Liturgical inculturation functions effectively as a form of evangelization when it allows local populations to recognize that Christ is not a stranger to their culture, according to Bishop Aurelio García Macías, undersecretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Addressing 49 newly appointed bishops on September 4 during a formation course organized by the Dicastery for Evangelization at the Pontifical Missionary College St. Peter the Apostle, the Vatican official outlined the boundaries between authentic cultural integration and liturgical distortion.
The True Meaning of Liturgical Inculturation
Addressing the assembled prelates, Bishop García Macías emphasized that true inculturation goes far deeper than superficial changes. According to the Vatican official, introducing a traditional song, adding a dance, utilizing a local musical instrument, or simply translating a text does not constitute genuine inculturation.
Instead, adaptation occurs organically through a process akin to osmosis when the mystery of the liturgy genuinely meets a culture. The Gospel embraces what is authentically human, true, good, and beautiful within a specific society while simultaneously purifying and transforming it. “Every culture needs to be evangelized,” the Spanish bishop stated, noting that every society contains both the semina Verbi and the wounds of sin.
Did you know? This year’s educational program for recently appointed bishops is coordinated by the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches), focusing specifically on the subject “Servants of Communion in the Church.”
The Three Major Risks Confronting Prelates
In his presentation titled “The Liturgy in the Episcopal Ministry. Continuity and Newness in the Liturgy in the Context of First Evangelization,” the undersecretary warned church leaders to guard against three specific pitfalls:
- Unnecessary innovation: Citing the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium (paragraph 23), the prelate reminded bishops that no new elements should be introduced unless a genuine and proven benefit to the Church requires them.
- Syncretism: This risk remains particularly sensitive in regions where traditional religions remain culturally very much alive.
- Folklore: The liturgy is not a cultural performance. Cultural elements belong in worship because they serve the mystery being celebrated, not merely because they are picturesque.
Citing the 1994 instruction Varietates legitimae (paragraph 53), the bishop reiterated that translating liturgical books faithfully into the local language serves as the first significant measure of inculturation.
The Bishop’s Role: Pastor Over Liturgical Police
Expounding on the duties of an ordinary regarding the sacraments, García Macías maintained that a prelate must function as the «liturgo» of his local Church and, for this very reason, take primary charge of its liturgical life rather than operating as a “liturgical policeman.” Leaders must possess the courage to promote genuinely beneficial practices while curbing those that lack maturity. “Not all prudence is fear, and not all innovation is courage,” he noted.
Furthermore, the prelate stressed that every local celebration connects directly to the universal Church. The faithful gathered for even the humblest rural Mass remain united to their own prelate, and through him, to the entire body of bishops and the Roman Pontiff.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is liturgical inculturation according to the Vatican?
It is the process where the Gospel encounters a culture, embracing and transforming what is authentically human without reducing worship to mere folklore or dance.
Who organized the formation course for new bishops?
The course was organized by the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches).
What document governs liturgical adaptation?
Key guidance comes from the Vatican II document Sacrosanctum Concilium and the 1994 instruction Varietates legitimae.