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| Bishop N’Koué celebrtes the Old Mass in St. Peter's |
(kreuz.net, Benin) Bishop Pascal N’Koué (51) of Natitingou in Benin has led his old Mass already since October 2003 in his Diocese.
That can be read in his report on the third anniversary of the historical Motu Proprio 'Summorum Pontificum'.
Msgr N'’Koué studied at the Vatican Diplomatic Academy in Rome in the early nineties. Finally, he was active till his appointment as Diocesean Bishop, as the Secretary of the Nuntiatur of Panama.
The 76.000 population city Natitingou is located in northwestern Beenin -- not far from the boarder of Togo.
The Pope has asked all of the Bishops of the World for a report about the Old Liturgy in all of the Diocese.
The author of the report for the Dicoee Natitingou who hales from France is Fr. Denis Le Pivain.
He belongs to the Bi-Ritual Priestly Society 'Totus Tuus'.
The report was published in the weekly of the Diocese of Natitingou.
Enemies of the Old Mass have Poisonous Hearts
The report explains that the Old rite and the New Mass can peacefully exist together and
supposedly enrich one another.
Conflicts occurred from sick and poisonous hearts" and from narrow-minded ideologies.
In the wake of the Motu Proprio there was no turbulence in the Dicoese of Natitingou.
The Old Rite Moves the Faithful by Itself
The report explained that the Old Mass is an opportunity, especially for the young clerics of the Diocese.
The traditional Rite allows the priest, the altar, the holy silence, the mystery, the various making of the sign of the cross and kneelings to be held with greater worth.
Also the priest would better understand the celebration to God that the celebrant and the faithhful will face together to the cross.
The Old Mass enables also a better understanding of the New Eucharist.
Without every pressure of the Bishops many priests came themselves to learn the Old Mass.
Where the rubrics of the Mass are internalized, the Liturgy itself touches the faithful with its beauty and depth.
Then one doesn't have to fight any more for the Mystery, the Holy, the Piety, the Majesty of God and the active participation in the Liturgy.
The Old Rite Corresponds to the African Mentality
The Roman Canon and the liturgical gestures in the Old Rite stand closer to African religiosity and African feeling -- and here is what the report said, further;
"It is my wish that one day every priest will be able to celebrate both forms" -- explained the Bishop within.
He named further examples for the enrichment of a New Mass.
Immediately in Advent and in the time of Fast the priest could celebrate everything for the Lord.
That draws the attention on the Mystery of the Cross. The celebrant and the choir should disappear before God.
Msg N'Koué explains that the Offertory Rite is not in the rubrics of the New Rite and not celebrated in the face of the faithful.
He wishes also more latin in the Mass and would like to avoid profane instruments and music.
In their place Gregorian Choirs should be singing.
The bishop has asked the priests to say the Roman Canon on Sundays and Feast days. It will facilitate inculcation more easily.
Before giving Communion the Celebrant must make the sign of the cross with the Host.
Read original at kreuz.net... auf Deutsch.
