THE SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION IN THE WORK OF PIUS PARSCH WITH AN OUTLOOK TOWARDS THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL’S CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY A Dissertation Submitted to the Catholic Theological Faculty of Paris Lodron University, Salzburg in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Theology by Saji George Under the Guidance of Uni.-Prof. Dr. Rudolf Pacik Department of Practical Theology Salzburg, November 2013 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I owe a debt of gratitude to those who have helped me in the course of writing this dissertation. First of all, with the Blessed Virgin Mary, I thank the Triune God for all His graces and blessings: “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, […] for the Mighty One has done great things for me and holy is his name” (Lk. 1: 46-50). I express my heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Dr. Rudolf Pacik, guide and supervisor of this research, for his worthwhile directions, valuable suggestions, necessary corrections, tremendous patience, availability and encouragement. If at all this effort of mine come to an accomplishment, it is due to his help and guidance. I also thank Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Sander for his advice and suggestions. My thanks are indebted to Mag. Gertraude Vymetal for the tedious job of proof-reading, patience, suggestions and corrections. I remember with gratitude Fr. Abraham Mullenkuzhy MSFS, the former Provincial of the Missionaries of St. Francis De Sales, North East India Province, who sent me to Salzburg for pursuing my studies. I appreciate his trust and confidence in me. My thanks are due to Fr. Francis Thadathil MSFS, the present provincial, for his constant support and concern. I express my deep sentiments of gratitude to the diocese of Linz for the financial support during my study and stay in Salzburg. I thank the parish priest, Mag. Marek Michalowski, with whom I was associated in the pastoral ministry, for his brotherly love and concern. I owe thanks to the parish communities of Friedburg, Heiligenstatt, Lengau and Schneegattern for their support and understanding. During the years of my study I was accommodated in the Priesterseminar, Salzburg, so I would like to express my gratitude to the diocese of Salzburg, Regens Dr. Gottfried Leireiter and the Priesterseminar community, especially my priest- colleagues, for their friendship, support and love. I am likewise indebted to the community of Kolleg St. Benedikt and rector P. Paulus Koci OSB for the accommodation in the initial year of my study. There are other people too whose inspiration and example have been invaluable to me. I cherish with gratitude my parents, brothers and sisters, confreres, benefactors, relatives and friends for their ii prayers, support, encouragement and love. I humbly dedicate this dissertation to my beloved mother, Elizabeth Varkey (1932-2010), who was a constant inspiration and good example in my life. Saji George Salzburg, November 2013 iii ABBREVIATIONS AA Apostolicam Actuositatem AAS Acta Apostolicae Sedis AG Ad Gentes AMATECA Associazione di Manuali di Teologia Cattolica ASS Acta Sanctae Sedis CCC Catechism of the Catholic Church CIC Codex Iuris Canonici (The Code of Canon Law) CiW Der Christ in der Welt. Eine Enzyklopädie EA Erbe und Auftrag GIRM General Instructions of the Roman Missal GrEnt Der große Entschluss HlD Heiliger Dienst LG Lumen Gentium LQF Liturgiewissenschaftliche Quellen und Forschungen LThK Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche NDB Neue Deutsche Biographie NCE New Catholic Encyclopaedia PPSt Pius-Parsch-Studien RCIA Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults SC Sacrosanctum Concilium SPPI Schriften des Pius-Parsch-Instituts iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................... ii ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................ v GENERAL INTRODUCTION ............................................................................. 01 1. Context of Pius Parsch ........................................................................................ 01 2. Theme of the Dissertation ................................................................................... 01 3. Structure of the Work .......................................................................................... 02 4. Scope, Methodology and Sources of the Study ................................................... 03 PART ONE PIUS PARSCH: A PROFILE AND HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL 1. PIUS PARSCH: AN APOSTLE OF POPULAR LITURGICAL MOVEMENT .............................................................................................. 06 1.1. Pius Parsch’s Childhood and Way to Priesthood .............................................. 06 1.2. Parsch’s Early Inclination to Liturgy ................................................................ 07 1.3. Parsch as Army Chaplain: A Turning Point in His Life .................................. 10 1.4. The Post-War Period and the Glorious Time of Popular Liturgical Movement ..................................................................................................... 12 1.5. The Time of National Socialism ....................................................................... 16 1.6. The Last Days of Parsch.................................................................................... 16 1.7. The Characteristics of the Liturgical Movement that Came Forth from Klosterneuburg ............................................................................................. 17 1.8. The Minimal Programme of the Popular Liturgical Movement ...................... 19 1.9. Institutions of the Popular Liturgical Work ...................................................... 21 1.9.1. The Popular Liturgical Apostolate ............................................................... 21 1.9.2. The Liturgical Community of St. Gertrude .................................................. 23 1.10. Pius Parsch and the Bible Movement .............................................................. 24 1.10.1. Parsch’s Way to the Bible .......................................................................... 25 v 1.10.2. Relation between Bible and Liturgy ........................................................... 26 1.10.3. The Bible and the Laity ............................................................................. 28 1.11. With Gentle Tenaciousness ............................................................................. 30 2. PIUS PARSCH AND THE SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL ......................... 31 2.1. THEOLOGY OF THE SACRAMENTS IN THE WRITINGS OF PIUS PARSCH ........................................................................................... 32 2.1.1. Sacraments as Source and Means of grace ................................................... 32 2.1.2. Christ as the First Sacrament ....................................................................... 33 2.1.3. The Church as Sacrament ........................................................................... 34 2.1.4. The Liturgy as Sacrament .......................................................................... 36 2.1.5. The Holy Scripture as Sacrament ................................................................. 37 2.2. PIUS PARSCH’S UNDERSTANDING OF GRACE ...................................... 38 2.2.1. The Concept of Grace in the Writings of Parsch ......................................... 38 2.2.2. The Nature of Grace ..................................................................................... 40 2.2.3. The Holy Spirit as the Giver of Grace ......................................................... 41 2.2.4. The Influence of Matthias Scheeben in the Writings of Pius Parsch on Grace .................................................................................................... 42 2.2.5. Pius Parsch and Popular Devotion .............................................................. 43 2.2.5.1. Subjective and Objective Devotion ........................................................ 43 2.2.5.1.1. Parsch’s Criticism on Individualism and Subjectivism .................... 45 2.2.5.1.2. Parsch’s Criticism on the Shallowness of Devotion ......................... 46 2.2.5.1.3. Parsch’s Criticism on the Scantiness of Devotion ........................... 47 2.2.5.2. The Changes in the Image of Christ ....................................................... 47 2.3. SACRAMENTS AND SACRAMENTAL CHARACTER ............................. 51 2.3.1. The Sacramental Character as an Indelible Mark on the Soul .................... 51 2.3.2. The Sacramental Character and the Degree of Incorporation into the Church .................................................................................................. 53 2.3.3. The Sacramental Character and Priesthood ................................................ 55 2.3.4. The Sacramental Character and Holy Mass ................................................ 57 2.3.5. The Sacramental Character and Sinners ...................................................... 58 2.3.6. The Sacramental Character as a Strong Motive for Mutual Love ............... 59 vi 2.4. EFFECTS OF THE SACRAMENTS .............................................................. 60 2.4.1. Sacraments Foster Divine Life ..................................................................... 60 2.4.2. Sacraments Impart Holy