The site Petrus has an interview by Bruno Volpe with the new Master of Ceremonies, Msgr. Guido Marini, who has replaced Archbp. Piero Marini.
My translation:
CITTA’ DEL VATICANO – He’s only just arrived in the Vatican: with a marked Genovese accent, at 42 years old, raised in the school of Giuseppe Card. Siri and a faithful collaborator of Archbishops Dionigi Tettamanzi, Tarcisio Bertone, and Angelo Bagnasco, the new Master of the Pope’s liturgical ceremonies Msgr. Guido Marini, successor of the homoynous Piero, speaks for the first time after the bestowal of this prestigious role and does so with
Petrus.Monsignor, above all, welcome and I hope your work goes well…
GM: Thanks for that good wish, I really need it. You know, I have only been in Rome a short time, and I am looking around, I am taking it in, and I am thinking to myself: there is a lot to do and take care of, believe me.
So, we go from one Marini to another: what do you say to Piero, your predecessor?
GM: From my heart I thank him. He has given a lot to the Church, has served two Popes, and I am here only at the beginning of my service.
It’s been called a difficult job…
GM: Clearly.. The life of every Master of Ceremonies for the Pope is frought with problems. We are in the limelight, and we can’t allow here the luxury of making huge mistakes.
Many hold that you were called up because, liturgically, you are more sober and traditional than [Archbp.] Piero Marini. But what is your concept of liturgy?
What the Church wants and teaches, no more, no less. I am not the sort of person who looks for novelities or oddities. I might seem banal, but the liturgy needs respects for the rules dictated by the Church, and I don’t see any reason why I should ignore them.
It’s said that in Genoa, whee you have been working till now, that the liturgy was so well cared for, solemn and elegant, without flights of fantasy…
But the liturgy is that way by its own nature. Let me repeat: No one can set aside the Church’s liturgical norms. The Mass is a gift, a grace, not a show. Therefore, no sort of fabrication, but absolute respect for the liturgical norms.
Pope Benedic XVI, in addition to being a very great theologian, it also a subtle liturgist. He gives great importance to the liturgy, correctly executed…
To collaborate with the Holy Father will be a grace for me. The popularity of the Pope is in full view of everyone, as his preaching of the truth and his courage. Insofar as concerns the liturgy, I entirely share the Pope’s position: Mass is sacrifice.
In your opinion, have there been liturgical abuses recently?
You know, the Church is big. But, as the same Pontiff has himself acknowledged in his letter explaning the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, there have been abuses and outlandish interpretations. All I can say is that, for sure, I will not be the author of any fabrication, and I will limit myself to apply scrupulously the rules existing today.
On that note, what do you think about the Motu Proprio that derestricted the Mass with the "Tridentine rite"?
I agree with the Motu Proprio 100%, as an act of common sense, justice, freedom and farsightedness.
Something to notice here is that the new MC is very much in favor of "freedom", but freedom within the structure of the rules, the rubrics, the legislation. In a sense, the issue of adherence to "rules" suggests a strong understand the connection between faith and prayer. What we believe has a reciprocal relationship with what we believe. This is the lex orandi lex credendi principle, so much at the heart of the Church in every sphere of its life, in all corners of the world.
Note also that while he didn’t say anything critical of his predecessor, he is also demonstrating that there is now a completely different approach being applied.
Don’t be looking for innovations. I mean that in two senses: I suspect he will not abruptly change everything in the papal ceremonies. That just doesn’t sound like something Pope Benedict would do. Remember that in his liturgical writings Joseph Ratzinger knew we must take a gentle approach to correcting things, not an abrupt approach. However, certain things will gradually start to shift in a new direction. That shift will begin right away, but not in an abrupt way.
