Holy Father Reminds Pastors to Encourage Adoration
Pope Francis on February 5, 2018, stressed the importance of silent adoration of God. His comments came in his homily at Mass at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican.
With several newly installed pastors in the congregation, the Pope urged the teaching of the importance of adoration, calling on them to “teach the people to adore in silence”, Vatican News reported. “We know how to teach them how to pray, sing, and praise God, but to adore?”
The Holy Father referred to the first reading of the day (1 KGS 8:1-7, 9-13), in which the elders of Israel bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, a difficult and uphill journey. But there are memories that sustain the effort.
“We can only arrive there with the memory of having been chosen, of bearing within our heart the promise which pushes us to keep going with the covenant in our hand and in our heart,” Francis recalled, noting that “words disappear, we do not know what to say.” But he reminded the congregation that in that situation, the people can adore in silence.
Note: The Vatican does not publish the full text of Pope Francis’ homily in his daily Mass in the chapel of Casa Santa to make “the difference between different situations and celebrations, as well as the different levels of authority of his words.” Besides, the Pope gives the homily extemporaneously and in Italian, which is not his native language. Representatives of news outlets are invited to attend the Mass, and they publish a summary of the Pope’s homily.
“Eucharistic Adoration is the greatest act of holiness on earth.” – SPJEymard
September 19, 1959: Pope John XXIIl to Fr. Spiekman in a private audience: “The Church has, at present, great need of Eucharistic apostolate; but please tell your religious that they shall never preach more effectively than when on their knees adoring the Blessed Sacrament. This will more greatly move and inspire the faithful than the best composed and most eloquent sermon.”
January 10, 1969: Letter of Paul VI to Fr. Huot (Saluberrimum Sacramentum) encouraging the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: “By making it their duty to adore Christ the Lord, present in the divine Sacrament, the religious of the Congregation you govern, Beloved Son… greatly strengthen the Catholic faith against those who deny God by their doctrines or their way of life… “
Magnum Principium of Pope Francis
On September 3, 2017, Pope Francis promulgated the Motu Proprio Magnum Principium on liturgical translation amending two clauses of Canon 838 of the Code of Canon law, as shown in the table below:
Previous
Canon 838, 2, “It is for the Apostolic See to order the sacred liturgy of the universal Church, publish liturgical books and review their translations in vernacular languages, and exercise vigilance that liturgical regulations are observed faithfully everywhere.”
Amended
“It is for the Apostolic See to order the sacred liturgy of the universal Church, publish liturgical books, recognize adaptations approved by the Episcopal Conference according to the norm of law, and exercise vigilance that liturgical regulations are observed faithfully everywhere.”
Previous
Canon 838, 3, “It pertains to the conferences of bishops to prepare and publish, after the prior review of the Holy See, translations of liturgical books in vernacular languages, adapted appropriately within the limits defined in the liturgical books themselves.”
Amended
“It pertains to the episcopal conferences to faithfully prepare versions of the liturgical books in vernacular languages, suitably accommodated within defined limits, and to approve and publish the liturgical books for the regions for which they are responsible after the confirmation of the Apostolic See.”
The heart of the Motu Proprio is to define better the roles of the Apostolic See and the Conferences of Bishops in respect to their proper competencies, which are different yet remain complementary. Taking into account the inspiration from the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council, both are called to work in a spirit of dialogue regarding the translation of the typical Latin books as well as for any eventual adaptations that could touch on rites and texts.
With the amendments, two words that might seem to arise in the context of being faithful on the texts for translation are recognitio and confirmatio. They have been subject to a lot of written contentions and deliberations. According to the Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the recognition mentioned in Canon 838, 2, implies the process of recognizing on the part of the Apostolic See legitimate liturgical adaptations, including those that are “more radical” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 40), which the Episcopal Conferences can establish and approve for their territories’ defined limits. Canon 838, 3, clarifies that the translations must be completed fideliter according to the original texts, thus acknowledging the principal pre-occupation of the Instruction Liturgiam Authenticam. The confirmatio of the Apostolic See is not to be considered as an alternative intervention in the process of translation, but rather as an authoritative act by which the competent Dicastery ratifies the approval of the bishops. Maybe, it is good to know the mind of Pope Francis with regards to this. He writes that confirmatio is not merely formal, but necessary for publication of the translated liturgical book: it is granted after the version has been submitted to the Apostolic See for the ratification of the bishops’ approval in a spirit of dialogue and aid to reflection, if and when necessary, respecting their rights and duties considering the legality of the process followed and its various aspects.
We just hope and pray that this Magnum Principium may clearly set a renewed theological consciousness and dynamic ecclesiology to encourage full, conscious and fruitful participation in the life of the Church.
My experience at the Parish of St. Jude in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, is like Fr. Eymard’s at the rock of Saint Romans, where he had a mystical experience of grace. The two months I was there had permitted me to look back at my religious life history – all that I have learned, all that I have been told, and to confront a new reality in the community and the parish.
There is a saying which goes, “There is no rose without thorns.” I too at times confronted some challenges, but I was able to overcome them by adaptation, acceptance, and prayer. There were also some challenges I shared with my Superior or Br. Norman, and both were always ready to help me.
One of the many things that have remained remarkable to me is the simple lifestyle of our community and the solidarity that we have lived. I have liked and learned how community activities are coordinated ─ praying together, eating together and moving together toward our common mission. This has given me a lesson that when you move together, you can overcome so many challenges and strengthen community life.
Pastorally, I have been impressed by the collaboration which exists between the clergy and the laity. This is the reason why there is little tension between the two. Everything is done together, although transition still poses some problems since our parishioners are used to doing certain things differently. On my part, there was the problem of culture, as I had to learn some new cultural values.
My experience in Pagudpud was like a retreat for me. I felt that I have grown spiritually, emotionally and intellectually. The times I was alone in my room permitted me to digest all my past memories and evaluate them. When negative feelings and emotions arise, I manage to overcome them by devoting an extended time in prayer and listening intently.
In conclusion, I believe all is grace and everything has a reason why it happens; but the necessity is to find the place of God in every situation.
Congratulations to the newly elected members of the Regional Council of the SSS Region of Cardinal Emile Biayenda (Congo-Brazzaville) which recently held its 3rd Regional Chapter from 7-11 February 2018:
Fr. Brel Daouda Malela – Regional Superior
Fr. Rodolphe Mboya – Consultor & Treasurer
Fr. Frederic Malada – Consultor
Fr. Jean de Dieu Mpassy – Consultor
Congratulations to the Province of St. John XXIII (Columbia-Puerto Rico-Peru) which held its Provincial Chapter in Bogota, Colombia, from the 15th to 21st of January 2018, the very first among the 14 SSS provinces which are scheduled to hold their respective Provincial Chapters this year.
The following are the results of their elections:
Provincial Superior Fr. Camille Gagnon, sss
Vicar Provincial Fr. Carlos José Sierra, sss
Provincial Consultor Fr. Wilson Duran, sss
Provincial Treasurer Fr. Victor Hernan Zuluaga, sss
Delegate to the General Chapter Fr. Alvaro Vasquez, sss
Substitute Delegate to the Gen. Chapter Fr. Jaime Rodriguez, sss