. 80-81) is described and recommended.
At the beginning, two youths at the ambo show the rest certain newspapers with headlines that fit the theme: « Louvain: Marijuana in the trash » ... « Liège: Hashish on a school bench ».
The noise of various musical instruments (« drums ») and the sound of certain (« dischi ») follows.
The introit: Pilgrim, stranger, upon this earth, Pilgrim, stranger, Lord, to walk towards you .
Kyrie, Gloria, Collect. Then « one after another, several young people approach the ambo and evoke, through poetry, journal articles, and news flashes the network of issues that reside in society and the Church today, as causes of the drug problem ... Through it all emerges a disfigured image of Christ, evoked by the broadcast of the Freddy Seghers song: Christ ... ».
The first reading: Act. 2 : « It will be that in the last days I will pour out my spirit on all flesh. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions and dream dreams ».
The meditation chant: My soul thirsts for the living God. When will I see you face to face?
And the author comments: « Isn't that the genuine desire of true Hippies? As for us Christians, where is our mysticism? ».
Is this truly an appropriate pastoral way to correct vices and educate the youth? For what reason should vices, and sometimes true depravities, be encouraged by « our Church of quarrels »? Why would « judging » and « condemning drugs » be a « pharisaical attitude »?
We must bear mercy toward persons; it is necessary to help those who have gone astray, but why accuse the Church of being a « cause » « of the drug problem »?
And why construct this outrageous eucharistic liturgy, mortifying the Liturgy, while there are other forms of spiritual education that are more readily agreeable and effective for such youth, which the traditional and maternal pedagogy of the Church knows perfectly well?
***
For a girl who reached her eighteenth year and was adopted by a family, a priest put together a certain Mass to celebrate the occasion of the entrance of this girl into her adoptive family.
Can this personal, family circumstance constitute a reason for a special formula for the holy and divine eucharistic Liturgy? Are there not sufficient elements, which, according to the general norms, can be made use of, e.g., in the universal prayer?
***
Where are you taking the Liturgy, you « ministers of the Lord »?
Notitiae 6 (1970): 102–103drugs , hippies , homosexuality , liturgiae degradatio , liturgical abuse
Episcopus quidem nuper apud Congregationem de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum quaesivit an Episcopo dioecesano liceat viros ad sacrum presbyteratum ordinare qui propensiones homosexuales dictas manifestaverunt. Hoc Dicasterium opportunum duxit hanc responsionem exhibere, quae ob peculiare momentum etiam publici iuris fit .
Prot. N. 886/02/0
Città del Vaticano, 16 maggio 2002
Eccellenza Reverendissima,
la Congregazione per il Clero ha trasmesso a questa Congregazione per il Culto Divino e la Disciplina dei Sacramenti, la lettera de Vostra Eccellenza, nella quale ci formula una richiesta, in ordine a chiarire la possibilità o meno che uomini con inclinazioni omosessuali possano ricevere l'ordinazione sacerdotale.
Questa Congregazione per il Culto Divino e la Disciplina dei Sacramenti, tenendo presente l'esperienza che proviene da non poche cause istruite in vista di ottenere la dispensa dagli obblighi che derivano dalla sacra Ordinazione, e dopo doverosa consultazione con la Congregazione per la Dottrina della Fede, esprime il suo giudizio nel modo seguente:
L'ordinazione al diaconato o al presbiterato di uomini omosessuali o con tendenza omosessuale è assolutamente sconsigliabile e imprudente e, dal punto di vista pastorale, molto rischiosa. Una persona omosessuale, o con tendenza omosessuale non è, per tanto, idonea a ricevere il sacramento dell'Ordine sacro.
Mi valgo volentieri della circostanza per confermarmi con sentimenti di cordiale ossequi
dell'Eccellenza Vostra Reverendissima
devotissimo in Domino
Jorge A. Card. Medina Estévez
Prefetto
A certain Bishop recently brought a question before the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments about whether a diocesan Bishop is permitted to ordain to the sacred presbyterate men who have manifested so-called homosexual tendencies. This Dicastery considered it opportune to send this response, which is also being published because of its special importance .
Prot. N. 886/02/0
Vatican City, 16 May 2002
Most Reverend Excellency,
the Congregation for Clergy has passed on to this Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Your Excellency's letter, in which you make an inquiry of us in respect of clarifying whether it is possible or not for men with homosexual inclinations to receive sacerdotal ordination.
This Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, bearing in mind the experience that comes from not a few cases taking place with a view to obtaining dispensation from the obligations which arise from sacred Ordination, and after due consultation with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, expresses its judgment as follows:
The ordination of homosexual men or those with homosexual tendencies to the diaconate or to the priesthood is absolutely inadvisable and imprudent and, from a pastoral point of view, very precarious. As such, a homosexual person, or one with homosexual tendencies, is unfit to receive the sacrament of holy Orders.
I gladly take this opportunity to prove myself, with sentiments of cordial respect
for Your Most Reverend Excellency,
devotissimo in Domino.
Jorge A. Card. Medina Estévez
Prefect
Notitiae 38 (2002): 586homosexuality , ordination