Our worthy friends at Rorate have posted a piece by His Excellency Most Rev. Malcolm Ranjith, once Secretary of the CDW and now Archbishop of Colombo in Sri Lanka.
Archbp. Ranjith demonstrates why he was the right man for the CDW and why he was so hated by the lefties.
Archbp. Ranjith is setting out to reform the liturgical worship of the Archdiocese entrusted to his care. He has declared a year of the Eucharist for the diocese and has issued directives in a "Liturgical Guardian". Now he explains the situation to everyone.
You can read the whole thing at Rorate but here are some salient excerpts with my emphases and comments.
2.1 The Liturgical Guardian of the Archdiocese of Colombo which has already been given to the priests in the Archdiocese, and which will be made available for all others from 29th August 2010, is the main point of reference in all matters pertaining to liturgical celebrations within the Archdiocese of Colombo. Please abide by its stipulations faithfully without trying to implement personal views and opinions. Those wishing to do things as they wish make themselves like God himself, and that is self-idolatry. [!] During this Year we shall concentrate very specially towards eliminating all erroneous practices regarding the celebration of the most holy Eucharist, the Sacraments and the Liturgy of the Hours. I would draw your attention also to the renovation and construction of churches which need to be done according to the guidelines set forth in the Guardian. In order to deepen our understanding about the Eucharist I wish to appeal to all parish priests, heads of institutions, principals of schools, superiors of religious houses to organise liturgical formation sessions on the Eucharist, sacraments and the Liturgy of the Hours. Please pay special attention to the training of lectors which is conducted in the Archdiocese as a deanery level training session, formation of choristers and training of church organists while not neglecting other ministries.
2.2 I appeal to all rectors of seminaries, administrators of archdiocesan shrines, superiors of institutions and directors of archdiocesan apostolates to very specially cooperate in this effort. While not exempting others, in such places we cannot tolerate liturgical errors. [Do I hear an "Amen!"?] […]
2.3 An effort will be made to make common Latin chants popular during this year. [Do I hear an "Amen!"?] With this aim in mind the Archdiocesan Coordinator for Liturgy, together with Mr Francis D’ Almeida will be organising sessions of practice in all 15 deaneries and teach all choirs some basic Latin chants which could be used in parishes and institutions. Once these practice sessions take place parishes may sing at least the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei at parish Sunday Masses on the first Sunday of the month. No. 36 of the Constitution on the Sacred liturgy clearly sets forth the principles in this regard. Latin still remains the main liturgical language of the Church. In Sri Lanka we made a mistake in abandoning the language of our worship altogether. [For this part alone, Archbp. Ranjith should be made Cardinal as soon as possible.] Let this Eucharistic Year be an occasion for us to resuscitate this lost tradition at least to some extent. I appeal to all priests, religious and laity to cooperate.
I also wish to affirm that as indicated in the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum of 7th July 2007 priests and institutions are now permitted to celebrate, where it is appropriate, the Tridentine Mass and the Sacraments in that rite. In this case it is best that the faithful be prepared for it beforehand. [There is no hint of restriction here at all. Priests may take the initiative themselves to implement Summorum Pontificum in their parishes. But, there is a commonsensical admonition: prepare people beforehand so that they are not blind-sided.] I myself hope to celebrate a solemn Eucharist in that rite sometime in the near future at the Archdiocesan Cathedral.
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Lord, give Pope Benedict XVI many healthy years and make Archbishop Ranjith his successor!!
I pray that that kind of leadership would make its way to many diocese around the world. This man is a gift to his people!
Agree, Ranjith for Pope! He’s like a Ratzinger with the gloves off.
May his seminarian numbers swell.
It’s like a dream.
Perhaps this will be a “wake up call” and an example to those Bishops who may be like-minded but have lacked the “fortitude” to take a step such as this. Perhaps Benedict could even look at this as a model for a wider instruction of some kind… who knows?
Praise the Lord.
I’d say this is a few bricks in the right direction.
Woooo!!! Now let’s have some American Bishops follow his lead!
NLM has the following quote from Ab. Ranjith’s statement introducing the liturgical plan to the priests of his archdiocese:
The Eucharistic Year, then, Dear Fathers, has to usher in a spirit of greater nobility and dignity as well as reverence towards the Sacred in the liturgy especially in the Eucharist and the Sacraments. We should encourage Eucharistic devotions, ourselves celebrate them reverently, processions, holy hours, encourage Holy Communion on the tongue and on our knees ( altar railings should return to the sanctuary area perhaps with a cushion line as it has been done at our Cathedral )</i<, beautify liturgically our sanctuaries …..
Best news I’ve read in a while. Liberals will be apoplectic that the Archbishop has the nerve to actually implement what Sacrosanctum Concilium really said, rather than what liberals wish it had said.
Hello Toronto? Toronto? Are you there?
Huzzah indeed to the Archbishop! Woo Hoo!
Please, dear Papa Benedict, give Archbishop Ranjith that red hat SOON!
Vincenzo-you hit paydirt again! Love it!
Legisperitus-Love your comment! ‘Ratzinger with the gloves off’….good one!
Every diocese needs a copy
I trust that Abp Ranjith is not an example of the “browning of the Church” that the liberals have in mind.
Which of course brings to mind just how out of touch liberals are. They seem not to realize that it was the Third Word Church, among which are the Browns, Blacks, and Yellows, who elected Cardinal Ratzinger.
