A priest who is a friend told me today that the Eparchy of Parma sent him a fax today regarding the new liturgy.

Here are some highlights:

"The new translations of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great are soon to be promulgated. Books for the congregational participation, including music, have been prepared and will be made available at the time of promulgation. The books will be available for purchase in advance for only $12.50 each."

"Each parish is expected to order enough to allow for the participation of each person in attendance."

Sad and unfortunate.

Monomakh

this is deja vu all over again

Your previous post vanished into thin air. Was it deleted? If so, no explanation was given to the moderators.

Yeah, where did it go? Do I need to repost?

Yes, you need to repost. Unfortunately accidents do happen sometimes with overtired moderators and admins. The re-constituted thread helps clarify some things also. Sorry, for the problems.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+
Administrator

Thank you, Father Anthony. Please disregard my query on the Moderator's Forum.

O.K. my point was that my pastor said he hasen't even seen the music to the "NEW" Liturgy. His point is how can he answer questions by parishioners if he has only seen the text and not the music. I attended Liturgy at a parish which happened to be using the new music. Why do the cantors have this and not the priests? Who chose not to share the music, and why?

In Fr. Serge's book, I don't recall him mentioning anything about the music. Has that aspect of the "NEW" Liturgy been discussed?

Again, just curious....
Cathy

In the post that was deleted someone mentioned that Fr. Keleher's book debuted about the time the new pew book was put out for bids for publication. I mentioned that timing is everything when it comes to marketing. I also recall how Bishop Spong of the Episcopal Church would publish a book every three years, just prior to that church's national convention. It helped to sell his book to the widest possible audience. Anyhow, I am relieved that the new pew book is moving forward.

Cathy, as to the new music, there was a commission that addressed the liturgy itself, and one that addressed the music for the liturgy- two commissions made up of people from the various eparchies. (This has been mentioned and discussed elsewhere on the Forum.)

So you're happy that your parish priest has been kept in the dark about all of the changes made to the "NEW" Liturgy?

Cathy, I'm not sure who you addressed your last statement to. I can only say that I am led to believe that most of the new liturgy information has been shared among the BCC clergy already. The music may be another matter, but that too is being shared by the Cantor's Institute as far as I know.

I might add that Fr. Keleher is with the Ukrainian Catholic Church, not the Ruthenian Metropolia (BCC) in the U.S.

Well, what is a parish priest going to tell the Babas in the parish why the hymns they have sung for upteen years needed to change? It's going to be a hard enough sell with all the other issues, like inclusive language, etc., now we have learn "NEW" music too.

I just don't understand why the priests were not giventhe music. Why is it up to them to seek it out? It just sounds like a snow job to me!

Fr. Keleher shares the Ruthenian Rescension with us and others. The new liturgy is not loyal to the Ruthenian Rescension and thus I don't see why he can't comment or ask questions about it. It's funny that most of the info coming out on this subject has been from those who are not a member of the 'party'.


btw, in my lead post when I said 'Sad and unfortunate.' I meant that we were one step closer to a chopped up liturgy with feminized inclusive language (the price of $12.50 didn't bother me )

What difference does that make...he's Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic, like we're Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic. Secondly, we're supposed to be working toward a common translation so why wouldn't another Eastern Church come out with their comments. I wish the Orthodox would step forward and let their opinions be heard. Besides, what motivation would Fr. Serge have regarding OUR Divine Liturgy. It's perfect -- someone outside the US and outside our Metropolia who is not influenced by OUR church politics. Additionally, our priests are probably afraid to come out and challenge the "NEW" Liturgy for fear of reprisals. Besides, if their input was valued, don't you think this would not be done in secret???

IMHO, all the Eastern Churches should be working to shut this "NEW" Liturgy down as it doesn't bring us closer together!

JMHO, Cathy

Cathy,

well said.

It is said to see that rather than working toward commonality and unity with our Greek Catholic brethern, we are moving away from them and risking causing a further bifurcation in our own church.

If faxes are circulating regarding the coming of this new liturgy and ordering books, then I guess the days of having any commonality with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church like the Ruthenian Rescension are numbered. It seems that the powers to be want to make this the once and for all split from the UGCC (in case there was any doubt) and move us away and on our own island.

Monomakh

I think that that is a lofty goal, for which there is unfortunately no mechanism. Is it a comment heard of when other churches and Orthodox jurisdictions are making their books? No other church is sitting on hold, waiting for this great united effort. We aren't either; and we shouldn't.

WOW!! Me too!! I would like to hear from ACROD on the office of antiphons and the their view of the importance of literal translation. I would like to hear from the GOA on the translation of philanthropos. I would like to hear from the OCA on the audible anaphora. I would like to hear from the Antiochians on vesperal liturgies. I would like to hear from Bulgarians, Romanians, Serbians, Melkites, ... What fraction of them use "Holy Strong"? And I want to hear from Sourozh on "Each and All".

Fascinating point not to be missed: We didn't get books from any of the others noted above. And we didn't get such books disseminated with intriguing secrecy - disseminated not to our IELC or Bishops but to directly to our priests! We didn't hear them suggesting that prospective conferences on the liturgy be held away from Ruthenian influence. Why not? Do the math.

Anyone who truly wants unity among all Byzantine Catholic Churches ought to appreciate that this great adventure, that disrespects the autonomy of a Particular (not Local) Church, is a step backwards. Unity follows respect.

I think that Fr. Serge's work does make a number of points of interest on authentic tradition. But the liturgical instructions, like it or not, include more than that. Perhaps help is on the way to understand the issue of organic developments within the recension, with attention to north/south distinctions. Maybe help is already here. Maybe our IELC and our Synod had some thoughts on that. It is, moreover, clear that there are many who are more familiar with liturgical and pastoral situation in our Church than Fr. Serge, as he, in effect, conceded. Authentic tradition, organic development, and pastoral considerations are, per the instructions, to be balanced. This is what Bishops of Churches do.

I think that the call for unity is a good one, but I think you are horribly mistaken if you think that that would be advanced by churches looking to intervene into the crafting and promulgation of each others liturgical books. Or liturgical music, ... There are many positive steps that could be taken to advance unity. This isn't one.

We shouldn't be surprised any of this is happening, but let's look at the state of our fragile little church.

I still wonder who the audience is for the new new Divine Liturgy? Come out on stage please. Make yourselves known.

You'll love our new, improved, emasculated DL.

Surely, we must have studied the demographics of our Metropolia to determine that we have a majority of feminists who clamor for inclusive language. Well, looks like they'll get what they want.

We must also know that our people want their own little hybrid Church with 45 minute Masses. So, chuck the antiphons, litanies, etc. They slow things down.

And why bother to evangelize anyway?

I wonder what His Holiness Benedict XVI thinks of the new translation.

What a sad, short history for the Rusyn Greek Catholics in America. Eternal memory!