In-Authentic Liturgical Renewal (ie, abuses): An Ecological Perspective

As mentioned on another page at this Eingedi Website, the structures and functions of the Body of the Church are organic because She is alive. This Body has specific parts with specific functions and "hierarchies" of functions (Lumen Gentium, Chapter III; Romans 12:4; 1 Corinthians 12:14-15). The diverse members must be united to one another, and their Head, in Truth and Charity. This must be the case in Liturgical matters as well.

The Church is like a diverse, interdependent ecosystem, such as an oasis in a desert, that is located near a spring of (in this case Living) water [click HERE for further thoughts on this (Psalm 46:5-6)]. In a natural ecosystem, interference with the natural flow (James 3:11) from this spring, or interference with or among the proper functions of the various living things in that oasis, results in chronic long term, and sometimes even acute immediate-term, reactions that can reverberate throughout the natural community.

In a similar manner, interference with the Authentic (ie, Right and True) functions of the various members of the Church's ecosystem can result in chronic long-term, as well as acute, immediate-term negative reactions that reverberate (click HERE to see document citation) through the Body of Christ (ie, the Church), and hence the remainder of the human and natural world (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:19-23).

Attempts by many (regardless of motive) to impose or promote a personal version of liturgical renewal actually threaten to interfere with the development of an "Authentic Human Ecology" (Centessimus Annus, element 38). This is because:

  1. As in our natural environment mistakes made unknowingly and at times even with good or at least neutral intentions have caused, or may cause, long-term damage to the natural ecology (ie, "the environment"); and therefore,

  2. Similar mistakes (regardless of motive) in introducing various irregular Liturgical practices into the Church's ecosystem have nevertheless caused at least short-term damage to the "ecology" (ie, "environment") of the Church (Inaestimabile Donum, Introduction)

It has nevertheless been my personal observation and experience that those who deliberately and systematically attempt to introduce such irregular Liturgical practices usually have underlying motives and attitudes that are the fruits of dissension with:

  1. Papal authority in general; and, hence

  2. The various overall teachings and directives of the Magisterium, particularly w/r issues concerning sexual matters and those which cut to the core of the fact that "humankind" has been created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 5:1).

The motives, objectives and worldviews driving the Liturgical abuses can generally be broken down into three main categories:

  1. Those that attempt, through ceremony and ritual to affirm if not legitimize, behaviors, attitudes and lifestyles that are inconsistent with the development of an "Authentic Human Ecology" (ie same sex marriage Liturgies, abortion liturgies, and nature worship that has the vestiges of witchcraft and other pagan rituals such as "croning"). This form of inauthentic worship of God is by its very nature idolatrous, and cannot fail to engender a serious degradation (click HERE for further edification) of the human and natural environment.

  2. Those that attempt to impose a false form of egalitarianism, such that the role of the priest, and any kind of existing authority (other than their own, since a vacuum will ultimately be filled) is to be minimized to the fullest extent possible if not eliminated. This, unfortunately, is an end-game whose motives have their roots in the same kind of notions introduced by the Devil in Genesis Ch. 3. In other words, it is merely the Liturgical equivalent of the ages-old battle, fought in various quarters, over "who's on top and in control".

  3. Those that overemphasize a "worship" of the supposed "Body" of Christ in an exclusively communal horizontal "relationship." This, unfortunately, can lead many to forget that all that is good and holy initially and ultimately comes from above (Matthew 19:17,21). . What can begin with an individual and communal aloofness toward God can end with aloofness toward one another, as a new city of Babel attempts to "exalt" God (actually itself) in all but the authentic ways. You know what happens next.

Authentic liturgical practice is something we can neither run away from nor hide behind (Gaudium et Spes, element 24; John 4:21-24; 12:24; John of the Cross,"The Ascent of Mount Carmel," Book 3, Chs.40-41).

