Peoria bishop's pastoral letter focuses on reverence in liturgy

Published: 2003-12-04

PEORIA, Ill. (CNS) -- Reverence during Mass, expressed in words, gestures, music and surroundings, inspires reverence for all of the Catholic faith and ultimately for God himself, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria said in a new pastoral letter. "If I had to explain the renewal of the Mass in just one sentence, I would ask everyone to show greater reverence for the mysteries we celebrate," Bishop Jenky said in "One Body, One Spirit in Christ," a pastoral letter issued Nov. 30, the first Sunday of Advent. The 6,000-word document on the liturgy explains and expands upon the new General Instruction of the Roman Missal, which took effect in all U.S. dioceses on that day. "Of all the changes in the new edition of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, I am impressed by the number of times the document speaks of reverence," the bishop said.

Copyright (c) 2003 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .