By Wesley Omondi
ABUJA, AUGUST 16, 2024 (CISA)– The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has issued a stern warning to all Catholic priests in the country, condemning the increasing occurrences of liturgical abuses observed during Mass and other sacred ceremonies.
The CBCN emphasized that the liturgy, which stands as the heart of Christian worship, is being marred by deviations and inappropriate practices that undermine its sanctity and create scandals within the Church.
“It is with deep concern and righteous indignation that we observe an alarming increase in aberrations during worship across our nation,” stated the bishops.
The CBCN underscored that the liturgy is not a platform for personal innovation or self-expression by the celebrants. According to the bishops, any priest who deviates from the established norms and traditions of the Church is guilty of a serious betrayal of their sacred duty and risks leading the faithful astray.
According to the bishops, the aberrations include deviations from prescribed prayers, irreverent handling of the Eucharist, and the inappropriate incorporation of secular music and dances into the liturgy.
“The liturgy is not a private playground for personal innovation. It is a sacred trust, handed down by the Church, which must be celebrated according to the established norms and traditions,” the bishops warned.
Condemning these liturgical abuses in the strongest possible terms, the CBCN urged all priests to adhere strictly to the Church’s directives on liturgical practices. The bishops reiterated that the altar is not a stage for theatrics, nor should the liturgy be treated as a venue for novelty.
“The faithful deserve nothing less than the true and reverent celebration of the mysteries of our faith,” they emphasized.
In light of these concerns, the CBCN has called on the bishops, who are the chief liturgists of their dioceses, to take immediate and decisive action to correct these abuses. The bishops are urged to collaborate closely with diocesan directors of liturgy and vicars to ensure that priests under their jurisdiction adhere to the Church’s liturgical regulations.
“The faithful look to you for leadership, and it is your sacred duty to ensure that the liturgy in your diocese is conducted with the dignity and reverence it demands,” the conference directed.
Furthermore, CBCN reminded priests of their sacred responsibility to celebrate the mysteries of the faith with the utmost reverence and fidelity. The bishops stressed that personal interpretation has no place in the celebration of the liturgy, which must be conducted in accordance with the teachings and traditions of the Church.
“This is not a responsibility to be taken lightly, nor is it one that allows for personal interpretation,” they stated.
The conference called for a renewed commitment to the proper and faithful celebration of the liturgy and expressed their gratitude to those priests who have remained faithful to the teachings and traditions of the Church, noting that their commitment upholds the sanctity of worship.
“The liturgy is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet, a sacred encounter with the divine, and must always be conducted with the utmost solemnity and reverence,” the conference declared.