“In Sri Lanka we made a mistake in abandoning the language of our worship altogether.”
In which country was this mistake not generally made? It begs the question: was there an international conspiracy in the 1960’s and ’70’s primed to deform our mode of worship? I am almost forced to conclude that either there was, or – given the consequences to the Church – the devil himself may have orchestrated it. God bless Abp Ranjith.
My priest friend from Sri Lanka tells me that unfortunately there is a lot of resistance from priests there to Ranjith’s initiatives. Some guys felt that they did not know Ranjith and after an entrenched spirit of Vatican II Novus Ordo mentality holding sway for so long, he is “a bit much” for them.
It’s not that they don’t like the guy, but feel that they do not know him and that as soon as he is back in the country he is telling them to start changing things they have done for many years. As a result, some priests say, “whatever makes you happy” but then they just stick his letters into the circular file.
Comments are heard about him being a “Roman lackey” and publishing these norms as “part of a campaign for the red hat” without any attempt to understand the Sri Lankan clergy or the way they do things. My friend admits readily that the archbishop is under no obligation to have to understand anything, and should be obeyed according to his commands.
However, my friend says, even in Sri Lanka, that is not the reality of the clergy. They are not too keen about the idea of Latin and chant and do not feel that Ranjith has made much of an effort to “close the sale” on his ideas. Thus, the danger that everything will look great on paper, but these changes may not get to the folks.
Oh frabjous day, calloo, callay!
Bravo, Your Grace!
They seem not to realize that it was the Third Word Church,
Should be: Church in the Third World
Fr Sotelo,
Those comments are not surprising.
1. It is common liberal claptrap to say that any cleric who wants what is legitimately Catholic is doing it for promotion. If that doesn’t apply, then they’ll revert to the old “close-minded” standby.
2. I am glad that there are priests who are resisting the Ranjith initiatives. Someone needs to shake up their little (and I mean little) worlds. I’ve mentioned here before that I have asked various pastors how they can persevere when they know that the laity is practicing contraception, voting for pro abortion candidates, not interested in vocations, etc. The answer has always come back that it is something they try not to think about.
3. No doubt that there will be problems implementing the changes, so it’s important to start in places where it’s possible, e.g., the cathedral.
In which country was this mistake not generally made? It begs the question: was there an international conspiracy in the 1960’s and ‘70’s primed to deform our mode of worship? I am almost forced to conclude that either there was, or – given the consequences to the Church – the devil himself may have orchestrated it. God bless Abp Ranjith.
Comment by asophist
No, there was no conspiracy in the 60’s and 70’s. The movement began much earlier, between the two world wars.
And why would you think the devil himself may have orchestrated it? Throughout history man has shown over and over that he is entirely capable of being a complete moron without demonic influence.
“Comments are heard about him being a “Roman lackey” and publishing these norms as “part of a campaign for the red hat” without any attempt to understand the Sri Lankan clergy or the way they do things.”
So some priests in Sri Lanka think they are running a national church who do not have to answer to Rome and are schismatic, is there anywhere these evils have not penetrated?
*I am glad that there are priests who are resisting the Ranjith initiatives. Someone needs to shake up their little (and I mean little) worlds.*
As usual, you have hit the nail so hard on the head that I have laughed out loud at the way you know exactly, and I mean exactly, what is going on. I think that wherever there are Ranjiths, the clergy are going through a painful re-education. At first, they don’t know what to make of it; eventually, they turn the page and most will get with the program as long as the leader firmly and patiently continues to give guidance.
So some priests in ________ think they are running a national church who do not have to answer to Rome and are schismatic, is there anywhere these evils have not penetrated?
I suspect that Sri Lanka is not the only country that can be used to fill in the blank here. Ditto (or especially?) if you replace “priests” with “bishops”.
The Archbishop is a breath of fresh air. God bless him.
“Once these practice sessions take place parishes may sing at least the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei at parish Sunday Masses on the first Sunday of the month.”
I know, I know… brick by brick, but why “the first Sunday?” What’s good then is good every week.
I wonder what the intent is here. Clearly, the Archbishop isn’t concerned with tiptoeing around liberal sensibilities…
Abp. Ranjith is concerned, organized and direct. No dithering, special studies, or “what if we wait” initiatives. He is in clearly in charge.
I honestly don’t think we have a single bishop in the U.S. that closely mirrors this level of initiative.
What do you think he means when in section 1, he talks about the importance of “eco-spirituality” in the Eucharist??? It seems really odd
LOL Vincenzo. Your skills on the computer are a hoot.
Thanks be to God for Archbishop Ranjith. They will resist just as priesst and bishops around the world resist the Holy Father. One has to wonder if these same recalcirants would resist Jesus Christ or the Blessed Mother if they returned to earth. We must start somewhere and here is a good place and a good time. It is time for priests and bishops to follow the Vicar of Christ and not their own wims. The same local priests who preach that the faithful need to be obediant to them need to start being obediant to Rome. We need more men like Ranjith in California, just look at the California wasteland.
2.1 The Liturgical Guardian of the Archdiocese of Colombo which has already been given to the priests in the Archdiocese, and which will be made available for all others from 29th August 2010, is the main point of reference in all matters pertaining to liturgical celebrations within the Archdiocese of Colombo.
I hope we can get a copy of the Liturgical Guardian as soon as it becomes available. I think it will be a valuable document. Just the name “Guardian” underlines its importance.
Can he come to Atlanta? Pretty please?