I caught this excellent post over at SERVIAM!
And while the sweet sounds of bats upon balls heralds another year of America’s Pastime, the spring training to which I refer is of an even more sacred kind (as hard as that might be to imagine.)
Dioceses are beginning to prepare for the implementation of the new, corrected Mass translations. I was recently sent a copy of a memo from the Office of Sacred Worship in the Diocese of Kansas City/St. Joseph. The first thing I noticed was that the word “sacred” had been recently added to the name of the Office of Worship. I knew then that the memo was going to be an enjoyable read. It did not disappoint.
Please make special note of how control of every aspect is being taken up front. Bishop Finn is taking steps to ensure that the usual chaos of leaving pastors and liturgists to interpret how best to implement these changes does not happen. Boundaries are being set. Standards are being set. Goals are being set. The gray is being removed and only black and white (and of course the red) [Indeed!] will remain.
This should be a model for other Dioceses.
I now include the memo in its entirety. I suggest a full, fresh mug of Mystic Monk Coffee before you begin, to complete out your experience.
First, use that link to buy some Mystic Monk Coffee, and then go read that memo.
SERVIAM! winds up with this:
Ahhhh, spring is in the air and there seems to be a fresh breeze blowing through our sacred liturgy. It’s the 7th inning liturgical stretch!
Take me out to the bookstore
The time for change has arrived
Buy a new missal and altar cards
Take the old ones and cast them afar
Cuz it’s root root root for the right way
The long delay’s been a shame
But it’s one, two, three strikes they’re out
It’s a new ball game!
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They’ve gone about as fer as they can go… (Not really. We’ve only just begun…) Whoops, There I go again.
What a great instruction and also inspirational. It has an overall tone of “We can all do this and it is going to be fine, in fact better” to it. It would be a good template for other parishes. Perhaps a foot note on the end to remind us all that we have recourse to the Ordinary and Prayers in Latin in keeping with the same wishes of Pope Benedict and the Second Vaticall Council. It would be good to start linking the Council and Latin in positive terms and correct interpretations of said Council documents. Any parish that wishes to add that, feel free…..
When I saw this statement:
I actually cheered.
Ah, at first I thought you meant the great game of Cricket. Now, that is more of a metaphor for the liturgy than baseball, doncha know?
Love the song Father! It’s stuck in my head now!
God bless
Catherine
I’m still picking my jaw up from the floor. A bishop actually taking responsibility for the liturgy in the parishes of his diocese? Will wonders never cease?!
I could *hug* His MOST Excellency Robert Finn, and I am not a hugger!
This is the first time I have ever seen “deacon” abbreviated “Dcn.”
STMom
“…But it’s L. B. W. now.
It’s a new ball game.”
Awesome, and proactive. It’s nice to see the Bishop taking charge, and getting in front of the issue rather that trailing behind. The new translation is a chance to cut off a lot of abuses at the shin, and it is good to see a bishop taking advantage of that fact.
In my diocese (Charlotte) I have not seen anything this overt, but the dioscean paper has give “pride of place” to a whole series of articles by Louie Verrecchio that are truly impressive.
I can scarcely describe the emotions I felt when I read this. I nearly wept with joy.
If anyone needs a DRE or youth minister in the Diocese of Kansas City, call me.