Theologian Mary Healy Reflects On Papal Appointment To Dicastery For Divine Worship
'Fall in love' with Holy Scripture, Bible scholar tells Catholics.
In an interview with CNA, Professor Mary Healy of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Michigan discussed her Jan. 11 appointment by Pope Francis to the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Led by British Cardinal Arthur Roche, the dicastery advises the pope regarding the practice and promotion of the sacraments, the Mass, and other liturgies of the Latin rite. Members of the dicastery include nearly two dozen cardinals, bishops, priests, religious, and laypeople from around the world.
Healy, a native of New York, was already serving as a consultor to the dicastery. She holds a doctorate from the Pontifical Gregorian University in addition to other graduate degrees....
Healy has long called on Catholics to familiarize themselves with the Bible and served as general editor of “The Great Adventure Catholic Bible.” She is also a consultant to the Michigan-based Renewal Ministries apostolate, dedicated to evangelization and renewing the Church...
CNA: Given that there has been great debate since the council on reforms to the liturgy, what will be your role in the dicastery?
Healy: As far as I know, the dicastery is not currently working on any reforms to the liturgical rites themselves. Rather, the focus is on providing what Pope Francis called for in Desiderio Desideravi: the liturgical formation of all Catholics so that they can enter more deeply into the liturgy and experience its transformative power in their lives.
My role will be to contribute to this effort. Of course, as a layperson, I (and the other new lay member, Donna Orsuto) have a unique perspective: not that of an ordained minister who celebrates the liturgy “in persona Christi” but that of a member of the congregation who exercises the common priesthood of the faithful. I think it’s beautiful that the dicastery will now have these complementary perspectives.