The Church wishes, for example, to apply Rosmini's…
““The Church wishes, for example, to apply Rosmini's invitation to 'hear loftily of God' with worthy liturgical celebrations, stripping the concept of God from the guises, at times ingenuous and caricatural, in which an agrarian and prescientific civilization had dressed it. But it is a hard job. On the right, they shout impiety and sacrilege every time an old ritual is abandoned for a new one. On the left, vice versa, novelty is indiscriminately hailed for the sake of novelty, the whole edifice of the past is merrily dismantled, paintings and statues are sent up to the attic; idolatry and superstition are found everywhere, and it is even said that, to safeguard God's dignity, God must be spoken of in only the most select terms, or there must actually be silence.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The Church struggles to modernize language about God, facing backlash from both traditionalists and progressives.
In simple terms: Church debates modernizing divine language.
Key Takeaway
Balance reverence with accessible expression.
Themes
religion
tradition
modernization
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
theological
institutional
When to use this quote
- worship planning
- interfaith dialogue
- institutional change
- public communication
Key Concepts
liturgical reform
cultural tension
Questions to Reflect On
- How can tradition honor innovation?
- What language best conveys divine mystery today?
A Different Perspective
Risk of alienating core believers.