By Emmanuel Gandu
INTRODUCTION:
CATHOLIC IDENTITY
A Catholic is a Christian follower of Catholicism distinguished by his/her emphasis on the sacraments and belief in God the father, son and holy spirit.
Catholic identity represents a blend of faith and cultural practices that uniquely shape a person’s spiritual and moral life.
Catholic identity involves a deep understanding of the teachings of the Catholic church, active participation in the sacraments, and the living out of Catholic values.
Catholic identity is the belief in one God, who exists in three distinct inseparable persons of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Trinity) as the creator of, and sustenance of the universe.
Catholics believe in the creed, One, Holy, Apostolic church, and the making of the sign of the cross at the beginning and end of prayer.
CATHOLIC CULTURE
Culture is a set of ideas, beliefs and ways of behaving or doing things of a particular organization or group of people.
Culture is all that uniquely enhances the human mind and how it relates to the body.
Catholic culture is a diverse, and global way of Catholic life derived from the sources of church authority. It focuses on the sacraments where faith is integrated into daily existence of the Catholic community through actions like the morning offering, grace before meals, and honouring liturgical seasons. Catholic culture emphasizes family, tradition, and the sanctity of life by giving respect to authority and the teachings of the church, along with a commitment to social justice and serving the poor.
Catholic culture has a long history of contribution to art, music, literature, science and philosophy, technology, social, religious, language, legal system, marriage and family, intellectual and all other values that shapes the communal life of Catholics.
Catholic culture is not a single homogeneous entity. It manifests in various local, ethnic and regional customs, while still remaining united in core beliefs.
Catholic culture as understood in Catholic social philosophy is the totality of the Church’s:
1. Traditions (what Catholics believe)
2. Attitude (what Catholics desire)
3. Customs (what Catholics do and how done)
4. Institutions (what and how Catholics live)
Expectedly, Catholic culture has roots that transcends, that goes back centuries, of over 2000 years ago.
Even as individuals and societies differ, which invariably distinguishes one culture from another, the Catholic culture differs from the culture of other Christian denominations.
Catholic culture is the engine oil, the sap, the senew, the lubricant that nourishes the doctrinal mind of the church.
It teaches and directs towards religious perfection, how to attain desired goals, and how to face obstacles.
Therefore, a perfect Catholic culture can only be born from the spiritual atmosphere created by the coexistence of deeply Catholic Souls.
THE LITURGY
Liturgy is the way and manner religious ceremonies are performed in church, including the words used by the priest, the readings, the ceremony of the Eucharist and all other activities carried out during Mass.
The word ‘Liturgy’ comes from the Greek word ‘Leitourgia’ meaning originally a public duty, a service to the state undertaken by a citizen.
The Liturgy, then, is rightly seen as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ, a semblance of that heavenly liturgy which was celebrated in the Holy City of Jerusalem. In it, full public worship is performed by the Mystic Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the head and members. From this, it follows that every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the Priest and of his body, which is the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others.
No other action of the church can equal its efficacy by the same title and to the same degree. And so it occupies a central place in the life of the church.
For these reasons, the church guards the liturgy and protects it with liturgical law, and since the liturgy is the life – wire of the Catholic worship, the Liturgy must be protected by all means.
HOW THE CHURCH REGULATES/GUARDS THE LITURGY:
1. According to Vatican II constitution on the Sacred Liturgy No.22, the regulation of the Sacred Liturgy depends solely on the authority of the church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws as may be determined by the Bishops.
2. Bishops and Bishops’ conference have only that authority over the liturgy which is explicitly granted and so no other person, not even a priest may add, renew, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.
3. Most of these laws/instructions or set of directives are contained in the General Instructions of the Roman Missal (GIRM). Many of these clarifications/instructions have been made in other documents such as instruction concerning worship of the Eucharistic Mystery (Inaestimabile Donum).
4. On its part, the Code of Canon Law (Canon 214) stipulates that “Christ’s faithful have the right to worship God according to the provisions of their own rite approved by the lawful pastors of the church.”
