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6. Weaknesses and Correctives

A weakness in parish liturgical celebrations in Australia is the tendency on the part of some priests and parishes to make their own changes to liturgical texts and structures, whether by omissions, by additions or by substitutions, occasionally even in central texts such as the Eucharistic Prayer. Practices foreign to the tradition of the Roman Rite are not to be introduced on the private initiative of priests, who are ministers and servants, rather than masters of the sacred rites (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 22:3; lnaestimabile Donum, 5). Any unauthorised changes, while perhaps well-intentioned, are nevertheless seriously misguided. The bishops of Australia, then, will continue to put their energy above all into education, while correcting these abuses individually. Such education and corrective action are also the effective means for the pastoral care of those at the parish level who criticise and report the efforts of others, sometimes justly, but sometimes in a judgmental, selective, ill-informed and unproductive manner.

A return to a real sense of the Church and of liturgy is the most effective path to overcoming obstinacy in personal tastes and to setting aside arbitrary action, fault-finding, conflict and division. Both in regard to the liturgy and other questions in the life of the Church, there is a need for fidelity to the mind of the Church and willingness to dialogue with others, above all the pastors and bishops.

COMMENTS

In dealing with poor liturgical practices, the best general response on the part of bishops is promoting appropriate liturgical education, while also correcting particular abuses individually.

As well as those listed, other poor practices could be noted, such as:

• homilies that do not appreciate the Word of God
• disregarding opportunities provided by the Directory for Masses with Children
• concentrating on the singing of hymns rather than the singing of acclamations and responses from the liturgy itself
• regularly using hosts from the tabernacle instead of consecrating sufficient hosts for the community present
• not making the chalice available to the congregation
• priests making choices of Mass texts to suit their personal piety rather than the liturgical norms and the needs of the particular communities
• the use of unauthorised Creeds in the Mass
• the omission of certain elements such as the Gloria, the Creed, the washing of the hands, the Lamb of God
• non-liturgical greetings
• the lack of proper vestments
• using secular or popular music with superficial, sentimental words at weddings and funerals
• replacing the funeral homily with extended eulogy

There is a need to retrieve the real sense of liturgy building up faith communities and achieving a unity and bond of love.

QUESTIONS

How might we grow in a true sense of the liturgy, for example, through learning more about the history of the liturgy, and through a reflection on our experience of liturgy?

How might we address problems regarding liturgy in a way that preserves respect for one another, including a respect for priests and bishops?