Consilium ad exsequendam Constitutionem de Sacra Liturgia

Consilium ad exsequendam Constitutionem de Sacra Liturgia
Name	Consilium ad exsequendam Constitutionem de Sacra Liturgia
Formation	1964
Founder	Pope Paul VI
Predecessor	Second Vatican Council
Headquarters	Vatican City
Leader title	President
Parent organization	Roman Curia

Consilium ad exsequendam Constitutionem de Sacra Liturgia was the temporary commission established by Pope Paul VI after the Second Vatican Council to implement the liturgical constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium. It guided the revision of the Roman Rite alongside consultations with bishops' conferences such as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Conference of European Churches, and collaborated with liturgical scholars from institutions like the Pontifical Liturgical Institute and the Vatican Library. The Consilium's work led to promulgations by the Holy See that affected sacramental rites, calendars, and liturgical languages across dioceses led by cardinals such as Giuseppe Siri and Augustin Bea.

History and Establishment

The Consilium was created in the aftermath of Vatican II by decree of Pope Paul VI to implement Sacrosanctum Concilium and to coordinate with bodies including the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Pontifical Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law, and national episcopal conferences such as the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. It succeeded ad hoc commissions that had worked during sessions of John XXIII and was influenced by theologians like Joseph Ratzinger, liturgists such as Annibale Bugnini, and historians from the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana. The Consilium operated from offices in Vatican City and coordinated revisions with publishers like Universale Edition and academic centers at Gregorian University.

Mandate and Objectives

The Consilium's mandate, derived from Sacrosanctum Concilium, was to revise the rites of the Roman Missal, the Breviary, and the sacramental books for Baptism, Confirmation, and Penance, and to promote active participation as interpreted by figures such as Dom Odo Casel and Hippolytus. Objectives included producing vernacular translations approved by episcopal conferences like the German Bishops' Conference and the French Episcopal Conference, preparing the revised Calendar of the Roman Rite, and issuing norms that would later be promulgated by Pope Paul VI and implemented under oversight from the Roman Curia and consultative input from scholars at the University of Notre Dame and the Catholic University of Louvain.

Organizational Structure and Membership

The Consilium was chaired by cardinals appointed by Pope Paul VI and included secretaries drawn from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, experts such as Annibale Bugnini who served as secretary, liturgical consultants like Louis Bouyer, and periti associated with Second Vatican Council commissions. Membership extended to representatives of episcopal conferences including the Latin American Episcopal Conference and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, scholars from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and liturgical artists and musicians from institutions like the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. The Consilium coordinated committees for translation, rubrics, music, and architecture, consulting with architects influenced by Gio Ponti and musicians linked to Gregorio Allegri's tradition.

Major Activities and Decisions

Key activities included drafting the revised Roman Missal (1969), producing the revised Liturgy of the Hours (1971), and promulgating new rites for Confirmation and Marriage under authority of Pope Paul VI and later confirmations by Pope John Paul II. The Consilium issued guidelines on vernacular usage that affected translations endorsed by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy and advised on inculturation efforts in regions represented by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines and the Indian Catholic Bishops' Conference. Decisions on liturgical music led to tensions with traditionalists associated with figures like Dom Prosper Guéranger and institutions such as the Abbey of Solesmes, while architectural guidelines influenced renovations in basilicas like St. Peter's Basilica.

Impact on the Roman Rite and Liturgical Reform

The Consilium's reforms reshaped celebration of the Eucharist across dioceses such as Archdiocese of Milan and Archdiocese of Boston, promoted vernacular liturgies in languages used by communities in Brazil, Nigeria, and South Korea, and influenced later documents from Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and pontificates of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Its work accelerated scholarly debate among liturgists at Oxford University, Harvard Divinity School, and the Université de Paris, and affected catechesis programs in seminaries like the Pontifical North American College. The resulting liturgical books became points of reference in ecumenical dialogues with World Council of Churches partners and in relations with the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Controversies and Criticism

Controversies arose over authorship and responsibility involving figures such as Annibale Bugnini and tensions with traditionalist movements led by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and institutions like the Society of Saint Pius X. Critics in forums connected to Communio and Concilium (journal) debated the Consilium's decisions on vernacularization, liturgical music, and sacramental rites, while supporters referenced directives from Sacrosanctum Concilium and later clarifications by Pope Paul VI. Scholarly critiques from historians at Yale University and University of Cambridge examined archives held in the Vatican Secret Archives, prompting ongoing reassessments under commissions established by Pope Benedict XVI and discussions in synods such as the Synod of Bishops (1985).

Category:Liturgical commissions