The following comes from a July 10 story on the website of the Catholic News Agency.
Cardinal Raymond Burke believes that the “excessive” use of concelebration – the practice of priests saying Mass collectively – can result in their unique role in the sacred liturgy being obscured.
“I don’t think there should be an excessive encouragement of concelebration because the norm is for the individual priest to offer the holy sacrifice of the Mass,” the head of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura told Catholic News Agency July 9.
“If it is repeated too frequently, it can develop within him a sense of being another one of the participants instead of actually being the priest who is offering the Mass.”
One of the Catholic Church’s most senior American prelates spoke to the news agency moments after addressing an international liturgical conference in the Irish city of Cork. The three-day event, organized by the St. Colman’s Society for Catholic Liturgy, explored the issue of “Celebrating the Eucharist: Sacrifice and Communion.”
The former Archbishop of St. Louis worried that, whereas the priest’s action is distinct, he “can seem to be participating in the Mass in the same manner as the congregation” if he concelebrates too often. “That’s the danger I see in excessive concelebration,” he said.
The cardinal’s words of caution echo comments made recently by the head of the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares. He told a gathering at Rome’s University of the Holy Cross on March 5 that that the “widening of the faculty to concelebrate needs to be moderated, as we can see when we read the (Second Vatican) Council texts.”
Cardinal Cañizares explained that concelebration “is an extraordinary, solemn and public rite, normally presided over by the bishop or his delegate,” surrounded by his priests and the entire community. But “the daily concelebrations of priests only, which are practiced ‘privately’…do not form part of the Latin liturgical tradition,” he said.
In a wide-ranging interview, Cardinal Burke also outlined the reasons why a priest should not ad-lib his own words or prayers during Mass, since he “is the servant of the rite” and “not the protagonist – Christ is.”
“So it is absolutely wrong for the priest to think, ‘how can I make this more interesting?’ or ‘how can I make this better?’” he said….
Read the entire interview here.
First American Pope?
Archbishop Burke has a degree in canon law, but has no particular expertise in liturgy.
Interesting thought, but illogical. If concelebration — a made-up Vatican II affectation — is acceptable, then it is always acceptable. The Church cannot play dress-up with its new theology, then fuss at the kids when they take their costumes out and make up their own rules. In fact, there simply are no controls on these new rubrics. Rushing back to the Vatican II “texts” is likely useless, as all this new stuff was rushing out, with no sense of what it would do the existing Church, to Tradition, to the meaning of what it is to be Catholic. In fact, it is likely that many readers of CA Catholic Daily consider the new things, like concelebrated mass, the regular order of doing things, with “Traditional” arguments against them as being somehow marginal and odd. This is the cornerstone of all revolutionary movements: control knowledge until the “Old Order” is dead (or help them on their way). Stop all meaningful education, mass communication, symbols of the prior order, etc. — all the steps taken after Vatican II. The Cardinal is right to be concerned, very concerned, with the craziness of concelebration, and with the many, many other things that pass as “normal” at Mass: like holding hands at the “Our Father” (which is very normal in many Catholic diocese in the USA, even though veiled objections to it have been made by the Vatican), no kneelers (very typical in Richmond VA Diocese), standing after the consecration, taking communion in hand, having women “assist” at the actual consecration (particularly in Austria and Germany), and the like. Yet the Vatican does nothing to correct this, as Benedict is aged and is likely in conflict with the thought of correcting what he helped to create. Cardinal Burke is great, all things considered, but the only way to end the misuse of concelebration is to eliminate it and the best way to do that is to end the N.O. and return to the TLM. Of course, this will not happen, as very little official Church effort has been made to implement the motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum (which will likely be regated to the junk heap of Papal orders, and actions, along with that of John XXIII in Veterum Sapientia). Something else is needed to reform the Church, as accredited change will do nothing. This recognition is why the Church curia and many bishops are working tirelessly to stop the SSPX from being reintroduced into the Church.
He’s worried about the priests not being recognized as priests? Really? It’s hard to miss when you are vested in an alb and stole, concelebrating.
And what does he expect all these priests to DO, actually – celebrate little private Masses at some side altar, all alone? To what purpose?
