Yesterday, The New Liturgical Movement (a wonderful source of news and information pertaining to Liturgy) posted this headline: Russian Orthodox Patriarch, Alexy II Praises Letter on 1962 Missal.If you are interested in either the ecumenical movement or the Traditional Latin Mass you might find the above linked post to be an interesting read. Its focus is Alexy II's positive reaction to Pope Benedict XVI's decision to derestrict the Traditional Latin Mass.
This story reminds me of a very good article written last year on this same topic by Brian Mershon entitled, Archbishop Burke, Bishop Rifan Comment: Will Classical Liturgy Aid Reunion with Eastern Orthodox?
Some excerpts from Mershon's article:
Bishop Rifan: "I really think that the Traditional Latin Mass widely and freely available would be, among many other good reasons, a great benefit in the field of the true ecumenism with the Orthodox," he said. "This would be primarily because the Traditional Liturgy is much more similar to the Oriental [Eastern] rites in the aspect of the sacred, veneration, and beauty."
Archbishop Burke: "It seems to me for the Eastern rites, and for those of the Orthodox Churches, the reform of the liturgy after the council and the concrete expression is so stripped of the transcendent, of the sacral elements, it is difficult for them to recognize its relationship with their Eucharistic Liturgies," he said.
2 comments:
It's gratifying, but somewhat odd, that the Russian Patriarch would view the 'restoration' of the Old Rite as a helpful ecumenical event. It never struck me that the restriction of the Old Rite was among the many excuses the Orthodox used to forswear unity with the Roman Church.
I don't think it was an excuse for them really, they already had plenty of those. But a reason not to trust Rome.
Put yourself in their shoes. "If I submit to Rome, they might try to do to our Liturgy what they did to their own."
It will be encouraging to them that Pope Benedict at least has something other than fear and dislike for that which they value quite highly, namely, traditional and reverent celebrations of the mysteries.
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