Benedict makes change to the inaugural Mass of the next Pope

I am in general a nihil innovetur kind of guy, but here is a change I can believe in.

From CNS:

Pope Benedict changes rituals for new pope’s inauguration

By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI has ordered several changes to the Masses and liturgies that will mark the inauguration of the next pope’s pontificate.

Rites and gestures that are not strictly sacramental will take place either before a Mass or in a ceremony not involving Mass, Msgr. Guido Marini, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, told the Vatican newspaper Feb. 22.

One of the most visual changes, he said, would be the restoration of the public “act of obedience” in which each cardinal present at the pope’s inaugural Mass comes forward and offers his allegiance.  [Excellent!  I hated what was done to that in 2005.  And they need to be reminded in a concrete way, in the eyes of the whole world, of who their captain is.]

When Pope Benedict celebrated his inaugural Mass in 2005, 12 people were chosen to represent all Catholics: three cardinals, a bishop, [As a matter of fact he was my bishop, Bp. Erba of Velletri-Segni.  The newly elected Pope had been the Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni and he had real affection for the place.  Thus, he chose Bp. Erba to represent all the diocesan bishops of the world.  I have a great photo of the moment.] a diocesan priest, a transitional deacon, a male religious, a female religious, a married couple and a young man and a young woman recently confirmed.

Msgr. Marini said Pope Benedict personally approved the changes Feb. 18; they include offering a wider choice of traditional Mass prayers in polyphony and chant, rather than the new musical repertoire composed for the 2005 book.  [GOOD!]

After having personally experienced the liturgical rites drafted by Msgr. Marini’s predecessor — and approved by Pope Benedict immediately after his election — the pope suggested “a few changes aimed at improving the text” of the rites for the beginning of a pontificate, formally known as the “Ordo Rituum pro Ministerii Petrini Initio Romae Episcopi.”

Mini-buttons available also!

The changes, Msgr. Marini said, “follow in the line of the modifications made in papal liturgies” over the course of Pope Benedict’s papacy.  [RE-ELECT RATZINGER! ]

The previous edition of the ritual handbook also called for the new pope to visit the basilicas of St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major within two or three weeks of his installation.

The new book, Msgr. Marini said, leaves it up to the new pope to decide “when it would be most opportune, even at some distance from his election, and under what form he judges best, whether it be a Mass, a celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours or a particular liturgical act” like the one found in the 2005 ritual book.

On the other hand, in an email response to questions, Msgr. Marini told Catholic News Service that no significant modifications had been made to the “Ordo rituum conclavis,” the book of rituals, Masses and prayers that accompany the conclave to elect a new pope.

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20 Comments

  1. So much for the Liturgical reforms of Pope Benedict XVI not going on to the next Pope…Deo Gratias!

  2. padredana says:

    When I saw the headline, I thought, “triple tiara?” But apparently it is not so.

  3. JPD says:

    Sadly, I think the chance of the Tiara is non existent. Only one or two Cardinals would probably bring it back. I think what would be nice is the use of the Tiara and the Mitre depending on the situation. That way the renewal could be gradual.

    I also want to see the sedia gestatoria. Not just for its traditional value but also practical. However, again I think this would be unlikely.

    I hope Msgr. Marini stays on, and only pray that Benedict XVI or the new Pope make him Bishop and Cardinal before not to long.

  4. Supertradmum says:

    These changes are so cool. The only thing missing in the lay representation is a middle-aged single lady. I volunteer! Seriously, how wonderful that these changes will be seen soon.

  5. Traductora says:

    Excellent all! Love your comment, supertradmum, since “middle aged single ladies” are and probably always have been a backbone of the Church. Once upon a time, this was acknowledged. When I was a child and teenager in New York in the 1950s-60s, there actually used to be special retreats and events for this group. At that time, I couldn’t quite imagine who they were, but obviously there were enough of them to merit special attention.

    It’s a pity the (orthodox) Church didn’t keep up with this, because many of those same women, speaking from what I have seen, are now out supporting weirdo nuns on the bus or gushing over the heterodox “Father Bob” who of course is laughing at them behind his hand.

  6. JKnott says:

    Nice present. All the more reason to miss this brilliant and very dear Holy Father,

    Regarding the tiara from Baruch Chapter 5:

    Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery;
    put on the splendor of glory from God forever:
    wrapped in the cloak of justice from God,
    bear on your head the mitre
    that displays the glory of the eternal name.
    For God will show all the earth your splendor:
    you will be named by God forever
    the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.

