The Pope to put limits on concelebrations . . .

(cf. Posted by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf on his blog, May 22, 2008: https://wdtprs.com/2008/05/the-pope-to-put-limits-on-concelebrations/)

At last!

This from the Italian Panorama.

Farewell to big time Masses – The Pope to place limit celebrations

No more big "show" Masses: The Pope want to put the brakes on huge concelebrations with hundreds of priests, often far from the altar, as we are now used to in the World Youth Days and papal journeys.  Benedict XVI has entrusted to the Congregation for Divine Worship the task of preparing, if necessary, an "instruction".

Concelebrations will be limited to precise circumstances with a reduced number of priests around the altar.  The Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium fixed the cases in which it was permitted to concelebrate.  "It is necessary to return to the original meaning of concelebration, which is the sign of unity of priests", explained Msgr. Nichola Bux, a professor at the Theological Faculty of Puglia.

Msgr. Bux is a very smart fellow on the inside of things about Pope Benedict’s thought on liturgy.

Finally something is going to be done to put rein in concelebration, which occurs far too often.

I have gotten to point with the Novus Ordo that I will very rarely concelebrate.  I will happy do so for ordinations, for a Chrism Mass, for a few other instances, for example with my bishop or when the titular Cardinal, Card. Arinze, would come to the cathedral, etc.  I think concelebration should be safe, legal and rare.  Above, all rare. 

I have taken flack for this, as a matter of fact, from priests who oughta know better than to pressure priests to concelebrate or criticize them if they don’t.  The arrogance of it!

In any event, I am sure this story is really about the "mega" Masses, but it should help us rethink the smaller occasions as well.