The Church risks turning into a historical museum and its liturgy becoming theatrical unless it is vigilant and renews itself, the bishops have warned.
In many cases, we are still speaking in yesterday’s language and using methods of the past
In a pastoral letter to mark the first Sunday of Advent, Archbishop Paul Cremona and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech took an introspective approach and boldly accepted that a programme of renewal cannot remain shelved.
“There is the need for internal renewal within the community of the Church, especially where the ‘altar of the Word’ is concerned because our faith depends upon this,” the bishops urged.
When asked what concrete steps are being proposed for this renewal, a Curia spokesman told The Sunday Times that rather than specific action this was an invitation for a new vision of looking ahead.
“The bishops are stimulating the community to start thinking along these lines of renewal,” the spokesman said.
The pastoral letter urges clergy to reverse the monotonous situation and make the message of the gospel more appealing in a culture where constant repetition can smother Christian life.
“There are situations in which ecclesiastical communities appear to be at ease with the idea of resting on their laurels and relying on their usual routine, with the result that their message is repetitive and their rituals do not change,” the bishops said.
“In many cases, we are still speaking in yesterday’s language and using methods of the past, even though we are aware of the great risk we are taking by doing so, because that language and those methods are no longer comprehended in this day and age. And this is to the detriment of the message of the gospel.
“The word of God has been rendered too cheap and we have become accustomed to hearing it... For some, prayer has become ingrained in their routine and as a result not only do they find no pleasure in it, but it also becomes a burden,” they added.
They also spoke about how even going to Mass had become customary and consequently the congregation failed to appreciate the beauty and power of the Eucharist. The last census in 2005, showed Sunday Mass attendance had dropped to 52.6 per cent.
“Some people request the bestowal of the sacraments, for themselves or for their children, as a social convention, rather than out of a genuine desire to meet Christ who can transform their lives.”
The bishops urged people to have the courage to change, even though this sometimes came at a price. When a person became too complacent he automatically stopped trying to improve his life and that of others.
“Habitualness leads to laxity, abuse and mediocrity,” the bishops said.
Overconfidence in commercial circles led to a lack of control that encouraged theft. In healthcare, there was the danger of the patient being viewed just as a mere number, if “not even a means of profit”.
At the start of Advent, the bishops invited society to prepare for the beautiful feast marking the birth of Jesus, when “the people that walked in darkness saw a great light”.