The Obligation of Ceremonies

Obligation of the Ceremonies

The word ceremonies… signify the laws to be observed in public worship… contained in the Rubrics. Theologians it is true distinguish between preceptive and merely directive Rubrics. But it must be admitted that even the latter impose some kind of obligation. For, undoubtedly, everyone who has a share in public worship is bound by the very nature and end of worship to perform his part, not only with recollection of mind, but with grace and composure of manner.
 

The rites with which God was worshipped under the Mosaic Dispensation were, in the words of St. Paul, but “weak and beggarly elements,” compared with those with which he is now worshipped;… nevertheless God was pleased to command the exact observance of those ceremonies, and to threaten with maledictions all who would neglect them, “But if thou will not hear the voice of the Lord thy God to keep and to do all His commandments and ceremonies … all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee…” etc.

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From this solemn command and threat, and from the infinite superiority of our worship over that of the Jews, we are justified in inferring that to neglect the ceremonies in discharging any sacred function, or to make light of them, would be a great insult to God. We should never regard anything pertaining to the worship of the Almighty as of little moment, or beneath our notice. … Even Pagan priests would lose their lives rather than omit or hurry over any part of the ceremonies which regulate their superstitious and degrading cult.

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 The Old Papal Mass

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Surely the Christian priest or cleric [server], whose high privilege it is to worship the true God in the truest and most perfect manner, will not consider himself less bound to the exact observance of everything which the solemnity and decorum of his sacred functions demand than did those priests, who either worshipped mere idols, or offered but a very imperfect worship [the mere blood of an animal] to the true God, consider themselves bound not to omit one jot or tittle of all that they were commanded to observe in the discharge of their office.

 

Taken from:

THE IRISH ECCLESIASTICAL RECORD. Third series. VOLUME X. – 1889