The pope’s acceptance of an ecumenical council will be controversial for some.
Read moreCategory: Reform of the Reform
Liturgical (Reform of the) Reform and “Neighborhood People”
Liturgical “neighborhood people” are those who love the liturgy they grew up with and are attached to it not for the richness of its theology or the beauty of its words or music or vestments or architecture, but simply because it is theirs, and has been theirs through moments of great sorrow and moments of great joy, marking milestones in their lives and recalling for them the presence of God at those milestones.
Read moreRead Cardinal Sarah Accurately
One need not share Sarah’s enthusiasm for ad orientem to find his critique plausible.
Read moreDid the Presider Face East in the Early Church?
In the absence of explicit evidence, history is unable to settle the matter.
Read moreCardinal Sarah on Silence
Some wanted everything in the liturgy to be immediately intelligible, rational, horizontal and human.
Read moreViewpoint: Should Mass Be Celebrated with the Priest Facing Away from the People?
It would be unwise to change the post-Vatican II practice now. It would cause confusion and irritation. So, I will not start celebrating Mass facing away from the people on the first Sunday of Advent.
Read moreThe Worst Reasons for Ad Orientem
I was invited by The Catholic Herald to make the case against ad orientem. But I can’t do that, for I’m not opposed to this practice and I have celebrated Mass that way myself on a few occasions. What I am opposed to is the way some people advocate for it.
Read morePrayer and/as Political Speech
The prayer offered at the Democratic Convention by the Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale, in a perhaps odd way, put me in mind of some of the things that get said in the debate over the orientation of the priest in the celebration of the Eucharist.
Read moreHuge Gap Separates Pope Francis from Liturgical Traditionalists
Catholic traditionalists continue to underestimate the Argentine pontiff.
Read moreVersus orientem: The Spadaro Tweets
One suspects that his position is also that of Pope Francis.
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