Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Apostolic Exhortation "Sacramentum Caritatis"

The full text of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Benedict XVI

An excerpt:
[From #62] None of the above observations should cast doubt upon the importance of such large-scale liturgies. I am thinking here particularly of celebrations at international gatherings, which nowadays are held with greater frequency. The most should be made of these occasions. In order to express more clearly the unity and universality of the Church, I wish to endorse the proposal made by the Synod of Bishops, in harmony with the directives of the Second Vatican Council, (182) that, with the exception of the readings, the homily and the prayer of the faithful, such liturgies could be [* See note] celebrated in Latin. Similarly, the better-known prayers (183) of the Church's tradition should be recited in Latin and, if possible, selections of Gregorian chant should be sung. Speaking more generally, I ask that future priests, from their time in the seminary, receive the preparation needed to understand and to celebrate Mass in Latin, and also to use Latin texts and execute Gregorian chant; nor should we forget that the faithful can be taught to recite the more common prayers in Latin, and also to sing parts of the liturgy to Gregorian chant. (184)

Updated, from rumblings heard elsewhere...

* A mistranslation of the Latin: The phrase more accurately would read:
"...it is right that such liturgies be celebrated in Latin."

The Latin text is here.

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