The hosts discuss their desire for a liturgical renaissance and reflect on Catholic school masses. They explore the connection between internal disposition and liturgy. The speakers emphasize the importance of catechesis for understanding the Eucharist. They delve into the complexity of conflict and highlight the beauty of the Diocese of Gallup. They also discuss the relationship between abortion and economic philosophy.
School Masses should be more otherworldly and draw children more deeply into the faith.
Preserving and building beautiful churches with a focus on the encounter with God is crucial.
The interior disposition towards liturgy and divine encounter needs to be reformed, emphasizing a deeper interior conversion.
Deep dives
Disappointment with School Masses
The host expresses disappointment with the quality of school Masses, stating that they often lack reverence and the sense of the sacred. He believes that school Masses should be more otherworldly and draw children more deeply into the faith. He argues that the Church has a sacred responsibility to form children and that school Masses are a missed opportunity for liturgical celebration.
The Influence of Architecture on Liturgy
The host discusses the impact of architecture on liturgical experiences, emphasizing that bad architecture can impede beautiful liturgy, while good architecture can facilitate it. He suggests that many American churches have poor ecclesiastical architecture, resembling mini-mega churches, and that preserving and building beautiful churches with a focus on the encounter with God is crucial. He believes that the design and orientation of sacred spaces greatly influence the liturgy's pedagogical and catechetical aspects.
Desire for Deeper Interior Conversion
The host expresses a desire for deeper interior conversion, believing that it is a key factor in fostering a more reverent and beautiful expression of liturgy. He highlights the importance of approaching the liturgy with fear and trembling, acknowledging the profound mystery and encountering the divine. He mentions the need for a reform of internals, focusing on the interior disposition towards liturgy and divine encounter, rather than primarily focusing on external reforms like language or music choices.
The Importance of Catechism and Initiation in the Early Church
In the early church, individuals were fully initiated into the Eucharistic sacrifice after being baptized and undergoing a period of intense formation and testing. This process included catechism and scrutiny to ensure the sincerity of their desire to live as a Christian. The Eucharistic mystery was reserved for the Christian community, emphasizing the need for initiation and understanding to fully comprehend its depths.
Balancing the Mystery and Proximity of the Liturgy
While the liturgy is a profound and transcendent experience, it should not be overly exclusive or distant from our messy human reality. The use of Latin in the liturgy, as emphasized by the Second Vatican Council, can remind us of the transcendent mystery of the Eucharist in a contemporary world where everything is easily comprehensible. However, it is important to balance the sacredness of liturgy with a recognition of the radical proximity and intimate connection it offers with the divine. Overemphasis on the mystery aspect alone may lead to a distancing from God, missing the transformative power of the Eucharist in our lives.
JD is craving a liturgical renaissance— but he disagrees with Ed on how to begin. Then, JD and Ed talk about recent controversial comments by an economist with the Pontifical Academy for Life.
This episode of the Pillar Podcast is sponsored by the Southwest Indian Foundation’s Catholic Pueblo Revival Paid Internship Program.