Emphasizing Christ in the Liturgy

Earlier this week, Papal Master of Ceremonies Msgr. Guido Marini emphasized the Holy Father's desire for a crucifix to be placed in the middle of the altar to focus the celebrant on Christ. He also emphasized the true meaning of active participation as a means of internal spiritual enrichment as opposed to external physical entertainment.

This is timely as we see in many parishes the increasing emphasis on the people in the congregation while Christ is literally pushed off to side. Fortunately, we've seen that over the past years the feel-good-warm-all-over-mmm-mmm-good-there's no such thing as sin-kumbaya crap is starting to wear off. One might be inclined to blame the popes from Bl. John XXIII to Ven. John Paul II. But they are not to blame. Rather, it is those who refused to teach the fundamental magisterium of the Holy Catholic Church that is the reason for empty seminaries, convents, and pews. It is moral relativism that keeps the confessional open for 15 minutes. But now, things are changing. Christ is finding a way back into the heart of the Catholic Faith and He is doing it through good, holy, and young Catholic priests who have taken the treasures that were left for disposal by their predecessors and refurbishing them for the good of a new generation of Catholics to hold dear.

Needless to say, Pope Benedict XVI is certainly a Godsend. You know that Holy Spirit was certainly working in the Sistine Chapel those two days in April, 2005 because there's no way that some of those cardinals would have selected such a solid man of convictions. But the things that we have seen this Pontiff do in just a little over four years now is amazing and reviving a Church that was down, but far from being out. From Summorum Pontificum to Anglicanorum Coetibus to calling out relativism and sin by their filthy titles to emphasizing the refirm of the reform, Benedict XVI has embodied counter-culture that all Catholics must embrace.

Catholicism is more than just a title, it is a way of life centered on Christ and His teachings. If Catholicism was simply conforming to society, we may as well just become secularists. But guided by the Holy Spirit and ever loyal to the Pope, the Catholic Church will prevail in this troubled world, and do so by conquering it. Pray for this Pope, I want him to be around for a long time and I'm sure you do too. LONG LIVE THE POPE!