Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi

Unfortunately, I seldom get to look at other blogs. Sometimes, however, I do. Today I was rewarded when I saw this wonderful tidbit on the Pontifications blog:

"The proposed solution [of the synod bishops, related to the concern of the decline of belief in the Eucharistic presence] is to encourage parish priests to teach the Eucharist from the pulpit. I’m sure this would be a good thing to do, but I have to wonder whether the decline in eucharistic faith is not also tied into the massive disenchantment of the liturgy that has occurred since Vatican II. Surely it is much more difficult to believe the mystery of transubstantiation when the liturgy, as presently enacted in most congregations, appears to say just the opposite! Does the liturgy truly witness to the eucharistic miracle when the banality and informality, and sometimes just plain ugliness, of the liturgical celebration tells us that this is just a communal meal with a religious intent?

[...]

If the bishops of the Church wish to restore vital faith in the real presence of our Lord in the Eucharist, then they must fully embrace the re-enchantment of the Divine Liturgy.

If you'd like to read the entire post, click here.

Comments: A very pertinent insight -- one which I know Pope Benedict is quite aware of; certainly the synod spoke of the ars celebrandi and of the "shadows" which have been around in the celebration of the sacred liturgy these past decades. Let us hope and pray that this interrelationship, which has been summarized quite adequately in the oft-quoted axiom, "lex orandi, lex credendi", will not be underestimated in terms of where we go after this synod.