The first steps toward liturgical renewal

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Apr 01, 2015

Bishop Athanasius Schneider of Astana, Kazakhstan, has emerged as a champion of the traditional liturgy. But you don’t need to be a traditionalist to appreciate his list of ten steps to liturgical renewal, presented during a recent talk in Washington, DC.

Personally, I would make his suggestion #2 my own #1, since in my view the top priority in liturgical renewal is to eliminate the impression that the priest-celebrant is the master of ceremonies, the focus of attention during the Eucharistic sacrifice. I would also give a higher priority to the call for appropriate sacred music—which would apply not only to hymns but also, ideally, to the chanting of at least some parts of the liturgy. You might have your own quibbles with Bishop Schneider’s list of suggestions. But his ten-step program, with or without a few friendly amendments, is a valuable blueprint for authentic liturgical renewal.

So why won’t it happen? Unfortunately, before we can have a more reverent liturgy, the Catholic world must want more reverence in liturgy. After years of banal liturgy, in a typical parish most worshippers no longer expect beauty and reverence. They will not acquire a taste for beautiful liturgy unless they are given a few samples. Someone—the bishop, the pastor, even the music director—must take the initiative, making the first steps toward renewal, whetting the people’s appetite for more.