Folia Theologica 20. (2009)
Caban Peter: Features and new impulses of the Pope Benedict XVI in the area of liturgy
FEATURES AND NEW IMPULSES... 47 Even here we can see that the Pope wants to emphasize and clarify some liturgical acts which were used in the Church but they are performed rather automatically. He emphasizes that the Liturgy of the Word should be prepared and experienced appropriately by the lectors and the priests. The Pope challenges lector to be prepared before the reading and he asks priests to improve the quality of homilies. The Pope also recommends the Liturgy of Hours for lay persons especially Lauds, Vespers, Compline and celebrations of vigils. Concisely we would like to say that the Pope speaks about some important questions in the document such as usage of Latin in the liturgical celebrations, education of the faithful for the Gregorian chant and knowledge of some basic Mass prayers in Latin in parishes as well,10 11 enculturation, participation in the liturgy via mass media, possibility of unity of the community with the sick persons who are at home or in hospitals, presents of non-Catholic in the liturgy and so on. In the exhortation Benedict XVI pays attention to the imprisoned, migrants or small communities." Next he speaks about Church art: Religious iconography must be oriented to sacramental mystagogy (art. 41) and deeper knowledge of forms of sacral art is needed. Liturgical celebrations in small groups should be harmonized with the pastoral offer of the diocese and they must not be in contradiction or as a parallel to the life of the local Church. Small groups should serve for unity of the community in the liturgy. In article 69 the exhortation says about the site of the shrine in the church and the exhortation is concluded by the themes such as Eucharist as the new evangelization, centre of the priestly spirituality and transformation or unity. The goal of the participation in the liturgy (emphasized in the exhortation) is inner unanimity which is expressed outwardly in the unity of gestures, responses and common elements of the liturgical celebration. This participation is not limited by the freedom of the faithful but it is the fruit of the Spirit and fulfilment of the community. 10 Sometimes parishioners ask for the Mass with Latin parts because they view transmission of Holy Mass from Rome for example and they can actively answer. 11 DUBINA,}., Zamyslenie nad posynodálnou apostolskou exhortáciou Svatého Otca Benedikta XVI. SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS, http://www.knazi.sk/liturgia /litvysvetold.php March 13“’, 2008.
