Post intelligent and civil comments. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the NLM
"greater use of Latin....with the exception of the Liturgy of the Word..." What about the various dialogues during the Liturgy of the Word? "Verbum Domini.....Dominus vobiscum" etc. It seems like this could benefit from the use of Latin as well. Moreover, I wonder if the Exhortation, if it ultimately contains what is being suggested, will not give the impression that the vernacular is required during the Liturgy of the Word, which it is not. There is nothing wrong with reading the scriptures in Latin.
Secondly, as a musician I can say that it is encouraging to see that a commendation of Gregorian chant and classical polyphony is potentially in the works. But writing generically of instruments "inadequate for liturgical use" is leaving in place the loophole on which many propents of "folk Masses," etc. have depended ever since the II Vatican Council. Name names. Guitars, tambourines, pianos, drum sets, kazoos, saxophones, etc.
Of course legitimate cultural differences in Africa and Asia, for instance, make this complicated. Perhaps this could be addressed in the document with clear reference to the specific places which are considered "mission territories." Many in the United States, for instance, incorrectly consider America to be mission territory, and this is used as an excuse to employ liturgical aberations which masquerade as "inculturation."
Also, while it is good to get rid of music and lyrics of a secular origin, are we also going to ged rid of the "church music" which, while it is technically not of a secular origin, is essentially of a secular idiom?
Finally, it is good to see that the pope desires to clamp down on liturgical dance and applause. I hope that the Holy Father's position--on this as well as the other issues--is stated with enough strength and clarity that it makes a difference.
Obviously the dialogues you mention aren't themselves part of the liturgy of the Word in the sense being used. Clearly what is being suggested there are the actual scripture readings itself.
As for the rest, I think it best to wait for the actual exhortation.
I wholeheartedly agree with Ekkehard. The language must be far more precise than that used by the Church especially in the last 40 years.
I understand the differences between Roman law and Anglo-Saxon law, so I recognize the reason behind vagueness of our Roman corpus. However, maybe the right thing for the Church to do "in the modern world" would be to provide clearer instruction that leaves less room for error in interpretation. This "modern world" clings to the idea of relativism, especially in the interpretation of order. As we all know, this is true even within the Church.
It seems to me that Benedict's exhortation will be in his typical style of "firm inclusiveness." It will preserve what is essential (the Roman Rite), encourage what is good (chant and reverence), and permit what is tolerable (local stylistic differences).
It's the last point that is really the bit at which we purists often wince. Here in America, I would fear that to rid ourselves of "40 years of Andrew Lloyd Weber" (to quote Hitchcock) would be to rid ourselves of a huge swath of very faithful Catholics who have grown quite attached to that pap. Or rather, it would simply invite rank and file pastors to ignore the exhortation completely.
No, Benedict is more wise than that. He realizes that the best first step will be to promote the work of the folks reading this blog. The problem, he realizes, is not that bad liturgy exists out there. (Bad liturgy has always existed, and somehow the Church survives.) The problem, instead, is that good liturgy has become quite rare. In fact, in many dioceses (including my own in Milwaukee) it is completely extinct.
The blessing of this exhortation will be that no diocese on earth should be without at least a handful of parishes with proper liturgy. My generation were kids singing Beatles songs in church, and teenagers singing the St Louis Jesuits, and young adults thinking that the Minnesota Trio compose high art. Each decade, things get a bit better. I look for 2010, when the OCP disposable hymnals start editions with a few selections of non-disposable music. I look for 2020, when eccentric young people start a schola cantorum at their high school. I look for 2030, when the idea of regular use of Latin is pretty common.
By treading lightly today, Benedict is preparing the way for the generation to come.
"My generation were kids singing Beatles songs in church, and teenagers singing the St Louis Jesuits, and young adults thinking that the Minnesota Trio compose high art"
Problem is - CCD teachers and such in their 50's think that all that crap is high art. And don't forget that one organization of which many members (and even some higher-ups) are getting increasingly paranoid --- the NPM!
BMP
Something palpably changed after the election of Benedict XVI. Maybe it resulted from the "in person" intercession of John Paul II at the Throne of Almighty God. Whatever the cause, the winds are much more favorable. I'm smack in the middle of the redoubtably wretched Diocese of Richmond, and the local parish just instituted a Sunday Mass with both Gregorian ordinary and propers.
The Jadot bishops are dropping off. The new appointees are not merely "with" the Holy Father: in some sense their loyalty is almost militant. And they are not merely trustees of real estate...they seem to have a real love for the Holy Mass. Armed with this new exhortation, even more progress should be expected.
In response to Ole Doc Farmer's second paragraph: did you see Bp. Slattery's columns? That's starting about as big a trend in the US as South Dakota making abortion illegal in their state. It's getting the rest to follow suit (in both cases). I'd like to see something happen here in RI (we have Bp. Tobin - think that will help any?)
BMP
silk purse, sow's ear?
Unless there are any disciplinary acts associated with it, I fear that an apostolic exhortation will be little more than just that: an exhortation, a plea to do better in the liturgical realm. Even the wording of the article:
[T]he exhortation would include an invitation to greater use of Latin in the daily prayer of the Church and in the Mass ....
leads me to think that as long as it's just an "invitation," there's a good chance that the bishops will just ignore it as a pleasant suggestion. We can see how well implemented Redemptionis Sacramentum and the new GIRM were.
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