A Gift of Abp. Cousins

For those of you who think that 'the troubles' began with Abp. Weakland, here's an offering which should change your perspective, with a big HT to T. Berres:


The celebrant’s priesthood is distinguished from that of the congregation not by way of dignity
but by way of office. In the Eucharist his function is to serve, to lead, to unify, and to teach.

Evidently the old munus "teach, rule, sanctify" was insufficient.


In a flexible liturgy the celebrant will be concerned that he knows the members of the
congregation, at least as to their general background, since the celebration will be affected by the type of people making up that congregation. He may be better able to relate to one congregation than to another; but while being himself (not an artificial actor), he must adapt his act of celebrating to the congregation gathered. If there is a certain type of person or group with which he finds it difficult to relate, he should try to adjust to that group or avoid celebrating with that group. It is a simple fact of experience that not all priests can relate to all people

Looks more like marriage advice. More seriously, this defines the sacramental mis-understanding of the '60's era quite well--literally eradicating transcendence by enshrining "horizontality." But another question: how did Christ relate to the Aleuts?

On the origin of the species "Liturgeist:"


The liturgy must be well prepared in advance by those responsible, the celebrant and the parish liturgical committee.

Here's a real howler:


Liturgy is a celebration of people engaged in the world in such a way as to work toward the transcendental.

Huh? It's not a re-presentation of the Sacrifice of Calvary?


Liturgy is not just a group of people getting together to be friends, but it should be a group of
friends getting together in order to form the mystery of Christ in their midst

Were these folks smoking or drinking? There are four reasons for prayer. NONE of those include 'getting together with pals to form the mystery of Christ in their midst.' This mishmashmush is ....used for TRAINING???

Oh, yeah--the authors of this august Reformation-statement:


Msgr. Joseph J. Holleran
Rev. James L. Arimond
Rev. Robert J. Novotny
Rev. Thomas W. Schmitz
Rev. Richard A. Liska (Deacon)
Rev. Edward R. Wieland