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Pope: Sunday Mass must form Catholics through reverent worship
Pope Leo XIV encourages priests to respect the liturgical norms for the celebration of Mass, in a message to participants in a Vatican-organized meeting in the US state of Oregon.
By Devin Watkins
As Cardinals, Bishops, and lay people gathered in the US state of Oregon, Pope Leo XIV sent a message on Friday to emphasize the importance of properly celebrating the liturgical rites.
The event takes place on August 14-19 at the Benedictine Abbey of Mount Angel, and was organized by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
In his message to Cardinal Authur Roche, the Dicastery’s Prefect, Pope Leo expressed his support for the initiative, aimed at discussing the “important topic of the liturgical formation of God’s people.”
The meeting came in response to Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter Desiderio Desideravi, which explored the beauty of the liturgy’s theological and spiritual depth.
It brought together Catholics of diverse backgrounds to reflect together with the goal of “defining shared, concrete, and practical proposals,” according to a press release from the Dicastery.
The choice of a monastic community signifies “the intention to engage in dialogue within a prayerful setting,” focusing on spiritual discernment more than on scholarly exploration, noted the press release.
Pope Leo XIV said Desiderio Desideravi called for ongoing formation of the clergy and lay people to revitalize the Church’s liturgical life.
Rather than forming only a specialized group of liturgical experts, liturgical formation should become an “inner disposition of all the People of God,” said Pope Leo, quoting the Apostolic Letter.
Pope Leo noted that the Sunday Eucharist offers the most frequent and practical opportunity for liturgical formation.
“These celebrations are anchored in the annual rhythm of the liturgical year, with the Paschal Mystery at its center,” he said. “For this reason, it is essential that they also be profoundly formative, promoting an ever deeper understanding of the ars celebrandi, expressed not only by the celebrant of the liturgy, but also by the entire assembly.”
Through the Sunday Mass, he added, Catholics will be formed “both for the liturgy and by the liturgy.”
Pope Leo recalled his recent catechesis series at the Wednesday General Audiences on the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium.
“In order to promote the dignified celebration of the sacred mysteries, we must emphasize the need for fidelity to the approved texts and instructions,” he said.
The Pope said his catechesis urged all those called to prepare the celebration of the divine mysteries, especially priests, to show respect for the rites promulgated by Pope St. Paul VI and Pope St. John Paul II.
“It is vital that this respect springs from an inner attitude of openness and trust in God, manifesting humility before His greatness and sincere fidelity to ecclesial communion,” he said.
In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV entrusted the liturgical meeting in Oregon to Mary, Seat of Wisdom, and prayed for their spiritual discernment on the Church’s sacred liturgy.
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