ARTICLES
NOVEMBER 2004 ARTICLES
Contents © 2004
by Jim Holman.
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Pope Roger
Hardly Any Liturgical Abuse in the Archdiocese?
BY CHRISTOPHER ZEHNDER
It perhaps comes as no surprise that the Holy See's latest liturgical reforms would become a dead letter on arrival in the Los Angeles archdiocese. In March of this year, the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments "by mandate of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II," issued the instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum, "On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist." The document defined and addressed a wide range of liturgical abuses and mandated their correction. On September 4, Cardinal Roger Mahony issued his reply, "The implementation of Redemptionis Sacramentum." In this statement, Mahony said he has "determined that there is no need to make any significant changes in our liturgical practice at this time." In other words, he would ignore the Vatican's instruction.
According to Mahony, "most of the liturgical abuses mentioned in Redemptionis Sacramentum do not pertain to the celebration of the Eucharist in our Archdiocese." But, of course, if most do not, some do. But these, it seems, are not "significant," since the cardinal has "determined that there is no need to make any significant changes in our liturgical practice at this time." But whether any changes, albeit insignificant, will be made, is uncertain, though the cardinal said the chancery will "assist each parish community [to] evaluate its liturgical practice" through a "process" and "a Liturgy Evaluation Form."
But if Cardinal Mahony seems to treat the Holy See's instruction nonchalantly, it is not for want of regard for ecclesial authority. No, for he suggests that the individual bishop has final authority over the liturgy in his diocese. "Early in Redemptionis Sacramentum," Mahony wrote, "the role of the Diocesan Bishop as the 'moderator, promoter and guardian" ... of the liturgical life of the Local Church is clearly stated. 'The Bishop governs the particular Church entrusted to him' ... and it is 'within the limits of his competence to set forth liturgical norms in his (Arch)diocese, by which all are bound..."
No doubt in his eagerness to clarify the extent of episcopal authority over the liturgy, Cardinal Mahony missed the paragraphs of Redemptionis Sacramentum directly preceding the paragraphs he quoted. These earlier paragraphs clarify that (quoting the Second Vatican Council) "'the regulation of the Sacred Liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, which rests specifically with the Apostolic See and, according to the norms of law, with the Bishop.'" As regards the liturgy, as with all else, "'the Roman Pontiff, "the Vicar of Christ and the Pastor of the universal Church on earth, by virtue of his supreme office enjoys full, immediate and universal ordinary power, which he may always freely exercise." It thus "'pertains to the Apostolic See to regulate the Sacred Liturgy of the universal Church....'" Redemptionis Sacramentum further clarifies that the Holy See regulates the liturgy through the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Oddly, Cardinal Mahony mentioned none of this. Nor does he mention that Redemptionis Sacramentum was not only mandated and approved by Pope John Paul II, but that "he ordered it to be published and to be observed immediately by all concerned."
Nor does Cardinal Mahony explain how he can dispense with the provisions of the instruction -- in particular, section 106, which says, "the pouring of the Blood of Christ after the consecration from one vessel to another is completely to be avoided, lest anything should happen that would be to the detriment of so great a mystery. Never to be used for containing the Blood of the Lord are flagons, bowls, or other vessels that are not fully in accord with the established norms." "Some have inquired," wrote Mahony, "about the continued use of specially designed carafes in which the wine is presented at the Preparation of the Gifts, placed upon the altar, consecrated during the Eucharistic Prayer, and then distributed into smaller chalices for Holy Communion." This practice, which, the cardinal asserts, "has become an Archdiocesan custom of over seven years," may continue; "I am willing to grant exceptions to no. 106 of Redemptionis Sacramentum for legitimate reasons, such as the following: where the altar table is too small to accommodate many chalices, thus creating a greater danger of spillage; and where the number of chalices is so large that they would visibly detract from the important sign of One Bread and One Cup, as well as increase the danger of tipping over the chalices."
Yet, neither section 106 nor any other section of Redemptionis Sacramentum grants a bishop -- even a cardinal archbishop -- the authority to dispense from its provision. Section 117, in fact, uses the strongest language to forbid the use of glass vessels: "reprobated ... is any practice of using for the celebration of Mass common vessels, or others lacking in quality, or devoid of all artistic merit or which are mere containers, as also other vessels made from glass, earthenware, clay, or other materials that break easily." [Emphases added.] Nor it seems can the cardinal claim the authority of a hoary seven-years tradition, since Redemptionis Sacramentum says its mandates bind everyone in the Church of the Roman Rite, "all things to the contrary notwithstanding."
Towards the beginning of his statement, Cardinal Mahony nuances the authority of Redemptionis Sacramentum by saying it "cannot be read in isolation," since "it is a Congregation document following the extraordinary Letter by Pope John Paul II issued on Holy Thursday (April 17, 2003) entitled Ecclesia de Eucharistia." Mahony does not explain how the pope's letter (which, in fact, called for the issuing of Redemptionis Sacramentum) in any way modifies the Instruction.
The cardinal did say, however, that "all of the positive elements of our Holy Father's Letter remain our principal focus when treating of the Eucharist in our time." He also ended his statement voicing his support for liturgy "fully in accord with the spirit of all our Liturgical Documents, with special attention to our Holy Father's most recent Ecclesia de Eucharisia." What this means is, perhaps, unclear; but it maybe suggests that papal authority will not be utterly ignored in the archdiocese of Los Angeles.