5. At the request of Pope John Paul II, another document, ‘Redemption Sacramentum’ was prepared by the Congregation for Devine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments’. This document offers practical rules and norms concerning how Mass is to be celebrated and how the Eucharist is to be treated.
6. In his Apostolic letter, ‘Sacramentum Caritas’, Pope Benedict XVI stressed the importance of a proper knowledge of the General Instruction not only for priests but also for the laity.
LITURGICAL ABERRATION
The word ‘Aberration’ means forbidden, not allowed, unacceptable.
Liturgical aberration means signs and actions that are forbidden within the course of the liturgy.
Cardinal Raymond Burke in his commentary on the book ‘How to Go to Mass and not lose your faith’ written by Fr. Nichola Bux (2011) stated that “liturgical aberration/abuses damage the faith of Catholics far more than what we imagine”. According to him, “In some Churches today, when one takes a look at the aberrations that occur in our liturgical rites, one cannot but ponder if the liturgy is a private affair permitting modification to do or undo, add or subtract.”
These superfluous initiatives are what Pope Benedict XVI referred to as “restless creativity.”
There are a wide variety of liturgical aberration/abuses which detract from the holiness and reverence in the Mass.
Liturgical abuses are divided into two (2) forms: serious abuses and illicit abuses.
The serious aberrations/abuses are those which invalidate the Mass by inhibiting transubstantiation. The church is very specific about four (4) conditions required for a valid transubstantiation. They include:
1. A validly ordained male priest.
2. The priest to make Jesus physically present via transubstantiation at the consecration.
3. The valid matter which is unleavened bread and grape wine.
4. The form which are the key phrases of consecration – “this is my Body….”, and “this is my Blood….”
The lesser abuses are less serious and do not cause a failure of the consecration of the Eucharist, but they detract from the holiness and reverence in the Mass. They are many, and range from:
1. Abandonment of required liturgical vestments.
2. The Eucharist celebrated outside church without real need.
3. Disregarding the prescribed text of the order of Mass.
4. The use of private texts.
5. Proliferation and use of unapproved Eucharistic prayers.
6. Manipulation of the liturgical text for personal ends.
7. Interrupting the Mass.
8. Omitting the penitential rite.
9. Replacing or omitting the homily.
10. Introduction of hymns/songs that are not of Catholic origin.
11. Praying of individual Rosary or any other form of prayers inside the church while Mass is ongoing.
12. Praying in front of the statue of mother Mary while Mass is ongoing.
13. Mixing unblessed water with holy water, or blessed salt with unblessed salt.
14. It’s an aberration to bow before the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle or while it is exposed. Rather, we should genuflect to the Tabernacle or the Blessed Sacrament.
15. Receiving Holy Communion and immediately start singing without a moment of recollection and prayer.
16. Public Chewing of the Holy Communion like biscuits.
17. Requesting for prayers from the priest after Mass. Know that the greatest prayer was offered at Mass.
18. Walking in and out of the sanctuary during Mass by anyone except the celebrant/s.
19. Raising up hands in prayer at the same time with and like the chief celebrant (Orans posture) especially during the consecration prayers and the Lord’s prayer.
20. Use of handset, tablet or any electronic devices to read the scripture in place of the hard copy Bible during Mass.
21. Unless in emergency, do not walk through the central passage of the church. It is meant for procession. Use the side passage instead.
22. It is wrong to talk to a priest as he is in the procession to Mass or after Mass. If you do, you will be disruptive to his prayers at those moments.
23. Saying “Holy water hasn’t touched me” whenever it’s sprinkled is a sign of lack of faith. It may have touched you without your knowing.
24. Placing a child on top of the Altar during child dedication.
25. Failure to fast for at least one hour before receiving Holy Communion.
26. Clapping in praise of a “good” homily, etc.
27. Not adhering to the ‘standing’, ‘kneeling’, and ‘sitting’ requirements.
28. Not waiting for the chief celebrant to sit first before anyone else sits.
29. Leaving the church before the chief celebrant leaves.
30. Coming late to Mass and leaving before the Mass ends. Note that the Mass is one full prayer from start to finish.
Despite these guidelines, one wonders why Catholics still engage in liturgical abuses.
