On the occasion of the 71st National Liturgy Week in Italy, Pope Francis sent a letter to Bishop Maniago, Director of the Liturgical Action Center, wishing the event a success, and mentioned the “painful experience” of the suspension of liturgy last year due to the epidemic. .
(Vatican News Network)The Italian Church held the 71st National Liturgy Week in Cremona from August 23 to 26. The Pope wrote to the organizer of the event and the director of the Liturgical Action Center, Bishop Claudio Maniago, talking about the “painful experience” of “lack of etiquette” due to the closure of the city last year and the various problems arising from it. It is hoped that the attendees can find a new “ritual pastoral route” for the parish to cope with the “marginalization” of the rituals such as Sunday Mass and Thanksgiving. In his letter, the Pope wished that these rituals would restore their central position in the faith and in the spiritual life of believers. The theme selected for this National Etiquette Week is “There are two or three people gathered together because of my name. Group, etiquette, and region” (see: Mar 18, 20).
This letter signed by Cardinal Palolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, was read to the participants at the opening ceremony of the event. The letter stated that the National Liturgical Week was postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the “tragic moments of last year”, the National Liturgical Week can finally be held. The Pope thanked God for this. However, the delay of the event helps to find inspiration for the theme chosen for this year, and to “in-depth understanding of the different aspects and situations of the celebration, which are all facing severe tests due to the spread of the new crown epidemic and the required prevention and control restrictions. “.
The Pope said that although the suspension of religious ceremonies last year was a “painful experience”, it “re-emphasized the beauty of the journey completed since the Second Vatican Council”, following the path indicated by the “Charter of Liturgy”. Row. In fact, the period of lack of etiquette makes people “amazed by the importance of sacred etiquette in the life of Christians.”
“Christians have been aware from the beginning that weekly gatherings “in the name of the Lord” are an indispensable reality and are inseparable from their own identity. In the most severe stage of the spread of the epidemic, such gatherings have suffered a severe impact.” . Nevertheless, “The love for God and pastoral creativity urge pastors and lay believers to try other ways to nourish the communion with God and brothers and sisters in faith and love, and look forward to peace and safety. To restore the consummation of the Thanksgiving Sacrifice.” The Pope stated that it was a “difficult and painful process of waiting, enlightened by the mystery of the cross of the Lord; the fruits of it were the work of care, the care of brotherhood, and the consequences of suffering from the health crisis. The suffering of the people of service”.
The suspension of etiquette during the epidemic prevention period, and the difficulty of recovery afterwards, also occurred at the Sunday gathering in Italy: this is a warning sign that the changes of the times have entered the next stage. The Pope explained, “In actual life, people’s views on time have changed, so people’s views on Sundays and space have also changed, and the changes that have followed are lifestyles, group views, family views, and geographical connections. Wait”. Because of this, the attendance at Sunday meetings presents an imbalance between generations and cultures, and it is difficult to integrate into parish life harmoniously, and thus it is difficult to truly become the peak of every activity in the parish and the source of missionary motivation and bring the compassionate gospel. To the marginal areas of geography and existence.
To this end, the Pope wishes the Italian National Liturgy Week “can distinguish and make recommendations for the pastoral route of the rites” and recommend it to the parish for reference. In this direction, participants can look forward to the “recently announced third edition of the Roman Missal, the willingness of the Italian bishops to accompany, and the powerful recovery of the ritual cultivation of the holy people of God.”
The Pope finally blessed all those who participated in the Italian National Liturgy Week, including deacons, priests, consecrated persons and lay believers. The Pope said he was very pleased to see this event being held on “a land afflicted by the epidemic”, and at the same time “seeing the prosperity of goodness to alleviate such a huge pain.”
Link URL: www.vaticannews.cn