Liturgical reform.

Auckland, NZ -- In January 2006 the International Commission for English in the Liturgy (ICEL) held a

meeting in Auckland, New Zealand. During the week-long sessions, draft texts were examined by Catholic bishops of the 11 English-speaking conferences; when completed, the drafts will be reviewed by each bishops' conference and then re-submitted to the Congregation for Divine Worship in Rome. It is now expected that the new English translation of the Missal will be ready for distribution only in 2008 (Tablet, Jan. 28, 2006).

Pope Benedict is taking a keen interest in its progress. As Cardinal Ratzinger, he wrote in his autobiography, Milestones: Memoirs 1927-1977, that "the disintegration of the liturgy" is a major source of the crisis afflicting the Church today, and that "a new liturgical movement is needed to halt the Church's disintegration into sectarian parties of all kinds."

Critics of the present liturgy are hoping that the following issues will be addressed by ICEL: liturgical music, i.e., the re-introduction of some Latin and Gregorian chant into the Mass and closer control over sacred music; a more solemn and sacred Mass experience; and more liturgical cohesiveness from parish to parish and diocese to diocese. Msgr. James Moroney, executive director of the U.S. bishops' committee on the liturgy, has indicated that these aspects are under consideration (Wanderer, Jan. 26, 2006).