Update on Papal Reservations regarding Large Concelebrations

In the CNS portrait/interview of Msgr. Guido Marini, on whose musical aspects Jeffrey had a post yesterday, we also find some remarks regarding the issue of large concelebrations, which show that the recent words of pope Benedict, raising the question if en masse concelebrations are "still the structure willed by the Lord" (I had posted on the Holy Father's reservations here), have led to an actual examination of the problem at the Vatican.

The question of the number of concelebrants "is not simply an aesthetic question, but has substance," which is why it is the subject of ongoing study at the Vatican, he said.

In addition to highlighting the unity of the celebrant and the concelebrants and the bond between the concelebrants and the altar, "there must be a direct relationship, including a visual one, between the words of consecration and the matter that is being consecrated," he said.