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| Mass by Benedict XVI |
"The Congress also occurs at a time when the Church throughout the world
is preparing to celebrate the Year of Faith to mark the fiftieth
anniversary of the start of the Vatican Council II, an event which
launched the most extensive renewal of the Roman Rite ever known. Based
upon a deepening appreciation of the sources of the liturgy, the Council
promoted the full and active participation of the faithful in the
Eucharistic sacrifice. At our distance today from the Council Fathers’
expressed desires regarding liturgical renewal, and in the light of the
universal Church’s experience in the intervening period, it is clear
that a great deal has been achieved; but it is equally clear that there
have been many misunderstandings and irregularities. The renewal of
external forms, desired by the Council Fathers, was intended to make it
easier to enter into the inner depth of the mystery. Its true purpose
was to lead people to a personal encounter with the Lord,
present in the Eucharist, and thus with the living God, so that through
this contact with Christ’s love, the love of His brothers and sisters
for one another might also grow. Yet not infrequently, the revision of
liturgical forms has remained at an external level, and “active
participation” has been confused with external activity. Hence much
still remains to be done on the path of real liturgical renewal. In a
changed world, increasingly fixated on material things, we must learn to
recognise anew the mysterious presence of the Risen Lord, which alone
can give breadth and depth to our life."
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| 'External Activity' Mass |
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