Month: November 2024

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News Briefs

Mexican bishops clarify: there is no ‘Mayan rite’

November 29, 2024 Catholic News Agency 1
Holy Hour celebration in southern Mexico’s San Cristobal de las Casas diocese. / Credit: Courtesy of Diocese of San Cristobal de las Casas

Puebla, Mexico, Nov 29, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Mexico’s bishops have issued a statement clarifying that there is no such thing as an approved “Mayan rite” of the Mass and that the Vatican has only authorized specific liturgical adaptations for indigenous communities in Chiapas state in southern Mexico.

In a statement issued Nov. 24, the Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM, by its Spanish acronym) provided several details about the recent adaptations to the Ordinary of the Mass approved by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

On Nov. 8, the Vatican granted the recognitio, endorsing the “adaptations to the Ordinary of the Mass in Spanish” for the Tseltal, Tsotsil, Ch’ol, Tojolabal, and Zoque ethnic groups of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de las Casas, located in the Mexican state of Chiapas.

According to the CEM statement, “no ‘Mayan rite’, “Mayan altar”, “prayers to cardinal points” or “transfer of the liturgical presidency to lay persons” have been approved.

The bishops further clarified that “ritual dances during the celebration” were not approved by the dicastery but rather “rhythmic swaying of the body” performed by indigenous communities as a legitimate cultural expression.

The CEM stressed that these adaptations “do not constitute a new rite or a substantial modification of the structure of the Mass of the Roman Missal” and are applicable exclusively to the indigenous peoples indicated and not to other communities of the faithful.

What did the Vatican approve?

Among the authorizations granted by the Vatican is the ministry of the “principal,” a person recognized in his or her community who acts as a monitor at specific moments of prayer.

According to the CEM, the principal “invites the assembly to pray aloud at certain moments of the celebration,” always at the invitation of the priest presiding at the Mass and without assuming “at any time the liturgical presidency.”

Another approved modification is the “prayer of the assembly moderated by the principal,” which is performed at three points: “at the beginning of the Mass, after the greeting,” “during the prayer of the faithful,” and “in thanksgiving after Communion.”

In the latter, the prayer can be performed with body movements accompanied by music, which, according to the statement, “is not a ritual dance, but rhythmic swaying of the body.”

The “ministry of incense” was also authorized, which allows lay people designated by the diocesan bishop to incorporate “the traditional use of incense proper to the communities.”

Context of the adaptations

According to the statement, these adaptations are the result of “a careful process of diocesan discernment,” which was studied and approved by the Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM), guaranteeing “respect for both the nature of the liturgy and legitimate cultural expressions.”

The implementation of these adaptations, the bishops stated, will be optional and “will be carried out gradually” and with “pastoral monitoring of its application.” To this end, “the necessary training will be provided to priests and pastoral workers.”

The bishops concluded their statement by reiterating their “commitment to the authentic inculturation of the liturgy, always in communion with the universal Church and under the guidance of the Magisterium.”

Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel, who led the Mexican bishops’ efforts to promote these adaptations, said in a message shared with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, that “this is very significant,” since it is the second time in history after the Second Vatican Council in which liturgical adaptations were approved; the other was for the Diocese of Zaire in Africa.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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The Dispatch

What makes the religious so happy?

November 28, 2024 Catholic News Agency 2

For committed Catholics, statistics like this come as no surprise. It’s the Gospel message in a bar-graph, the Cross in a pie-chart. / Credit: Diego Cervo / Shutterstock

National Catholic Register, Nov 28, 2024 / 08:28 am (CNA).
Some might be s… […]

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News Briefs

Outgoing Australian ambassador notes growing momentum of women leadership in the Vatican

November 28, 2024 Catholic News Agency 1
Chiara Porro, Australia’s ambassador to the Holy See, presents her credentials to Pope Francis Aug. 27, 2020. / Vatican Media/EWTN.

Vatican City, Nov 28, 2024 / 08:04 am (CNA).

Heading home after serving four and a half years in the Vatican as Australia’s ambassador to the Holy See, Chiara Porro says she has seen a rise in the participation and promotion of women’s leadership in the Catholic Church under Pope Francis.  

Officially completing her term at the Vatican post on Nov.29, Porro says the pope has made significant changes to ensure both religious sisters and laywomen have a “seat at the table” alongside men in the Vatican.  

“When I arrived it was a time when the pope started to put women into leadership positions,” Porro told CNA. “What I’ve noticed over these years is that the momentum has really increased.” 

Within the Vatican, Pope Francis has appointed a number of women in high-ranking positions since his 2013 election, including economist Sister Alessandra Smirelli as secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in 2022; Sister Nathalie Becquart as undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops in 2021; and art historian Barbara Jatta as Vatican Museums director in 2016.   

“The process of synodality that the pope has started has given women — but not only women — the opportunity to be heard,” Porro said. “The synod [in October] has been really important to just show the diversity of views among women and the importance of listening to them all and having that dialogue.”

As one of 51 women ambassadors out of a total of 130 country ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, Porro shared with CNA that ambassadors regularly meet and collaborate with several women associated with the Vatican and other Catholic organizations. 

“Together we’ve tried to give support to women working in the Catholic Church, or religious women, or other groups — working in collaboration with men — to try and advance women and ensure everyone has a seat at the table,” she said.

Speaking on human rights issues — including human trafficking, protection of minors, and religious freedom — the Australian ambassador said both the state and the Church have important roles to play to promote peace and social cohesion in society. 

“As institutions we can work together to address some of these issues,” Porro said. “There are lots of areas that we’ve worked with the Vatican and I think that there’s much more that can be done — lots of partnerships.” 

The Vatican’s influence is something that I think is very critical and that states recognize,” she added.  

Having collaborated with various Vatican bodies including the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Porro has also worked closely with the Holy See’s charitable arm Caritas Internationalis “to raise the voices of the most vulnerable.”

Stephanie MacGillivray, Caritas Internationalis Senior Officer for Identity and Mission, Women’s Empowerment and Inclusion, told CNA both political and faith leaders have “significant influence on social, political and cultural norms.”    

“By working with state and faith leaders, we can ensure that women’s experiences, needs and expertise are brought to the tables where decisions are made that will affect their lives,” she said.

Although “women’s leadership, protection and respect for the human rights of women within religion is sometimes contested,” MacGillivray told CNA the collaborative work of Church leaders, faith-based organisations, and government actors is key in effectively addressing and overcoming issues that undermine the rights and dignity of women and girls in different parts of the world.

Reflecting on her work in the Vatican since first presenting her credential letters to Pope Francis in 2020, Porro expressed her “hope that the work that we’ve done over these years continues to progress.”  

“It’s really been an immense privilege and honor to serve here as Australia’s ambassador and I hope I’ve grown the relationship and been able to identify areas where we have been able to work more together and influence change for the betterment of the world and society as a whole,” she said.  

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