Pope Taking Ancient Traditions To Liberal Nations

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT:  The headline in a local paper recently read "Pope Tending To Visit Wealthier Countries," in what seemed like an attempted slam on Benedict XVI. The paper has a well known liberal bias, so one can easily see why it would go out of it's way to structure a headline that makes this conservative pope look less sensitive the the third-world than his predecessor. But those of us who know this pope understand his travel itinerary. Christianity in the industrialized world is virtually dead. The Catholic Church in these areas is scandal ridden, liturgically bankrupt, and in desperate need of revival. Pope Benedict XVI has made it clear from the beginning, even before he was pope, what his mission would be -- the restoration of traditional Catholicism to the liberal western world, and with that a revival of the Catholic faith...

(Inside The Vatican) - At a press conference this morning, Cardinal George Pell of Sydney in answer to a question from Andrew Rabel, an Inside the Vatican magazine journalist, indicated that at the final WYD Mass at Randwick Racecourse on Sunday, in line with older practices that have been used in the Vatican and inside Italy in recent months, communion will most likely be received by those kneeling, from the Pope.

Australia will be the first place in the world where these changed customs will be used in a papal liturgy, outside of the diaspora. This was first introduced on the feast of Corpus Christi in Rome, where a select group of worshippers received Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue, from Pope Benedict, and was continued outside of the Vatican as well, when the Holy Father visited Brindisi in June.

Australia is a country well known for lax liturgical practices following in the wake of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, and this was particularly evident during liturgies celebrated by John Paul II on visits there in 1986 and 1995....

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