Folia Theologica 20. (2009)
Caban Peter: Features and new impulses of the Pope Benedict XVI in the area of liturgy
44 CABAN, Peter ing his academie years. Let us go to the particularities which occurred during the pontificate of the Pope Benedict XVI. 1. Accuracy of the Pope in following of liturgical precepts In the beginning we must say that the Pope Benedict XVI is the accurate shepherd regarding the following of precepts and respecting of norms in the field of liturgy. It is highly praiseworthy and we must appreciate it in today's world when pluralistic individuals understand the precepts in the field of liturgy inaccurately and some of them do not follow them at all. Even in our parishes we witness that people are asking for explanation of some rites or rubrics and some liturgical acts are interpreted falsely. Today's world needs clarity in liturgy and we witness this clarity in the pontificate of Benedict XVI. Accurate following of rubrics and liturgical precepts is the medicament and condition of the liturgical renewal in this time.1 Today we witness that some priests celebrate the liturgy according to their will. It is not the right thing. In liturgy there should be unity when it is needed and variability where the precepts of the Church allow doing so. Unfortunately sometimes we are variable in the opposite way: we are variable where unity is prescribed and we are static where lovable free style is recommended. The specific feature of the current Pope is the praiseworthy renaissance, renewal of the Latin language in the liturgy as the mother language of the Church and the unifying principle. Several papal documents encouraged this process in the past. 1 Even today there are some parishes where parishioners were not instructed accurately or due to their indifference they were not educated to follow the precepts of the Church in the field of liturgy. Some of these “feast" parishioners complain and make the life of priests more difficult because they wonder that some new things are introduced by the priest which was not done in the past. In liturgy it is the time-proven practice of the Church and each priest is obliged to respect the liturgical precepts regardless of the preference of the people. It is the struggle of some priests who want to truthfully follow the liturgical precepts, recommendations and norms within the spirit of fidelity to the Church. I would like to thank many brothers in priestly ministry because they are the hand of the Church through which the liturgy should be performed authentically under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
