I felt that it is definitely worthwhile to
share with you this letter, which was written by Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith,
former secretary of the CDW, to participants in the 20th General Assembly of
the FIUV (Foederatio Internationalis Una Voce)
held in Rome.
The letter is extremely powerful and it
thankfully does not pull any punches. [My emphasis]
I wish to express first of all, my gratitude to all of you for the
zeal and enthusiasm with which you promote the cause of the restoration of the
true liturgical traditions of the Church.
As you know, it is worship that enhances faith and its heroic
realization in life. It is the means with which human beings are lifted up to
the level of the transcendent and eternal: the place of a profound encounter
between God and man.
Liturgy for this reason can never be what man creates. For if we
worship the way we want and fix the rules ourselves, then we run the risk of
recreating Aaron's golden calf. We ought to constantly insist on worship as
participation in what God Himself does, else we run the risk of engaging in
idolatry. Liturgical symbolism helps us to rise above what is human to what is
divine. In this, it is my firm conviction that the Vetus Ordo represents to a
great extent and in the most fulfilling way that mystical and transcendent call
to an encounter with God in the liturgy. Hence
the time has come for us to not only renew through radical changes the content
of the new Liturgy, but also to encourage more and more a return of the Vetus
Ordo, as a way for a true renewal of the Church, which was what the Fathers of
the Church seated in the Second Vatican Council so desired.
The careful reading of the Conciliar Constitution on the Sacred
Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilum shows that the rash changes introduced to the
Liturgy later on, were never in the minds of the Fathers of the Council.
Hence the time has come for us to be courageous in working for a
true reform of the reform and also a return to the true liturgy of the Church,
which had developed over its bi-millenial history in a continuous flow. I wish
and pray that, that would happen.
May God bless your efforts with success.
+Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith
Archbishop of Colombo
24/8/2011
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