Pope Benedict XVI told participants at an international liturgical
conference that tradition and progress are not opposites, but
complimentary parts of Catholic life and worship.
“Not infrequently are tradition and progress in awkward opposition,”
he told attendees of the Ninth International Congress on the Liturgy,
sponsored by the Pontifical Liturgical Institute.
“Actually, though, the two concepts are interwoven: tradition is a
living reality that, in itself, includes the principle of development,
of progress.”
Likewise, he noted in his May 6 address, authentic progress in the
area of liturgy must build upon the tradition of the Church rather than
discarding it. “The liturgy,” he stated, “lives (in) a proper and
constant relation between sound 'tradition' and legitimate
'progression.'”
The Pope recalled that this notion of development in accord with
tradition inspired his predecessor Bl. Pope John XXIII to establish the
liturgical institute 50 years ago.
That Pope, he recalled, recognized “the requests of the liturgical
movement that sought to give new impetus and a new spirit to the
Church's prayer,” and sought to ensure “a solid basis” for the
liturgical reforms of Vatican II.
The purpose of the reform, he observed, “was not mainly to change the
rites and texts” of Catholic worship. Rather, he said, it was to “renew
the mentality” of worshipers, and “put the celebration of Christ's
paschal mystery at the center of Christian life and pastoral work.”
But he acknowledged that many of the resulting efforts fell short of
this goal, due to misunderstandings about the fundamental nature and
purpose of Catholic worship.
“Unfortunately,” he acknowledged, “the liturgy has perhaps been seen –
even by us, pastors and experts – more as an object to reform, than a
subject capable of renewing Christian life.”
He cited the Second Vatican Council's document “Sancrosanctum
Concilium,” which encouraged the use of Latin and Gregorian Chant in
parishes, to emphasize the “very close and organic bond” between “the
renewal of the liturgy and the renewal of the whole life of the Church.”
Pope Benedict urged members of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute to
continue serving the Church “with renewed enthusiasm” in the coming
years, “in full fidelity to the rich and valuable liturgical tradition
and to the reform desired by Vatican Council II,” especially the
“magisterial directives” of “Sancrosanctum Concilium.”