ARDINAL ANTONELLI was the first Secretary of the Concilium, which reformed the Roman Rite in the 1960s. (Technically, Cardinal Antonelli was named “Secretary of the Conciliar Commission on the Liturgy” on 4 October 1962.) He is an extremely well-informed witness of these liturgical reforms. Here’s what he wrote on 24 July 1968:
“Until the Council, liturgical law was regarded as something sacred; but for many, it no longer exists. Everyone now feels authorized to do what he likes, and many of the young do just that.” (source)
He later added: “In the liturgy, every word and every gesture expresses an idea which is always a theological idea.”
A new publication for Ordinary Form parishes is available, and Cardinal Antonelli would have loved it, because it emphasizes (through beautiful images, typesetting, & explanations) that “every word and every gesture of the liturgy expresses a theological idea.”
BUT HOW CAN A PARISH buy these books? Even though it’s sold for an incredibly low price, the fact remains that parishes often don’t have extra money. Good news! The people in the parish are waiting to help you! Listen to what one parish priest said:
ONE SUNDAY MORNING, I put a sample copy of the Missal in the narthex for the people to view, and kept it out there for a couple of Sundays. I was amazed at the response. “It’s beautiful!” — “It’s just what we need in the pews!” — “Can I contribute towards the cost?” And so, I launched out into the deep and asked for donations. Within 72 hours we had not only covered the cost, but also had more donations than we could possibly use for that project.
[N.B. He was talking the Campion Missal (Extraordinary Form), but the Jogues Missal does the same thing for the Ordinary Form.]
To grab the attention of your parishioners, why not get a gigantic poster like this one? Use the “Contact Us” on the upper right for more information. The best part: You can enlarge the picture of your choosing!
