Two weeks before the National Liturgical Week in Kansas City, Mo., last summer, the National Catholic Reporter printed an article by Daniel Callahan challenging not simply the liturgical renewal, but its theoretical basis. The article stirred up a flurry of protests and commendations. Whatever one may think of Hope fully the sacramental Callahan's thesis, there does renewal initiated by Vatican /1 appear to be widespread unwill reach the point where the easiness about the success of use of the word and the liturgical renewal, both sacraments can be a truly with regard to the actual celepersonal exchange bration of the liturgy and the between God and man. apostolic zeal which ought to result from it. + One factor contributing to the weakness of the liturgical CHRISTOPHER renewal is the unfamiliarity KIESLING, O.P. of many priests with modern sacramental theology. This + unfamilarity is not the only source of weakness, nor is it culpable. Nevertheless, this unfamiliarity with theory hinders sensitive implementation of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy and the changes introduced by the Consilium in Rome and the national Bishops' Conference. A review of the development of sacramental theology in the last dozen years may help priests whose seminary training is long past to see more clearly the import of the new liturgy.
Jrom
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