Towards a Theology of Liturgical Reconciliation: Views from the Pews

More than fifty years after the liturgical reform, tensions remain in the Catholic Church over the Old and New Rites – tensions that theologians and liturgists have not been able to resolve. Following Pope Francis’s calls to liturgical unity and synodal listening, in 2022 the Centre for Ecclesial Ethics at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge held the ‘Views from the Pews’ webinar to ask lay Catholics for their experiences. Which form of the Roman Rite do they prefer and why? Theologians were then asked to respond.

Here we publish a rich conversation of liturgical reconciliation: the testimonies, the theo­lo­gians’ responses and summaries of the ensuing discussions with our lay participants, which provide often-surprising resources for liturgical reconciliation, especially in the area of liturgical anthropology. The story is brought up to date with a review of more recent church documents and a reflection on the challenges and opportunities for liturgical reconciliation afforded by new currents in the Church and in society.

Praise for Towards a Theology of Liturgical Reconciliation

‘This book is an impressive exercise in applied synodality. It records how “voices from the pews”, theologians, clergy and lay Christians listened carefully to each other on a controversial topic. Deep listening allowed each person to share their liturgical experience, especially their preferences and fears. The methodology fostered mutual understanding in a quest for harmony while accepting diversity within a shared communion. It could easily be followed in considering other issues that threaten the unity of the Church.’ — Fr Vivian Boland OP, Professor Aggregatus, Pontifical University of St Thomas, Rome

‘Catholics have been asked to pursue practices of listening, dialogue and discernment in order to foster not only reconciliation but mission to a hungry and wounded age. This book contributes deep insight to that ecclesial and academic task.’ — Professor Anna Rowlands, St Hilda Professor of Catholic Social Thought and Practice, University of Durham

‘The Mass is the source and summit of all that we are and do as the Church. This publication is an important and sensitive contribution towards the building up of unity and peace within the Church as it explores more deeply the question of liturgical unity and diversity and how people’s lives have been and are being formed by the celebration of both the Ordinary and Extraordinary forms of the Liturgy.’ — The Rt Revd Alan S. Hopes, Bishop Emeritus of East Anglia

This volume is edited by Dominic White OP and contains contributions from Rev Dr Liam Hayes, Canon Dr Robin Gibbons, Professor Medi Volpe, Archpriest Paul Elliott and Sr Marie Trainar OP.