Previous reflections | The 16 Documents of Vatican II | Resolution |
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"This sacred Council has several aims in
view:
it desires to impart an ever increasing vigor to the Christian life of the
faithful;
to adapt more suitably to the needs of our own times those institutions which
are subject to change;
to foster whatever can promote union among all who believe in Christ;
to strengthen whatever can help to call the whole of mankind into the household
of the Church.
The Council therefore sees particularly cogent reasons for undertaking the
reform and promotion of the liturgy"
The reform of the liturgy - this was one of the
aims of Pope John XXIII.
Reform of the liturgy - a document signed and sealed by Pope Paul VI and some
2,000 bishops.
Two popes and virtually all the bishops of Vatican II.
Promulgating the fruit of decades of study and research.
Did all this come from "Heaven or from man"?
If we say from Heaven, then people will ask: "Why don't you follow the
vision of Vatican II?"
If we say from man, we are implying the Holy Spirit had nothing to do
with the unanimous agreement of the whole College of Apostles
Imagine if one of Peter's immediate successors had called for a return to the practice of Jewish Christians not mixing with non-Jewish Christians - reversing the decision of the College of Apostles at the Council of Jerusalem
So...what to make of this, a
call by Cardinal Ratzinger to go back to the old rite, the priest with his
back to the people,
no more "full, active, conscious participation"? (c.f. Benedict
will give Communion only to a kneeling tongue)
Holy Spirit, please help the Church be faithful to your guidance!
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