|Interview With Professor of Chaldean Liturgy
VATICAN CITY, 22 JAN. 2006 (ZENIT)
The Chaldean Church, whose
patriarch resides in Baghdad, Iraq, takes pride in its ancient liturgy
which uses the same language Jesus used.
In November, the Chaldean liturgy underwent a reform following a special
synod in Rome.
To assess the extent of the reform, ZENIT interviewed Monsignor Petrus
Yousif, professor of Syro-Chaldean patrology and Chaldean liturgy at the
Pontifical Oriental Institute and the Catholic Institute of Paris. He is
also the parish priest of France's Chaldean community.
In this interview, Monsignor Yousif, consultor of the Special Liturgy
Commission for the Oriental Churches, shares his insight into the
Chaldean rite, which uses Aramaic.
Q: Let's start at the beginning. What is the Chaldean rite?
Monsignor Yousif: It is one of the five principal Oriental rites, which
are Antiochian, Alexandrian, Byzantine, Armenian and Chaldean. The rites
have their own structure and texts.
The Chaldean rite is used by Chaldeans, Assyrians and Malabars.
Q: When did this rite begin and what are its characteristics?
Monsignor Yousif: Some elements date back to the third century, as the
anaphora of Addai and Mari. The rite was born in Mesopotamia. We are
talking about the beginning of the fourth century. And, in the mid
seventh century it was organized by Mar Ishoyab III.
Q: Do they really use Jesus' language?
Monsignor Yousif: Yes, Aramaic, pronounced as Jesus pronounced it. It is
a Semitic language.
The Mass has four biblical readings: two from the Old Testament and two
from the New. The rite is sober. There is much singing. In general the
Lectionary originated in Jerusalem.
The liturgical prayer distinguishes between the so-called cathedral
morning and afternoon; and the "monastic"
the remaining hours.
Q: Is there an Orthodox Chaldean rite and a Catholic Chaldean rite?
Monsignor Yousif: The rite is the same for the Catholics and the
Assyrians, called improperly "Nestorians."
Q: Where are Chaldeans found in the world?
Monsignor Yousif: The Chaldeans are in the five continents and practice
their liturgy with freedom, using their language and translating it to
the local languages if necessary. There are 5 million in the world.
Q: In what does the liturgical reform consist, approved by the Chaldean
Synod in Rome?
Monsignor Yousif: The reform of the Mass was approved which in turn
dates back to the beginnings and makes this venerable liturgy accessible
to our time.
The text is clearer and more compact and it has, as a principle, the
priest turning to the people when the people are being addressed, and
when speaking to God, the cross is again gazed upon because it is Jesus
who has the Father's face.
Q: How does the Chaldean rite differ from the Roman Catholic rite?
Monsignor Yousif: There are several differences: some details of the
Mass, such as the epiclesis, the invocation to the Holy Spirit which
closes the anaphora or Eucharistic prayer, invoking the Spirit that he
may sanctify the gifts of the "bread and wine."
Q: And the sign of peace?
Monsignor Yousif: Indeed, the exchange of peace is also different. In
this rite, the priest is made to take the chalice in his hand and give
it to the deacon, who receives it with both hands and takes it to the
faithful, who exchange it in the same way. Peace comes from the altar,
which is the altar of reconciliation.
The third difference is that the Our Father is recited at the beginning
and at the end of the Mass, inserting in the first part the seraphic
hymn of Isaiah: Thy Kingdom come, holy, holy, holy.
Moreover, the liturgical prayer is different from the Latin because the
cathedral prayer is different from the monastic, that is, in the Latin
rite the hours terce, sext and none are recited, in addition to vespers
and lauds. Instead, in the Chaldean, the people take part only in the
morning and at vespers.
Q: What is the role of deacons and women in the Chaldean rite?
Monsignor Yousif: The deacon leads the community for proper
participation in the Mass.
The role of women is to assist the priest in the baptism of adult women
and in the mission of education of families: they are called
"deaconesses," but there is no ordination of deaconesses as such, that
is, with the "gift of the Holy Spirit," though there is a consecration
in which the deaconess commits herself to the service of the Church.
Q: Are there vocations in your Church?
Monsignor Yousif: Despite the difficult situation in Iraq, we have a
good number of seminarians and the faithful are very rooted in their
In case of need, well-trained married laymen may be ordained as priests.
At present there are a dozen "viri probati."
Q: Therefore, it can be said that the Chaldean rite is very alive?
Monsignor Yousif: According to the Second Vatican Council, it is a good
thing that we remain faithful to our rite, and we are called to give
testimony of it because of its antiquity, originality and richness, as a
treasure that is part of the patrimony of the universal Church and of