CIEL: its mission and rôle

CIEL (the Centre International d'Etudes Liturgiques) is becoming an increasingly prominent liturgical movement. Here, in connection with CIEL's colloqium last October, Shawn Tribe – CIEL's Canadian delegate – interviews three spokesmen of the organisation: Lt-Cdr Neville McNally, the director of CIEL UK; Dr Alcuin Reid, well known to Oriens readers for his liturgical writings; and Fr Thomas Kocik, author of Reform of the Reform?: A Liturgical Debate.

A liturgical movement ought to be characterised by, on the one hand, authentic, scholarly study of the sacred liturgy, and on the other, promoting authentic, solemn worship. “Authentic worship” should not be taken as a coded reference to one or another particular liturgical rite. Rather, we are speaking of an overall Catholic spirit of the liturgy, one which has characterised numerous liturgical rites and uses in the history of the Church, both East and West. The sacred liturgy of the Church Militant is an icon of the heavenly liturgy, an offering up of the one Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.

The Church teaches us that the liturgy is a treasure we receive, not something we are masters over. But what is this treasure? Academic study of the sacred liturgy, if properly done, enables us to appreciate the treasure better. Watered, then, by these intellectual wellsprings, our normative liturgical practice and parish worship is only destined to bloom and flourish with time and patience. CIEL takes its place in the midst of this new liturgical movement. For the first time in CIEL’s history, it hosted, this last September, its annual international colloquium in an English-speaking country. Perhaps, then, it is fitting that represented in this essay-interview are four nationalities: British, Australian, American and Canadian.

Q.: Lt-Cdr McNally, as director of CIEL UK, can you first tell us a bit about the general mission of CIEL?

Neville McNally: CIEL, the French word for heaven, is the acronym of the French name of the organisation, Centre International d’Etudes Liturgiques. The movement began in France in 1994 as an initiative to study the treasures of the traditional liturgy of the Church. Since then CIEL has organised an annual series of colloquia on the liturgy. In 1996, CIEL UK was one of the first national organisations to be established as a response to the French initiative to help disseminate the results of academic research of liturgy in the English-speaking world.

Q.: CIEL distinguishes itself as being “scholarly and non-polemical”. Can you tell us how CIEL fulfils this aspect of its mission?

Neville McNally: The source of CIEL’s scholarly activity is the series of annual international Colloquia of studies on the liturgy, of which the CIEL 2006 Colloquium at Oxford is the eleventh. The importance of the organisations’ work has been acknowledged by senior church figures, both in the local Church and in Rome.

Q.: How has the work of CIEL been received by the Holy Father and other Roman officials?

Neville McNally: The Church authorities have been very supportive of CIEL and CIEL UK’s endeavours. A number of forewords to the Proceedings have been written by curial Cardinals and senior Church figures. In 2003 Loïc Merian, the CIEL President, had the joy of being received in private audience by the late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, and was able to present him with a copy of the Proceedings.

Q.: CIEL UK recently hosted a conference in Oxford. As host, what can you tell us about this conference?

Neville McNally: For the first time CIEL UK had the privilege of hosting the International Colloquium at Merton College, Oxford, from 13 to 16 September 2006. Known as CIEL 2006, the Colloquium received papers from about a dozen academics on the theme of “The Genius of the Roman Liturgy: Historical Diversity and Spiritual Reach.” The Catholic scholarly associations of Oxford and the mediaeval setting of the College provided a wonderful context.

Q.: Dr Reid, how did you first become acquainted with the work of CIEL?

Alcuin Reid: Some French friends alerted me to its foundation back in 1995 and I purchased the first volume of proceedings – never translated into English – from the gift shop at [traditional Benedictine monastery] Le Barroux shortly thereafter. CIEL UK began its annual Masses and conferences in London in 1997 and I have been happy to attend many of them. I was honoured to be its guest speaker in 2004. I have also had the privilege of speaking at the Colloquia in Paris 2003 and Rome 2005.

Freedom to flourish

Q.: Dr Reid and Fr Kocik, what are your impressions of CIEL as an organisation and of its work?

