The Society for Catholic Liturgy has just concluded one of its best-attended conferences, which was held Oct. 2-4 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in downtown Colorado Springs.
The SCL’s next conference in October 2015 will be held in New York. More information is forthcoming.
Also, Carl Bunderson of the Catholic News Agency has
published an article highlighting events at the conference, and summarizing the keynote address of Bishop James Conley (Lincoln).
Colorado Springs, Colo., Oct 7, 2014 / 12:24 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Evangelization will be carried out by bringing beauty to Catholic culture and liturgy, Bishop James Conley of Lincoln told a group of scholars and pastors gathered for an interdisciplinary conference.
“The work you’re doing is essential to the formation of Christian culture. The Church needs you … the work of evangelization is too important,” he said Oct. 2 at the 2014 conference of The Society for Catholic Liturgy, held at St. Mary's Cathedral in Colorado Springs.
“The ugliness of secularism demands that we proclaim the 'via pulchritudinis' [way of beauty] in the cathedrals and chapels and parish churches across the country,” he said.
The Oct. 2-4 conference included the celebration of Mass, in both the ordinary and extraordinary forms, and of Vespers with Bishop Conley and with Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs. It was among the best-attended annual conferences The Society for Catholic Liturgy has held, according to one of the group's board members.
Bishop Conley delivered the keynote address at the conference. He called The Society for Catholic Liturgy “a true sign of hope” for the renewal of liturgy.
The bishop noted that the lead-up to the Synod for Families, being held in Rome Oct. 5-19, has been “strange,” noting the discouragement brought on by some “to discard basic components of sacramental theology because of the difficulties they represent” and said he has “been baffled” by some bishops' conferences which “seem to have equivocated on doctrinal issues: cohabitation, contraception, and divorce in the face of increased secularization.”
“It seems that in some of the corners of the Church, the universal call to holiness – to greatness and to virtue – is being drowned out by a tide of mediocrity and secularism.”
It is in this context of secularization that the importance of beauty and liturgy is so essential to evangelization, Bishop Conley continued.
“Beautiful liturgy glorifies God, and awakens a natural human desire for beauty. Music and art and architecture draw men to the transcendent, and to the mystery of the beautiful Trinity.”
Read the rest on the CNA's website.
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| A view from the “Garden of the Gods” in beautiful Colorado Springs (click photo for larger view) |
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| President of the Society for Catholic Liturgy, Dr. Michael Foley (Baylor) introduces Bishop Conley |
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| Bishop Conley (Lincoln) Keynote Address |
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| Bishop Conley (Lincoln) Keynote Address |
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| Friday evening vespers with Bishop Sheridan (Colorado Springs) |
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| SCL Board Member, Fr. Uwe Michael Lang (London Oratory) gives a homily at Friday's Mass in the Extraordinary Form |
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| Dr. Michael Foley (president, SCL) and Dino Marcantonio (vice president/treasurer, SCL) serve at Friday's Mass in the Extraordinary Form |
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| SCL Member Duncan Stroik gives a plenary address during Friday's banquet |