  7. Denis Crnkovic says:

    As I read this post, I realized that on February 28th I will probably sit down with a nice glass of wine, make a “prosit” to Father Ratzinger, and shed tears…

  8. Stumbler but trying says:

    “I hope Msgr. Marini stays on, and only pray that Benedict XVI or the new Pope make him Bishop and Cardinal before not to long.”

    Yes! Will add to my prayers that it may come to pass as we will all benefit from such a gift to the Church. I wish I could find the article I read not too long ago about how Msgr. Marini and his assistants went “looking in the attic” for treasures to be “worn” by our beloved Holy Father. It made me smile. I will have to look for that article and hopefully post it here and save it as well.

  9. raitchi2 says:

    I’m confused when Benedict abdicates, does this mean he’ll still be a cardinal? If so does this mean he will publicly swear obedience to the new Pope? There is going to have to be a photo of the two together, but the best would be of Benedict XVI swearing allegiance to the new Pope.

  10. disco says:

    I’d like to see a coronation as of old using the tiara presented to Benedict during his pontificate

  11. Giuseppe says:

    Raitchi2 – I think the consensus previously was the the Pope will not be a cardinal after he retires (he stopped being a cardinal when he was elected pope, and he’d have to be named one by the new pope), but that he would be the Bishop Emeritus of Rome.

  12. AJS says:

    Hopefully the Cardinal Patriarchs will greet the new Pope with a Kiss of Peace appropriate to their rank rather than the obedience. That would be very bad “optics” for the Orthodox Delegation present for the inaugural liturgy.

  13. jameeka says:

    More than symbolic, no?

  14. Geoffrey says:

    “As I read this post, I realized that on February 28th I will probably sit down with a nice glass of wine, make a “prosit” to Father Ratzinger, and shed tears…”

    You will not be the only one!

  15. Glen M says:

    ““As I read this post, I realized that on February 28th I will probably sit down with a nice glass of wine, make a “prosit” to Father Ratzinger, and shed tears…”

    You will not be the only one!”

    That’s a good idea. I will raise a pint of Bavarian weisse beer tomorrow in celebration of our German shepherd’s pontificate.

    As an aside, since I usually give up beer for Lent, my half-Irish blood is bubbling in anticipation of being able to enjoy a pint on St. Patrick’s Day this year. Slante!

  16. Glen M says:

    Just as I have raised a glass of Bavarian beer to honor our current pontiff, I hope I’ll be raising a Sam Adams to honor his successor.

    From Wiki’s entry on Sam Adams:

    “To help coordinate resistance to what he saw as the British government’s attempts to violate the British Constitution at the expense of the colonies, in 1772 Adams and his colleagues devised a committee of correspondence system, which linked like-minded Patriots throughout the Thirteen Colonies. Continued resistance to British policy resulted in the 1773 Boston Tea Party and the coming of the American Revolution.”

    This “committee of correspondence” sounds like how like-minded Catholics use the Internet today. Michael Voris calls it The Great Equalizer.

    On second thought… Sam Adams is my favorite American beer, however, to truly carry on my little tradition of honoring the pope with a beer from his homeland, a Wisconsin fine brew would be accurate. I’ll take any suggestions from connoisseurs.

  17. pj_houston says:

    Wasn’t the “sedia gestatoria” used to carry to the newly elected pope from St. Peter’s Basilica along the “Via Papale” (road of the pope), across the Capitoline Hill and on to St. John Lateran Basilica? Many of the beautiful churches of Rome were built along this road.

  18. sthelensrcbarry says:

    Hopefully Monsignor Marini remains in his post, it remains to the new Pope if he keeps him on, but surely he will and not simply for the time being, as Benedict XVI did with Archbishop Marini.

    With regards to the rite, Father, was the invesiture of the pallium to Popes John Paul I and II performed before the Mass proper or was it after the introductory rites. Good to see the restoration of the act of obedience by the Sacred College of Cardinals to the Pope.

    God bless Pope Benedict

  19. vetusta ecclesia says:

    Surely an early priority should be for the new Pope to be enthroned in his Cathedral Church of St John in Lateran – “ecclesia mater et caput omnium ecclesiarum urbis et orbis”.

  20. Glen M says:

    Wait a tick…

    “The new book, Msgr. Marini said, leaves it up to the new pope to decide “when it would be most opportune, even at some distance from his election, and under what form he judges best, whether it be a Mass, a celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours or a particular liturgical act” like the one found in the 2005 ritual book.”

    Under what form? As in either Ordinary Form or Extra Ordinary?

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