Alcuin Reid: CIEL is loosely organised, and probably much better for that. This lack of a central “board” enables local initiatives – such as CIEL UK – the freedom to flourish. CIEL’s work is a contribution to the vital task of examining the place and nature of the Sacred Liturgy in the Church today; a question all too often ignored.

Fr Thomas Kocik: I first became aware of CIEL in the late 1990s, by way of an article in the Catholic press. If memory serves, CIEL was described as a school for the defence of the classical Roman liturgy. For too long the liturgical progressives were portrayed as having the intellectual upper-hand over their “reactionary” and “nostalgic” opponents. CIEL would change that, the article predicted. Judging from the quality of its academic work, those hopes have not been dashed.

Q.: CIEL promotes the study of the “classical Roman liturgy” (i.e. the Tridentine Mass), and it celebrates these liturgies at it conferences, but is CIEL and its work only of interest to "traditionalists" or does it have a broader audience and application?

Neville McNally: The CIEL Colloquia are open to all, whether traditionalist or not.

Fr Thomas Kocik: CIEL encompasses those who embrace the so-called Tridentine Rite as well as those who advocate a “reform of the reform.” In this context, the terms “traditionalist” and “reformist” are not mutually exclusive. In my book, The Reform of the Reform?, I propose a “traditionalist-reformist coalition of some form,” perhaps a scholarly association. CIEL, I think, fits that bill. Time will tell.

Q.: There have been rumours of pending moves on the part of the Holy Father both for the Tridentine Rite and for the reform of the reform; how might CIEL's work be important in the case of such developments?

Neville McNally: Any such changes would be very welcome of course, but they would not alter the need for study and knowledge of the traditional liturgy. In that sense, the work of CIEL could become very important.

Alcuin Reid: As I said, we shall probably not know the impact of CIEL’s work. It is simply important that that work be done. Perhaps CIEL may serve to ignite the flame of love of the Sacred Liturgy in some person who may be in a position of authority and influence many years from now. All that is in the hands of Providence.

Breaking language barriers

Q.: The Oxford conference was the first major CIEL conference in English. Is this an important development for the work of CIEL in the English-speaking world? And if so, why?

Neville McNally: The previous ten Colloquia were held in either France, or more recently Rome, and the lingua franca was French. While the calibre of the speakers had been consistently high, participation by English-speaking attendees was not always easy because of the language barrier. This year, most talks were delivered in English, but in addition, English transcripts of papers delivered in a foreign tongue were provided to English-language attendees. We also catered for French speakers by providing French transcripts for non-French papers.

Q.: Dr Reid, you gave one of the papers at the upcoming conference, what can you tell us about this?

Alcuin Reid: My paper attempted to explore Sacrosanctum Concilium’s concept of the organic development of the Liturgy. This is an important question, as some argue that Sacrosanctum Concilium itself was a betrayal of liturgical tradition, whereas others argue that its implementation was the problem. I couldn't promise more than to explore the question.

Q.: You are also known, Dr Reid, for your work on a new edition of the Fortescue and O’Connell Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described. What can you tell us of the liturgies during the colloquium?

Alcuin Reid: Lauds, Vespers and Compline were sung each day according to the Roman Rite. Solemn Mass was celebrated each day; Saturday’s Mass was pontifical. Gregorian chant had pride of place and each delegate was given a specially printed book – sponsored by Baronius Press – containing the texts of the offices and Masses in Latin and English. The organisers felt strongly that this was a liturgical conference and that as well as talking about the Sacred Liturgy we should celebrate it as fully as possible.

Q.: Do you have any final words on CIEL or the CIEL Conference?

Fr Thomas Kocik: If there is any doubt as to the power of CIEL and similar associations to effect needed change, one need only consider how traditionally-minded Catholics fared only fifteen years ago.

For more information on CIEL:

www.ciel-uk.org – CIEL UK

www.ciel-uk.org/Canada – CIEL Canada

www.cielusa.org – CIEL USA

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