WHY CATHOLICS ENGAGE IN LITURGICAL ABERRATION
It is obvious that none of these liturgical aberration/abuses can bring good results. The consequences are further ignorance of mode of worship, doctrinal uncertainty, scandal, and bewilderment among the people of God.
Due to these aberration, solemnity and humility in worship is replaced by pride, service is replaced by disobedience, what should ordinarily be a source of grace becomes an occasion of sin.
Why the church still continue to grapple with liturgical aberration include the following:
1. Most of the liturgical aberration are borne out of the desire to be more solemn and holy, to be creative and pastorally appealing, and in response to the clamour of the people for something new.
2. Some of the lay faithful also search for an out-of-the-world experience, hence they yearn for experimentation.
3. Influence from other denominational modes of worship.
4. Vatican II allows for various reforms like the use of local language in place of Latin, use of local music/instrument, and other forms of inculturation. However, the Catholic church especially in Africa is fast embracing modes of worship that encourages liturgical aberration/abuses.
5. Some liturgical conditions/requirements have been relaxed eg the reduction of the fast period before receiving Holy Communion from 24 hours to one hour. Actions like these seems to have watered down the efficacy of these laws in the minds of the people.
6. Priests are likely too busy to regularly place emphasis on the teachings surrounding the subject of liturgical aberration to the parishioners/congregation, most of whom may be Sunday-to-Sunday Catholics. Therefore, organized talks like what we are currently doing goes a long way to help, but how encouraging is the attendance?
And since the laity continue to indulge in liturgical aberration, what is the church doing to address the problem?
WHAT IS THE CHURCH DOING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF LITURGICAL ABERRATION?
1. The hosting of workshops, talks and retreat like what we are currently doing goes a long way to help address the problem of liturgical abuses.
2. Catholic social teachings as the church’s body of principles provides a moral framework to build a build a strong church, just, peaceful and decent society, guiding individuals and communities to live out their faith in such practical ways that serves the common good.
3. The production of rules and regulations and guidelines like the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) etc. helps to direct Catholics on the do’s and don’ts.
4. Church leaders have severally shown concern for the increasing “menace” of these aberration in our church.
5. Out of concern for the increasing tendencies of liturgical aberration in the church, the Catholic Bishops of Calabar Province issued a communique titled “Hope does not disappoint” in January 24, 2025. They urged the faithful to be discerning and to hold on to true teachings that emanate from the teaching authority of the church.
6. In their separate reaction, both Francis Cardinal Arinze of Nigeria and Cardinal Sarah of Ghana posits that “our churches are not performance/theater halls, nor cultural or entertainment activities…..” “The church is the house of God.”
CONCLUSION
Our earthly liturgy is both a reflection and a miniature of the heavenly liturgy. It therefore becomes all important to ensure that this liturgical order/laws are complied with loving obedience. The priest being Christ representative should be in absolute obedience to the rubrics.
The lay faithful as well are duty bound to obey the priest as his direction corresponds to the mind of the church as expressed in the liturgy. The priest as teacher, is called to guide and guard the faithful to solid spiritual life through an aberration-free liturgy.
Expectedly, the work of the liturgy is our sanctification and salvation. Through it we go from sin to grace, from earth to heaven. Not only does the liturgy offer grace and salvation, it is also a vehicle of divine revelation.
Therefore, the liturgical community has the right to have the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist carried out in such a way that it seems truly as a sacrament of unity, excluding absolutely all the defects and gestures that can manifest distortion, division and factions in the church. Thus every Catholic faithful has the right to correct with discerning wisdom any observable liturgical abnormalities. This is naturally to be done in truth and charity for the common good.
There is no exaggeration therefore if we affirm that liturgy is everything for the church.
It is the soul and life – wire of the church, and so liturgical aberration/abuses must be avoided.
You and I have a duty to ensure that the church of today and tomorrow is same like that of yesterday in compliance.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY.
NOTE:
This is a Seminar/Training presentation @ Holy Family Parish Barnawa, Kaduna FOR: Barnawa Deanary Laity Council, Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna.
Date: 31 January, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