Someone who deliberately and systematically interferes with any kind of ecosystem can be likened to a business owner who, in order to save a little money (some would say profit at others' expense, thus gaining an unfair advantage), flouts environmental laws that he feels are annoying and unnecessary. This kind of attitude more often than not reflects a cavalier attitude in other matters as well, which ultimately affects the efficiency of the business operation. A bad attitude, on the part of the business owner, rooted in some form of selfishness, carnality, and hence idolatry can also interfere with or destroy the "human ecology" of the organization, given that working conditions are probably not safe, employee morale tends to be low, and the customers end up suffering as well, as a result of a degradation in product quality and service. It is not a very nice place to work or do business with. And that's all before enforcement action by EPA and OSHA. Unless and until a major attitude adjustment on the part of the business owner occurs, it will probably, even after the fine and a less than willing environmental remediation, be "'business' as usual." In other words, the underlying bad attitude, and the resulting actions and consequences, are systemic and widespread, both within and without the organization's organism/ecosystem.

A parallel phenomenon happens in a Parish where, in order to get more ‘butts in the pews’ and thus increase collections, what are felt to be annoying or unnecessary Liturgical norms are flouted, and in their stead an inauthentic (ie, illegal, improper or illicit) Liturgical "renewal" is initiated, resulting in:

  1. Alienation and Confusion (click HERE to see document citation) for "cradle" Catholics and recent converts alike on the one hand; and,

  2. On the other hand, Protestants and anyone else of average intelligence and goodwill taking one look at some of the practices and saying either "this is nuts," or simply asking "what’s the point???"

Both groups will ultimately recognize something fake (click HERE to see document citation), and either get away from it or remain aloof to it (John 10:5,16). And this is before enforcement action in accordance with Canon Law is initiated and necessary sanctions imposed. In any event, there will be bad feelings all around unless and until an individual and communal reconciliation and healing among and with the universal Church and God Himself occurs, which is both the seed and the fruit of a change in attitude toward authority in general and particularly the authority and efficacy of the Magisterium of the Pastors of the Church, the only True and Certain ‘expert in humanity’ (Sollicitudo rei Socialis, element 41)

The Bishops, in the 1971 Synod on Justice in the World, indicated that the Liturgy "can greatly serve education for justice" (Convenientes ex universo, Section III: "The Practice of Justice"). This will not be possible unless and until:

Doing otherwise constitutes interference with the natural flow of Living Waters from the Rock (Deuteronomy 32:18; 1 Corinthians 10:4), and thus an interference with the development of an authentic human ecology.

The following links are given below if you would like to know more about specific abuses in the Liturgy, as well as those groups most guilty of promoting such time-consuming non-sense [click HERE to see document citation (and I mean this in a most personal way, because I would much rather be writing about something much more encouraging than this mess)], and what to do about it.


LINKS
Tabulation of Most Serious or Common Liturgical Abuses
Interfering With an Authentic Human Ecology
Womens’ Ordination: The Goal of Call To Action

The preceding can be found at the anchor Page titled Poisoned Waters, which was developed to inform people of the threat to an Authentic Human Ecology posed by the various groups [like Call To Action (CTA)] and individuals (and their underlying attitudes and motives) promoting such Liturgical abuses
You may also visit these other anchor Pages at Eingedi:

| Joseph of Nazareth | Human Ecology |Founts of Wisdom| Pure San Antonio |
| Vineyards of Eingedi| |Culture of Death|


Other Pages of interest may include:
Improving Our Environment
Why Things Are So Messed Up

Summa Theologiae, 2-2, Q.93, A.1

One who offers worship to God on the Church’s behalf in a way contrary to that which is laid down by the Church with God-given authority and which is customary in the Church is guilty of falsification.

 

Inaestimabile Donum, Introduction

…..we are face to face with a real falsification of the Catholic Liturgy…..

None of these things can bring good results. The consequences are—and cannot fail to be---the impairing of the unity of Faith and worship in the Church, doctrinal uncertainty, scandal and bewilderment among the People of God, and the near inevitability of violent reactions.

 

 

Pope Paul VI, Address of August 22, 1973

Anyone who takes advantage of the reform to indulge in arbitrary experiments is wasting energy and offending the ecclesial sense.

 

Liturgiae Instaurationes, element 1

The Priest should realize that by imposing his own personal restoration of sacred rites he is offending the rights of the faithful and is introducing individualism and idiosyncrasy into celebrations which belong to the whole Church.