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Liturgy Renewal

When you read the books written by Cardinal Ratzinger, such as Spirit of the Liturgy and Feast of Faith, you see a sense of deep sacredness necessarily imbedded in the liturgy, and a sense that this sacredness was lost in some places becauses of the changes instituted after Vatical II. It is not so much a problem with the documents of Vatical II but rather in the way they were used to make liturgical changes never contemplated by the council. Benedict XVI saw a clear need to correct this, and I believe this will be one of his most pressing initiatives. What do you think should be done about the liturgy, if anything?

For example, we saw, after the Vatican II changes, an emphasis in many quarters on the Mass as a meal, not a sacrifice. I think this has to be corrected, for this notion takes away from the Mass the inherent nature of the Mass and the purpose for which the Eucharist was instituted. Granted the Eucharist was instituted at a meal, but we must also not lose sight of what kind of meal. It was not just any supper, but the Passover Meal. The Last Supper/Passover meal commemorated the freedom of the Jewish people, the sacrifice of the paschal lamb, the complete consumption of the paschal lamb, as well as the institution of the ministerial priesthood and the Eucharist, and the sacrifice of Christ for our sins. In instituting the Eucharist, He said This Is My Body which will be given up for you; and This Is The Cup of My Blood which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sin. His sacrifice was the instrument through which forgiveness of our sin became possible. He was freeing us from slavery to sin. The Mass has to reflect this.

Renewal Liturgy

I frequently listen to a local catholic radio station. In the evening, there is a show called Catholic Answers Live. There are often questions on the show about changes in the liturgy that individual priests seem to be making, and even some bishops seem to approve of them. It appears to me that many of these changes cheapen or weaken the liturgy. Perhaps some of these priests are trying to copy the "successes" of the modern "megachurches", which success is indicated in the fact that these megachurches have huge memberships and huge incomes, but at the expense of "watering down" the gospel message.

Do you see any of this happening in the Catholic church? Do you think the new Pope will be able to stifle this type of thing?

Keep in mind that I am a lifelong Mormon, so am looking at this completely from the outside.