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06
Sep
08

Liturgy and Culture

I have always been slightly intrigued by what the Sacred Constitution from Vatican II has said about culture and liturgy.

“Norms for adapting the Liturgy to the culture and traditions of peoples
37. Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community; rather does she respect and foster the genius and talents of the various races and peoples. Anything in these peoples’ way of life which is not indissolubly bound up with superstition and error she studies with sympathy and, if possible, preserves intact. Sometimes in fact she admits such things into the liturgy itself, so long as they harmonize with its true and authentic spirit.
38. Provisions shall also be made, when revising the liturgical books, for legitimate variations and adaptations to different groups, regions, and peoples, especially in mission lands, provided that the substantial unity of the Roman rite is preserved; and this should be borne in mind when drawing up the rites and devising rubrics.
39. Within the limits set by the typical editions of the liturgical books, it shall be for the competent territorial ecclesiastical authority mentioned in Art. 22, 2, to specify adaptations, especially in the case of the administration of the sacraments, the sacramentals, processions, liturgical language, sacred music, and the arts, but according to the fundamental norms laid down in this Constitution.
40. In some places and circumstances, however, an even more radical adaptation of the liturgy is needed, and this entails greater difficulties. Wherefore:
1) The competent territorial ecclesiastical authority mentioned in Art. 22, 2, must, in this matter, carefully and prudently consider which elements from the traditions and culture of individual peoples might appropriately be admitted into divine worship. Adaptations which are judged to be useful or necessary should when be submitted to the Apostolic See, by whose consent they may be introduced.
2) To ensure that adaptations may be made with all the circumspection which they demand, the Apostolic See will grant power to this same territorial ecclesiastical authority to permit and to direct, as the case requires, the necessary preliminary experiments over a determined period of time among certain groups suited for the purpose.
3) Because liturgical laws often involve special difficulties with respect to adaptation, particularly in mission lands, men who are experts in these matters must be employed to formulate them.”

A friend sent me quite an informative and disturbing piece that re-enkindled my interest in how exactly one is to interpret these few paragraphs (see here). How does one meaningfully and tactfully integrated culture into divine worship? The passage from VII is often used to justify such events as Tapu lifting’s and even liturgical dance, would you believe it. Where does one draw the line? Surely we shouldn’t be sacrificing authentic worship of THE ONE TRUE GOD to be culturally inclusive.

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5 Responses to “Liturgy and Culture”


  1. 1 greg bourkeNo Gravatar Sep 6th, 2008 at 12:30 pm

    While appealing in a schadenfreude aspect, that linked site seems like tinfoil hat territory. Personally, I’d apply the same open-mindedness and intellectual patience I’d expect of a Protestant when explaining “Mary isn’t a Goddess” and “we don’t worship statues” for the nth time.

  2. 2 Chris SullivanNo Gravatar Sep 6th, 2008 at 7:14 pm

    Greg’s right.

    Tradition in Action are just weird. Look at some of the other bizzare stuff on their website:-

    Phallic tabernacles : http://www.traditioninaction.org/RevolutionPhotos/A196rcJesuitShivaLinga.htm

    BXVI is promoting a buddhist agenda: http://www.traditioninaction.org/RevolutionPhotos/A122rcBuddhistRatzinger.htm

    Tradition in Action are an extreme right wing Catholic fringe group.

    And there is nothing per se wrong with Tapu lifting or Liturgical Dance (JPII often had liturgical dance at his papal masses abroad).

    I think we need to be careful not to be come too close minded and rigid in our faith.

    The Church failed to use cultural adaption in the initial evangelisation of China with the result that the evangelisation was only marginally effective. Fortunately, Pope Pius XII clarified the licitness of appropriate cultural adaptions.

    It’s interesting to see Sacrosanctum Concilium explicitly allows for liturgical experimentation.

    God Bless

  3. 3 GiannaNo Gravatar Sep 8th, 2008 at 10:49 am

    Wow.

    That website is AWESOME for a good laugh.

    OMG!! The Pope clasps his hands together so he must be a BUDDIST!! Run for the hills

  4. 4 LorryNo Gravatar Sep 8th, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    I had a look at that website and even as a Protestant thought it was so funny…

    heehee…

    Oh and one thing Chris. I dont know if they are right wing so to say… They don’t even register on the charts.

    Lawrence

  5. 5 JenningsNo Gravatar Sep 8th, 2008 at 1:12 pm

    Hi Chris,

    ‘It’s interesting to see Sacrosanctum Concilium explicitly allows for liturgical experimentation.’

    You use the verb ’see’, in the sense of ‘understanding’ – it is within due limits, if you care to read the quotes given with some care.

    It also assumes the continuation of Latin, incidentally:

    ‘36. 1. Particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites.’

    AMDG

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