I just happened to catch this video here on Youtube and found myself amazed at the words of His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I. When giving his homily during the visitation of the Holy Father during his visit to Turkey, Bartholomew I focused almost solely on the Divine Liturgy. I can't help but wonder if this decision by the Holy Father to free the ancient liturgy of the western rite was part of a giant step towards reunification with the Orthodox. I truly hope so.
That is really one of my great loves (...is that a word?) of the ancient Roman liturgy is that it connects us with the Orthodox East. It was at a Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom at the local Byzantine Ruthinian Catholic Church that I fell in love with ancient liturgy. The ancients truly knew how to express themselves in an angelic way and when moved by the Holy Spirit, the Church held on to such great expressions. These are expressions that you just can't produce with a committee.
Well, enough of my ranting! Check out the video at the link. They are truly words of wisdom.
[Also, for anybody who gets their hair in a bunch because I referred to Patriarch Bartholomew I as "His Holiness" I have only this to say. He is a Patriarch and it is his due title. He respects the Church of Rome enough to call Benedict XVI "Your Holiness" so I feel we should do the same. Not only that, but the Church recognises his Holy Orders as valid, so I don't see much reason to with hold titles. If I met an eastern bishop (orthodox or otherwise) I would probably referrer to him as "Your Excellency." ]
3 comments:
Zach, you are absolutely correct. Anyone suggesting the Catholic and Orthodox churches can once again enter into sacramental communion without addressing the liturgical state of the Western church is in serious denial. The liturgy, to the East, is sacred and sacrosanct.
I can vouch for several Orthodox that the state of Catholic liturgy is proof (in their eyes) that Rome has apostatized. They reason that the true Church wouldn't have destroyed Its own Rite. You have to admit that seeing liturgical dancers weaving to a sacro-pop song and 25% of the congregation serving as E.M.s can give an Orthodox cause for concern as to what it is the Roman church actually teaches.
Any true reunion between the Church and the Orthodox is at least 30 years out. That's how long it will take to build the required theological framework, and, just as important, to iron out the goofiness and abuses present in the Catholic liturgy.
One last note: I've never been to one of these Orthodox liturgies, but it would be interesting to see how they celebrate them, especially the ones based on the Tridentine and the old Sarum Use.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Rite_Orthodoxy
(It's sad when another Church is more interested in a Rite's liturgical heritage than are most members of that Rite)
Thus speaks a true gentleman Catholic!
Post a Comment