Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan says there is good reason to hope for more “local flexibility” in the liturgy in America. In addition, he said three new Mass canons authorized by the Synod of Bishops should be released soon.

The archbishop, chairman of the United States Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, made his comments in an interview with The Georgia Bulletin.

In addition he cited three significant signs for hope in the United States. They were:

1) The appointment of one of America’s top liturgists and musicians, the Rt. Rev. Abbot Primate Rembert Weakland, O.S.B., to the Consilium. “This is a great step forward. It means that a new American voice will be heard at all meetings in Rome. He has served as chairman of the United States Music Advisory Board prior to his election as primate abbot of the Benedictines.”

2) A scientific survey on popular responses to liturgical change in the United States has been requested by the Consilium. “It shows that two-thirds of American Catholics favor the reform in worship. In the light of the sweeping changes since 1963, the 13 per cent opposed and the 20 per cent who are unaware or uncertain are to be expected.”

3) “The National Liturgical Conference has accepted our invitation to make concrete proposals to the bishops. Father Aidan Kavanaugh, O.S.B., now director of liturgical studies at Notre Dame, has been asked by the conference to chair an ad hoc committee to draw up these proposals.”

Archbishop Hallinan said the new Mass canons and new forms for the sacraments of marriage, holy orders and infant baptism should be released by the Consolium in the near future.

“The basic pattern of the ‘Missa Normative,’ under preparation for nearly two years is almost ready to be published. It is not an obligatory form, but the ‘meeting of the rubrical simplification’ of the various types of the Mass. Masses ranging from ‘Mass in the homes’ and the old style ‘low Mass’ clear through the bishop’s solemn pontifical Mass will stem from this new pattern.”

He said requests from national episcopal bodies, as well as dioceses, colleges, etc.for more flexiadaptation will be studied as soon as the general schemes are released.

“My comments result from interviews with Consilium members and others while I was in Rome, and they were also confirmed by more recent correspondence with liturgical experts in Rome.”

Commenting on the liturgy in America, Archbishop Hallinan said there has been a cross-fire of criticism.

“The impatience of priests, sisters and laymen who want to move steadily toward the full implementation of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy is quite understandable.”

“More difficult to understand is the plea, ‘Let’s stop the changes now’ or even, ‘Let’s repeat the past four years.’ An example of the latter is the amazing article by Eric von Kueknelt-Leddihn in the recent issue of Triumph.”

“The first group demands a sort of instant liturgy. The others want instant regression. Those who have studied liturgy since 1962 know that neither group of extremists speaks the language or spirit of Vatican II.”

“The United States bishops have taken the lead in the vernacular (including the canon), on the International Committee on the English Liturgy, in the setting up of an experimentation committee and a music advisory board plus the steady service for dioceses and parishes by Father Frederick McManus and the secretariat in Washington.”

“Under the guidance of Giacomo Cardinal Laecaro (now retired and replaced by Benno Cardinal Gut, O.S.B.) and Father Annibale Bugnini, an enormous amount of research and testing has been going on since the Consilium was founded in January 1964. Some 40 bishops, most of them in pastoral work and from many nations, have worked with experts from all over the world.”

“Recently the demand, at the grass roots’ level for more flexible and spontaneous experimentation has increased. Most of this is from American Catholics seriously concerned about the lack of locally initiated adaptation. On the other hand, some of the criticism is from those who fail to grasp the ongoing historical liturgical tradition coming down from Christ and the apostles.”

“Liturgy must always meet contemporary needs and resources, but it must not lose two essential elements: the strength of this continuity and its public character. Worship is not for the elite; it is for the People of God.”

“Once the more general changes, affecting the worldwide Church, have become available for publication, it appears that ‘local adaptation’ will be tackled by the Consilium. I am sure that this is quite relevant to the severe disappointment that is certain to follow the refusal by the Consilium of the American bishops’ request (voted by a 3-1 majority) for more local flexibility.”

“These are encouraging signs for the American Church. Few desire to stop the changes. Vatican II went too deep for that. Instant regression is contrary to the whole mind of the Church today.”

“On the other hand, not very many want an undisciplined rite without a sound tradition. This has had, in some cases, a traumatic result. Not only those directly responsible for the changes (bishops, pastors, etc.), but every one of us shares the obligation of family concern for all. Those of us pressing for continued reform must become convinced that example, persuasion and good leadership are far more effective than scorn or ridicule.”

“Meanwhile four years have passed since the promulgation of the new constitution by the bishops and Pope Paul Vi. The people are involved in Mass and the sacraments, responding and signing.”

“Slowly but surely, they are seeing more and more that liturgy is not ceremonies and rubrics, but the highest human activity--praising God, living out our redemption and inspiring us to act toward others in the spirit of Christ.”