SCL 20th Annual Conference Report 2015 The Liturgy: It is Right and Just

Abstract

SCL 20th Annual Conference Report 2015 The Liturgy:It is Right and Just Christopher Carstens (bio) The Society for Catholic Liturgy’s 20th annual conference was held from Thursday October 1 through Saturday October 3 in New York City. Entitled “The Liturgy: It is Right and Just,” the conference included presentations, discussion, and workshops on matters of liturgical language and translation, the virtue of religion, social justice, and appropriate art, architecture, and music for the liturgy. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone (San Francisco) delivered the keynote address, “We are Bound to give Thanks to God Always: Liturgy that is Right and Just” on Thursday night, October 1, at the Union League Club to nearly 50 participants. Friday began with Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite celebrated by Archbishop Cordileone at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, the site of all conference liturgies. Assisting at the Pontifical High Mass was the Basilica’s Schola Cantorum. Dr. Michon Matthieson opened the conference presentations at the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture with her presentation, “The Divine Liturgy: ‘The justice of Christ become fruitful’.” The day’s remaining presentations included Fr. Thomas Buffer, “The American Liturgical Movement, Social Justice, and Liturgical Change;” Fr. Innocent Smith, O.P., “Misericordiam et judicium cantabo: Liturgical Prayer and the Theology of Mercy in Thomas Aquinas;” Fr. Uwe Michael Lang, “Eucharistic Origins Revisited;” Christopher Owens, “Just Worship: The Necessity of Divine Revelation for Perfection in the Virtue of Religion;” Fr. Nicholas Zientarski, “Lumen Christi: Christ, Candles, and the Dignity of the Catholic Liturgy;” Fr. Daniel Cardó, S.C.V., “The Crucifix and the Altar.” Presentations for the Pastoral Track were from Dr. Jennifer Donelson, “Tone Deaf Priests: A Figment of the Imagination? A Guide to Achieving a Fully-Sung Liturgy in the [End Page 356] Parish;” Dr. Denis McNamara, “From Brown Brick to Jeweled Walls: Building the Council’s Heavenly Vision;” and Jonathan Ryan, “Encouraging the Young Organist.” Following the day’s presentations, SCL members gathered for the annual business meeting. The first significant agendum was the election of three new members: Fr. Paul J. Keller, O.P., Fr. G. Pierre Ingram, and Dr. Michon Matthiesen. Outgoing members were Michael Foley (President), Anthony Lilles, and Denis McNamara. Both remain on the board as ex-officio members: Dr. Foley as past president and Dr. Lilles as 2016 Conference Organizer. The new Board convened shortly after this meeting and selected Dr. Jennifer Donelson as Vice-president/Treasurer to serve alongside incoming President Dino Marcantonio. As Vice-president and Treasurer, Dino Marcantonio anticipated the Society’s 501(c)3 application for tax-exempt status to be received and confirmed in the near future. Fr. Michael Lang, the Editor of Antiphon, expressed his very favorable opinion of Sheridan Press, which had recently been engaged to print and distribute the Society’s journal. Dr. Jennifer Donelson reported ongoing progress on the Society’s website and Facebook page. To conclude the meeting, Dr. Foley announced the 2016 Conference, “Liturgy and the New Evangelization” would take place in Los Angeles, principally at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Archbishop Cordileone presided at Vespers in the Extraordinary Form. Dinner followed, and the day’s events concluded. Mass according to the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite began the following day at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, with the choir from St. Joseph Seminary, Dunwoodie. Saturday’s plenary address, “Gregorian Chant as Dignus et Justus,” was offered by Dr. William Mahrt at the Sheen Center. Subsequent presentations were given by Dr. Robert Fastiggi, “The Ontological Basis for the Rightness of the Eucharistic Sacrifice according to the French Oratorian, Chalres de Condren (1588–1641);” Fr. Joseph Previtali, “Thomas Aquinas on the Justice of the Liturgy: The Virtue of Religion;” Fr. Paul Keller, O.P., “Zeal for Your House Consumes Me: Embracing the Asceticism of the Liturgy of the Hours;” Fr. Brian Kromholtz, O.P., “It is Right to Mourn;” Taylor Bartlette, “The Liturgy’s Role in the Development of Virtue;” Christopher Carstens, “The Language of Man, of the Trinity, and of the Liturgy: The Right Consonance of the [End Page 357] Word;” Brandon Otto, “The Debt of Glory and...