COMMON LITURGICAL ABUSES
Liturgical norms are a concrete expression of the authentically ecclesial nature of the Eucharist. The Liturgy is not the property of the priest and can never be an expression of a particular parish or community or individuals. The Liturgy is the public worship of the Church.
The official publication of the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship made it quite clear. “no innovation is to be introduced to the liturgy. If something is not in the rubrics, it is unlawful, because "no other person . . . may add . . . anything [to] the liturgy on his own authority.” [Notitiae (11 [1975] 226]
“. . . [W]e are face to face with a real falsification of the Catholic Liturgy: "One who offers worship to God on the Church's behalf in a way contrary to that which is laid down by the Church with God-given authority and which is customary in the Church is guilty of falsification." [St. Thomas, Summa Theologiae, 2-2, Q. 93, A. 1.]
None of these things can bring good results. The consequences are--and cannot fail to be--the impairing of the unity of Faith and worship in the Church, doctrinal uncertainty, scandal and bewilderment among the People of God, and the near inevitability of violent reactions.
The faithful have a right to a true Liturgy, which means the Liturgy desired and laid down by the Church, which has in fact indicated where adaptations may be made as called for by pastoral requirements in different places or by different groups of people. Undue experimentation, changes and creativity bewilder the faithful. The use of unauthorized texts means a loss of the necessary connection between the lex orandi and the lex credendi. The Second Vatican Council's admonition in this regard must be remembered: "No person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove or change anything in the Liturgy on his own authority." [Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, nos. 22, 3.] And Paul VI of venerable memory stated that: "Anyone who takes advantage of the reform to indulge in arbitrary experiments is wasting energy and offending the ecclesial sense." [Paul VI, address of August 22, 1973: L'Osservatore Romano, August 23, 1973.]“ (His Holiness Pope John Paul II February 24, 1980) Source
10 Most Common Liturgical Abuses
1. Disregarding the prescribed text of the Order of Mass,
2. Interrupting the Mass,
3. Omitting the penitential rite,
4. Replacing or omitting the homily,
5. Dictating posture,
6. Dictating the manner of reception of the Eucharist,
7. Ignoring rules for reception of the Eucharist,
8. Holding hands during the Our Father,
9. Performing liturgical dance,
10. Closing the holy water fonts at some seasons.