When you have a community (e.g., a seminary, a monastery, etc.), the priests who are not the main celebrant can either sit in the pews, or concelebrate. The Church ASKS that they concelebrate, rather than sitting in the pews, yet now the Cardinal is asking them not to. Very confusing. (He’s starting to sound like some of those Women Religious who are ‘against’ concelebration, because it means ‘too many men’ in the sanctuary.)
MacDonald is now calling Cardinal Burke confusing? What blinded nerve. MacDonald, You are now starting to sound like, well…. like you always have. This post just defines it a bit more.
Concelebration of the Mass? This seems to be a common practice of the hierarchy, particularly at the Vatican.
God bless Archbishop Burke. I agree with him. I’m sure many priests also agree too. I think that the homily can be unique to reach to the faithful but the actual Mass, well that is good that this wonderful Archbishop mentions this!
What a blessed treasure Cardinal Burke is to The Church, always solid and strong!
what is this man going on about? “excessive concelebration?” i don’t get it. the other stuff, about making up your own words and such, i understand, but why he’s afraid of priests concelebrating mass is baffling.
max and MacDonald, Men for all reasons in every season remain baffled without a compass.
CATHERINE, that is so cool, i’m gonna get that tattooed on my arm! you are truly awesome. (p.s. do you work for hallmark cards on the side?)
Frankly, if it were not how they are vested, I wouldn’t know who is doing what except the priest with the chalice and in the middle. I do think concelebration is totally pointless for the laity and only at special priest centered group masses of special occasion.
I always loved the “OLD” Solemn High Mass” with Celebrant, Deacon and Sub Deacon each with their own part to “play”! I also loved the old REQUIEM HIGH MASS of a funeral. It is sad for those attending on purpose and a good reminder. When the priest and servers would meet the casket and mourners at the front door of the church the profound “Ego Sum” hymn was sang in the procession thru the church to the communion rail. It was somber and reflected exactly what it was Death and the hope of Eternal Life.
max, obviously when the giddy forces gain power, they’ll begin to make a big show out of concelebration … like formatting them according to various and sundry playwrights, past and contemporary. Just a matter of time, and it is time to head the move off at the pass.
David, with the traditional liturgy there is no point in becoming a liturgist. The whole thing may have been engineered to bring more laity into authoritative positions. And the only point of that is for the bishops to further isolate themselves from their responsibilities. A gaggle of bishops concelebrating an OF liturgy is also pointless … It is akin to the question of how many Californians does it take to change a lightbulb? A whole bunch because of all the nonsense they crave creating. Why not simply go to the shopping mall on sunday or a street play or whatever? Or simply send for your communion “wafer” on line? Do you really imagine that God shows up at Mass to watch how silly those in charge can make things, and how doltish the laity can act?
How many traditionalists does it take to change a lightbulb? Traditionalist won’t change anything.
How many progressive Catholics does it take to change a lightbulb?
Two. One to change it and one to explain how it didn’t change, it evolved.
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH:
1204 The celebration of the liturgy, therefore, should correspond to the genius and culture of the different peoples. In order that the mystery of Christ be “made known to all the nations . . . to bring about the obedience of faith,” it must be proclaimed, celebrated, and lived in all cultures in such a way that they themselves are not abolished by it, but redeemed and fulfilled: It is with and through their own human culture, assumed and transfigured by Christ, that the multitude of God’s children has access to the Father, in order to glorify him in the one Spirit.
CCC
1207 It is fitting that liturgical celebration tends to express itself in the culture of the people where the Church finds herself, though without being submissive to it. Moreover, the liturgy itself generates cultures and shapes them.
So, max, why do the bishops refuse to adhere to this CCC rule? They stomp down the EF, and indulge the touchy feely liturgies. So, it goes to show you that the CCC without holy bishops amounts to a lot of fluff in the basket of grain.
JLS, who is your Diocese Bishop? If he refuses to allow Latin Masses according to the 1962 Missal you should report him to the Vatican and US Papal Nuncio. In my Diocese we have Latin Masses scattered throughout, and we even have an FSSP Parish that our Bishop helped to set up.
Dear JLS:
From reading your posts, it seems you do have access to the Tridentine Mass. However, is this hard to find in your diocese?
Here in San Francisco we have a few churches where the TLM is celebrated, but I have been told that even many old priests no longer know HOW to celebrate the Tridentine Mass. Therefore, Archbishop Niederauer, some time ago, sent out a letter to all his clergy, asking them to sign up for classes that would (a) teach them Latin, or at least enough for the liturgy; (b) instruct them in the proper way to celebrate the TLM.
I have no idea how many priets responded to Archbishop Niederauer’s appeal, but I do admire the man for trying. In checking the website of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, I just found this information:
Tridentine/Latin Mass – The traditional Latin Mass, or Tridentine Mass, as the rite is popularly known, is celebrated according to texts and rubrics of the Missal of Blessed John XXIII of 1962, takes place at the following parishes in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
Holy Name of Jesus Church
1555 39th Avenue.. ………………….(415) 664-8590
San Francisco 94122
3rd Sunday: 7:15 pm
Mater Dolorosa Church
307 Willow Avenue ………………….(650) 583-4131
South San Francisco 94080
1st Sunday: 5:30 pm
Most Holy Redeemer Church
100 Diamond St. . ……………………(415) 863-6259
San Francisco 94124
Mon-Fri: 9:30 am (call to confirm)
Most Holy Rosary Chapel
One Vincent Dr. ………………………(415) 479-3331
Marinwood (San Rafael) 94903
Sunday: 12:15 pm
St. Francis of Assisi
1425 Bay Road ………………………..(650) 322-2152
East Palo Alto 94303
Friday 6 pm; 1st Friday 6 pm (sung Mass)
If the liturgy does not make the bishop holy, then what is the point of liturgical experimentation or variation? The answer is “none”; there is no point to it. If the particular liturgy does not succeed in raising the culture’s Catholic leader to holiness, then it simply falls short. max, when is the last time a novus ordo bishop was canonized? Don’t say Bl John Paul II, because he said the EF privately. But do tell us about the countless bishops canonized in the EF liturgy. In the initial forty years of the Church, there were countless men and women canonized; yet, regardless of any similarities between those liturgical forms and the novus ordo, in the past forty years where is a comparable number of canonizations? Catholicism has been active in North America apart from Mexico for more than 500 years … where are the canonization numbers? A few dozen? Compare this with countless thousands in the first five centuries of the Church in Europe, Asia, and Africa. So, max, tell us where the novus ordo is headed.
JLS, the first 500 years of the Church had many martyers. The USA is only 236 years old, and due to our Constitution we have not had many martyers. The culture in the USA is not the same as Europe or the Middle East.
The upcoming Presidential election will be important for the future of our Church in the USA.
BTW, the first 500 years of the Church did not have Latin Masses as in the 1962 Missal. So what is your point?
Read: “The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent” by H.Schroeder. The abuses in the Church that Trent tried to address were absolutely horrendous – much worse than today – which are bad.
ANDY, you’re saying that the abuses in the Church at the time of Trent were worse than millions of abortions each year in countries that have the presence of the Catholic Church. You also screwed up what I posted about contrasting the first 500 years of the Church with that of European north America. Nowhere did I say what you imply I said. What you slyly have done is deflected my point, which is that liturgy directly forms holiness, and that there has not been a whole lot of evidence of holiness in north America compared to the first five centuries of the Church in North Africa, the Middle East, India, and Europe. Jesus gave us the elements of liturgy … where is the holiness that stems from it in north America? If measured by canonized saints, then why is there such a dearth of such souls in north America? As for any similarities between the novus ordo liturgies and the early European liturgies, remember the parable about wine and wine skins … ie, form is nothing, substance is everything. Where is the substance of holiness in north America, ANDY?
ANDY, thanks for the reading recommendation, but my reading list is backlogged at least ten or fifteen years now. Besides, I’ve pretty much read all the theological, religious, philosophical and other important platforms. Discovering perspective and creating ways to share it seem to be my venture these days, and obviously I fail at it more than I succeed. But one day when I walked up to the desk of the secretary of an important theology department head, and she in her fuzzy pink sweater told me that the first thing to do with religion is simply “dive in” … well, isn’t that kind of a version of what God’s first directive to mankind following the Fall, “Ok, kids, you’re married now; so, just dive in, and go from there”? Same piece of advice came from a ship’s captain one time, indirectly, “Damn the torpedoes, and full steam ahead”. And then there’s that ephemeral sound of the dude on the bugle that sounds sort of like Tarzan yodeling in slow motion.
Bill K and MacD, there are Latin Masses in my diocese. All the actions to promote them have long been well underway. Not my cup o’ tea to be involved in that arena. Every movement has administrative aspects and free agencies … take your pick.