The Ancient Norm of the Holy Fathers (‘pristina sanctorum Patrum norma’) as a Criterion for an Authentic Renewal of the Sacred Liturgy

The highest vocation of men, as well as of all creation, consists in this: to give glory to God, the Triune God, which means to worship Him and to adore Him. Mankind, fallen into sin and wounded by original sin, needs instruction and example for a true and authentic divine worship. The holy word of God reveals to men how to worship in the right manner, indicating the example of the heavenly worship, the worship of the Angels. The fullness of revelation, and also the fullness of the revelation concerning the right manner of divine worship, was brought by the incarnate Son of God, showing us and teaching us to ‘adore God in the Truth and in the Spirit’ (Jn. 4·23). The unbroken and organic liturgical tradition of the Church, whose privileged witnesses are the Holy Fathers and the so-called Gregorian Rite or the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, always sought to worship God in such a manner, which expresses clearly the holiness and the mystery of the Divine Majesty and easily elevates the hearts o...