The prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship has suggested an appendix to the Roman Missal contain parts of the extraordinary form of the Mass. In an article in L’Osservatore Romano, Cardinal Robert Sarah stated that the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy should not be read with a “hermeneutic of rupture”. “It would be wrong Read more
A cardinal touted as the next pope has said that while some Christians are being martyred for their faith, some in the West are trying to water down the Gospel. Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah said this in a book length interview “Dieu ou Rien” (God or Nothing) published in France last month. Italian Vatican commentator Read more
The president of the German bishops’ conference says October’s synod on the family cannot prescribe in detail the pastoral practice for Germany. Cardinal Reinhard Marx told a German newspaper the German Church “cannot wait” for synodal statements, as marriage and family ministry has to be undertaken now. The German bishops therefore want to publish their Read more
Senior liturgical officials at the Vatican have emphasised that homilies at Mass must not be boring. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has issued a new Homiletic Directory, which was launched on February 10. Congregation head Cardinal Robert Sarah said for many Catholics, the homily, experienced as “beautiful or awful, Read more
Pope Francis returned to the canonisation rite reformed by Pope Paul VI for the canonisation of six saints on Sunday. The move by the Pontiff is a reversal of the “reform of the reform” instituted by Pope Benedict. “The Rite of Canonisation introduced on October 21, 2012, by Pope Benedict XVI and which was largely based on the Rite Read more
The greatest work of charity is evangelisation, Pope Benedict XVI declares in his Lenten message for 2013, in which he cautions against the tendency to reduce the term “charity” to solidarity or simply humanitarian aid. Preaching the Gospel, the Pope says, is actually the greatest act of charity, since it involves “the highest and the Read more