www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Pope Francis "Reconstitutes" Eastern Churches Liturgy Commission

[(Re-)Appointments to] Special Commission for the Liturgy at the Congregation for Oriental Churches

From Vatican Press Office Daily Bulletin of: 01.September.2015
http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2015/09/01/0638/01387.html (English translation by Google; bracketed comments from Catholic World News)

The Holy Father Francis renewed [or reconstituted?] the Special Commission for the Liturgy at the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, as follows:

- HE Msgr. Piero Marini, Titular Archbishop of Martirano, President [Served as Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations from 1987 to 2007 and is president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses]

- Rev.do Sac. Cummings McLean, Secretary [Served on the staff of seminaries in Baltimore and Russia]

- Rev.do P. Abraha Tedros, OFM Cap.

- Rev.do P. Cesare Giraudo, SI

- Rev.do P. Pott D. Thomas, OSB

- Rev.do P. Archim. Manuel Nin, OSB

- Rev.do P. Iacopino Rinaldo, MS

- Rev.do Mons. Pallath Paul.

What does this mean?

Comments from "Pray Tell: Worship, Wit & Wisdom"'s report of the appointment (http://www.praytellblog.com/index.php/2015/09/01/liturgy-news-from-rome/ ):

It’s an interesting appointment, since Marini is a Latin-rite priest. Marini, long-time MC under Pope John Paul II who was known for inculturation and local adaptation of papal liturgies, is thought to be in the good favor of Pope Francis. - Anthony Ruff, OSB

For example:
[Linked Image]
An indigenous Mexican shaman exorcises Pope St. John Paul II during the canonization Mass for St. Juan Diego in Mexico City in 2002

His hand was all over those liturgies. This said, what in his background makes him appropriate for the position? - Joseph Villecco

Number one (Marini) is just one more example of Latin interference in another ritual Church. I thought that we were past this type of behavior. In fact, it looks like the commission is stacked with Latins. - John Kohanski

Are any of these men Eastern Catholic?

There are several Eastern Catholics on this list - just because they belong to Orders rooted in the West doesn't mean they somehow lose their Eastern identity etc.

Fr Marini is eminently qualified to serve on this commission since he has the widest possible experience with, as was stated, the process of acculturation.

In a number of Eastern Churches, especially in Asia and Africa, acculturation is an ongoing process where local traditions need to be properly assessed and implemented as new Christians bring them into their respective Particular Churches.

Also, just because someone comes from the Latin Rite doesn't mean they can't or don't specialize in Eastern spirituality, traditions and history.

I'd rather use the works of Fr. Robert Taft SJ in coming to understand the authentic Byzantine-Slav tradition than those of anyone else (unless of course they are a Jesuit of the Byzantine Rite, like Fr. Nazar!).

There are Byzantine Sui Juris Catholic Churches who, when it comes to their liturgical traditions, really need, in my view, someone to save them from . . . themselves.

Also, if Rome doesn't get directly involved in Eastern liturgical matters with its approbation then there will be in-fighting among a number of Particular Churches. In the UGCC, for example, we have two competing liturgical movements - I wish Rome would step in and establish the more Eastern one as normative.

Alex

Unfortunately Ap. Marini may be the wrong man for the job, he will side with -ization group over the Traditional side any day. In the case of the Chaldean Church, this includes the current Patriarch apparently. So, who will be able to stop them?

We shall see!

But the UGCC tends to ensure its own liturgical issues are resolved by its own organs.

Pope Francis has more than a passing acquaintance with the Eastern Catholic Churches and I think his new commission will do better work than, say, what the Ruthenian Church has done with its Liturgy (or so one may gather from reading things here).

alex

Well, I can't say very much about the first two names, but the other six are all professors of liturgy at the Pontificio Istituto Orientale. Several of them are indeed Eastern Catholic, as you can see:

- Fr. Abraha Tedros, OFMCap: Ethiopian Catholic friar
- Fr. Cesare Giraudo, SJ: Latin catholic priest
- Fr. Thomas Pott, OSB: Byzantine monk of the Monastery of Chevetogne
- Fr. Manel Nin, OSB: Rector of the Greek College in Rome
- Fr. Rinaldo Iacopino, SM: Italo-Greek priest
- Fr. Paul Pallath: Syro-Malabar priest

As for the question of what this means: This would be significantly easier to answer if we knew what the previous composition of the commission was. Have the members changed? Have they stayed the same? I'm afraid I don't know myself.

I hope this info is useful.

Peace,
Alex

Not a single Ruthenian or even a Slav in the names!

Terrible . . .

That's just what this world needs as a whole . . . more Slavs . . .

Maybe that's because they have already seen what the Ruthenians will do and wanted to go the opposite way...

[quote=Orthodox Catholic]

"Fr Marini is eminently qualified to serve on this commission since he has the widest possible experience with, as was stated, the process of acculturation."

It is very disturbing news that Abp. Marini is to lead the Eastern Catholic liturgical commission. While Marini was the master of papal ceremonies from 1987 - 2007, Marini had been the personal secretary of Archbishop Annibale Bugnini, the chief "architect" of the liturgical "reform" of The Roman Church that followed Vatican II.

Does Marini's appointment mean that he gets to experiment and wreak havoc on the Eastern Churches as well?

To learn more about Bugnini, Marini's mentor, one might take a look at Fr. Z's post here:

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2013/12/50-years-ago-today-bugninicare/

Don't confuse Abp. Marini with Msgr. Guido Marini who is the current master of papal ceremonies and was appointed to that position by Benedict XVI. Some of his writings can be found here:

http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/documents/ns_liturgy_20090924_pubblicazioni_en.html


This point is particularly relevant:

"We must also remember that not all cultural expressions are compatible with the Catholic liturgy: education and purification are sometimes needed. This is, on the other hand, the journey that each culture must make when it finds the Gospel on its way; it is healed and purified by the Gospel and enabled to give it a new expression reflecting a particular historic moment."

http://www.vatican.va/news_services...t_doc_20111221_intervista-inside_en.html

Bad news - with Abp. Marini on board.

He made a Mess out of the Mass (pun intended) when he served as master of ceremonies. He's also vehemently against anything traditional, as far as the Roman Rite is concerned.

I hope that the rest of the Commission will not facilitate his inculturation habits.

Quote: "I hope that the rest of the Commission will not facilitate his inculturation habits."

And if they do, what then? How do you measure what is "far enough"?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Quote: "This is, on the other hand, the journey that each culture* must make when it finds the Gospel on its way; it is healed and purified by the Gospel..."

* "Culture" is a concept... an idea. Worship and faithfulness in the Parish, on the other hand, is real and tangible; like the difference between "humankind" (concept) and "neighbor" (tangible reality; as in 'next door'). Undertakings that purport to address (or imply?) that concepts and ideas of 'things' are what is being focused on, as an excuse to 're-constitute' something of such import, are problematic at best. We have nearly 50 years to ponder regarding the 'fruits' of Bugnini's tamperings. Yes, this should be very troubling. What can be even more troubling is if one is at all surprised by this.