Vatican official says pope does not want to abandon liturgical reform

Published: 2008-01-21

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has no intention of launching a liturgical "return to the past" but would like to recover some important elements that have been lost or forgotten in recent decades, the Vatican's liturgist said. Msgr. Guido Marini, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, made the comments in an interview Jan. 19 with Vatican Radio. He was asked about fears that the pope wants to abandon the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council. "These are certainly incorrect inferences and interpretations," Msgr. Marini said. The path of Catholic liturgy is "development in continuity," in which change never loses touch with the church's living traditions, he said. "This may also require, in some cases, the recovery of precious and important elements that along the way have been lost or forgotten," he said. On Jan. 13 the pope celebrated a Mass in the Sistine Chapel using the original main altar, which meant he faced away from the people during parts of the liturgy. Since Vatican II, Mass usually is celebrated facing the people. Msgr. Marini said the change in direction reflected the special artistic circumstances of the Sistine Chapel and was not out of line with Vatican II reforms.

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