Catholic World News

Vatican's top liturgical officer confirms work on 'reform of the reform' October 28, 2009

In an interview with Catalunya Cristiana-- now translated into English by the New Liturgical Movement-- the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship has essentially confirmed reports that his office is working on proposals for a "reform of the reform," bringing a greater sense of reverence to the Novus Ordo liturgy. Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera said that "proposals have been reached which the Holy Father approved and which constitute the plan of our work." The Congregation is now working "in a very quiet manner" to organize these projects, the Spanish cardinal said.

Describing the work of his office, Cardinal Cañizares said:

Urgent business there is every morning, referring to excesses and errors which are being committed in the liturgy, but above all, the most urgent issue that is pressing all over the world, is that the sense of the liturgy be truly recovered.

In explaining the need to encourage greater reverence and a sense of the transcendent, the cardinal observed: "The liturgy always looks towards God, not the community; it is not the community that makes the liturgy, but it is God who makes it."

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• El mal que se está haciendo al hombre es querer eliminar de su vida la dimensión del misteri (Catalunya Cristiana)
• Cardinal Cañizares on the Supreme Importance of the Liturgy (New Liturgical Movement)
• Vatican reportedly weighing liturgical proposals for 'reform of the reform' (CWN, 08/24)
• Despite denials, leading Vatican journalist insists 'reform of the reform' is under discussion (CWN 09/01)

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• Posted by: TonyLCR - Oct. 29, 2009 12:07 AM ET USA

  A "reform of the reform" will only work if it is properly integrated into each and every parish. It really comes down to the priests and the leadership. The lay faithful do tend to ignore certain things of liturgy and thats where leadership must step in and educate on why it is important. The vast majority of laity will never know what they are not told. I am praying for this. Absolutely correct: "The liturgy always looks towards God, not the community; it is not the community that makes the liturgy, but it is God who makes it."

• Posted by: dchebe2742 - Oct. 28, 2009 6:53 PM ET USA

  Sorry but I can't see a "reform of the reform" working. Blunt as it seems but the order of the liturgy is a disciplinary matter, not a doctrinal matter. Our experiences of the last 30 or 40 years are that discipline in the liturgy will be ignored. It all depends on the local ordinary and some of them are very ordinary.

• Posted by: oremus7739 - Oct. 28, 2009 4:20 PM ET USA

  Let the work proceed with deliberation, careful attention to heterodoxy, courage against the backlash of the modernists, but above all, with speedy. But without drawing a "line in the sand" to the world's bishops, they will ignore the Holy Father's "reform of the reform" as they did with Pope JPII's encyclicals. The vast majority of laity are uninformed and are NEVER briefed on what Rome is doing to make things more reverent because it doesn't fit with their liberalist agenda. Thy will be done