I was at the presentation of a book today prepared by the Pont. Council for Promoting Christian Unity headed up by His Eminence Walter Card. Kasper. The book was presented as a manual of suggestions and projects for "Spiritual Ecumenism".
Some of the projects suggested in the book would be things like becoming more familiar with Scripture and documents about ecumenical issues, getting to know the liturgies and celebrations of others, etc.
Wouldn’t you like a little "spiritual ecumenism" for people who want the older form of Mass?
People could treat those with a desire for traditional liturgy with respect. They could attend Mass in Latin and receive Communion on the tongue like others with traditional aspirations and offend the sensibilities of those who think particles of Hosts that wind up on the floor or clothing are Jesus Christ truly present, His Body, Blood, Soul, Divinity. They could learn the Latin prayers and frequent traditional devotions, perhaps even going to confession frequently.
But wait… that all sounds familiar.
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Father,
I hate to direct attention from our friend, Kasper the Friendly Ecumenist, but the post-synodal committee is meeting in Rome this week. Any thoughts for the mill?
I can’t help but get nervous when ecumenism is talked
about. I have seen far too much liturgical abuse enter into the
Mass because of practices introduced in the spirit of ecumenism.
For instance, I read with dismay my Cathedral
will be having a “A Procession of the Nations; and Multi-Lingual Liturgy” for the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.
Hey, how about a procession of the Catholic Nation? Multi-lingual?
How about Latin and English?
Why English? Is England a Catholic Nation? Is the USA? Both England and the USA are primarily Protestant. If we want to limit ourselves to primarily Catholic nations, we should ditch English and focus on Spanish. ;) (Take this with a grain of salt, I’m just being difficult)
Fr. Z,
I’m flattered that you’ve borrowed a photo of mine (the elevation of the chalice during our 2000 Jubilee pilgrimage Mass at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Pittsburgh, Pa., which is quite a story in itself) to illustrate this item. Now I don’t feel so guilty about having saved a copy of your superlative “Carvaggio” Holy Communion at Gesù e Maria photo from a few months ago!
When can we expect the book on unity through conversion?
(I know, I know…)
Brian: I almost wrote Latin only because it was on my mind at that moment. I was afflicted with Political Correctness. Sorry.
Ok. Latin!!