"I am not sufficiently acquainted with the Italian Ritual. In the classical Ritual, inherited from the ancient Church, Baptism begins with the question: 'What do you ask of the Church of God.' Today, at least in the German Ritual, the answer is simply: 'Baptism'. This does not make sufficiently explicit what is being sought. In the old Ritual the reply was: 'Faith'. That is, a relationship with God. To know God. And the rite continued: 'And why do you ask for faith?' 'Because we want eternal life.'"
So Pope Benedict to the priests of the Diocese of Albano on Thursday. Very interesting is his use of the term 'classical' with regard to the pre-Conciliar liturgy, as well as his explicit critique of an aspect of the post-Conciliar liturgy.
Some extracts from what he had to say about the 'ars celebrandi':
"Celebration is prayer and conversation with God: God with us and we with God. Therefore, the first requisite for a good celebration is that the priest really enter into this conversation. [...] He is in conversation with God because the texts of the Holy Mass are not theatrical texts, or anything like that, but are prayers, thanks to which, together with the congregation, I talk with God. [...]"
"The 'ars celebrandi' is not an invitation to engage in a kind of theatre, a show, but to an interiority which makes itself felt and becomes perceptible and evident to those who attend. Only if they see that this is not an exterior, theatrical 'ars' - we are not actors! - but rather the expression of our heart's journey, which draws in their hearts too, only then does the Liturgy become beautiful, a communion of all present with the Lord. [...]"
"It is difficult for the faithful to follow a text as long as that of our Eucharistic Prayer. Hence the constant appearance of these new 'inventions'. But ever new Eucharistic Prayers are not the answer to the problem. The problem is that this is a moment which invites the others as well to silence with God and to prayer with God. Therefore, only if the Eucharistic prayer is said well, with the proper moments of silence, if it is said with interiority, as well as with the art of speaking, only so can things get better."
So Pope Benedict to the priests of the Diocese of Albano on Thursday. Very interesting is his use of the term 'classical' with regard to the pre-Conciliar liturgy, as well as his explicit critique of an aspect of the post-Conciliar liturgy.
Some extracts from what he had to say about the 'ars celebrandi':
"Celebration is prayer and conversation with God: God with us and we with God. Therefore, the first requisite for a good celebration is that the priest really enter into this conversation. [...] He is in conversation with God because the texts of the Holy Mass are not theatrical texts, or anything like that, but are prayers, thanks to which, together with the congregation, I talk with God. [...]"
"The 'ars celebrandi' is not an invitation to engage in a kind of theatre, a show, but to an interiority which makes itself felt and becomes perceptible and evident to those who attend. Only if they see that this is not an exterior, theatrical 'ars' - we are not actors! - but rather the expression of our heart's journey, which draws in their hearts too, only then does the Liturgy become beautiful, a communion of all present with the Lord. [...]"
"It is difficult for the faithful to follow a text as long as that of our Eucharistic Prayer. Hence the constant appearance of these new 'inventions'. But ever new Eucharistic Prayers are not the answer to the problem. The problem is that this is a moment which invites the others as well to silence with God and to prayer with God. Therefore, only if the Eucharistic prayer is said well, with the proper moments of silence, if it is said with interiority, as well as with the art of speaking, only so can things get better."
