Pastoral Dimension of Liturgy

No liturgical text which does not have the appoval of the majority of the Bishops shall be imposed on the people by the Holy See. Bishops being pastors and as such in constant contact with the needs and sentiments of the people, are the best judges as to what will contribute to the spiritual progress of the flock committed to their care. A liturgical rite has its historical, structural and pastoral dimensions but the last one (the pastoral dimension) is the most important of all. At the hands of the so-called experts, the pastoral dimension often becomes a casuality. Hence they are not to say the last word on the feasability of a liturgical text. (Cardinal Pareckattil, Ernakulam Missam LIII. (1983)