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Sunday, May 31, 2009

Benedictine Influence in the Philippines: Sign of Hope?

The New Liturgical Movement posted a news about the Benedictine influence in the altar arrangement for the anniversary Mass celebrated by the holy cardinal archbishop of Cebu, Ricardo Vidal. Here is the link. Interesting read are the comments posted one of which belong to me. I am entering the comments I made on the site below:

Cardinal Vidal was very vocal among his fellow bishops about his praise and support of Summorum Pontificum. This was shared to me by a priest who was present during one of the meetings the cardinal was present at in Manila. However, we see little hope for Cardinal Rosales to be supportive of the Motu Propio for the following reasons:

He is not interested in the liturgy. Ever since he took over the Archdiocese of Manila, his main concern in his social fund raising drive, Pondo ng Pinoy. He left the care of the liturgy to two notoriously anti-TLM priests, Anscar Chupungco, OSB, and Genaro Diwa. Proof? Visit the archdiocese's website and the only news you get are "liturgical news". These two priests are making a living of forcing altar servers, lectors, EMHCs, and choir directors with endless "updating" seminars which always comes with a price tag. Required reading for those who took the seminars? The books or pamphlets written by the two.

Liturgical renewal in the Philippines is still a far-fetched reality. When Bugnini forced down our throats the reforms of the Mass, the Philippines was still celebrating the TLM. Cardinal Santos was not celebrating the Novus Ordo until the papal visit of Paul VI. With Summorum PontificumCardinal Vidal was very vocal among his fellow bishops about his praise and support of Summorum Pontificum. This was shared to me by a priest who was present during one of the meetings the cardinal was present at in Manila. However, we see little hope for Cardinal Rosales to be supportive of the Motu Propio for the following reason:

He is not interested in the liturgy. Ever since he took over the Archdiocese of Manila, his main concern in his social fund raising drive, Pondo ng Pinoy. He left the care of the liturgy to two notoriously anti-TLM priests, Anscar Chupungco, OSB, and Genaro Diwa. Proof? Visit the archdiocese's website and the only news you get are "liturgical news". These two priests are making a living of forcing altar servers, lectors, EMHCs, and choir directors with endless "updating" seminars which always comes with a price tag. Required reading for those who took the seminars? The books or pamphlets written by the two.

Liturgical renewal in the Philippines is still a far-fetched reality. When Bugnini forced down our throats the reforms of the Mass, the Philippines was still celebrating the TLM. Cardinal Santos was not celebrating the Novus Ordo until the papal visit of Paul VI. With Summorum Pontificum, we see a handful of bishops and priests openly supporting the return of the sense of the sacred in our worship as Catholics. We can only hope and pray for the spread of the sense of the sacred in the Catholic Church in the Philippines.

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