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The Magisterium of the Church

85 "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ."47 This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.

86 "Yet this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith."48

87 Mindful of Christ's words to his apostles: "He who hears you, hears me",49 the faithful receive with docility the teachings and directives that their pastors give them in different forms.

You have interesting opinions. However, you have no authority. Neither do the Hildebrands. The Magisterium does.

The good Doctor is one of the most brilliant theologians of the XXth Century and his widow is nearly his equal. What do their legitimate, orthodox opinions have to do with your post? They SUPPORT the Magesterium in everything they write or have written, so far as I have ever seen. They simply OPPOSE Modernism, the heresy that has infected the Church so greviously.

You are evading the question.

The Magisterium is one thing: liturgical practice is quite another. Similarly, determining an approach to ecumenical relations is one thing--and NOT protected by the Magisterium--as are the things we must hold.

So you would apply Magisterial protection to clown Masses? Or, to make it more clear: you would state that the Magisterium has endorsed the N.O., its ICEL translations, and 'altar girls?'

Ain't doctrine. Ain't dogma.

I don't question the authority of the Pope in liturgical matters--but like Hildebrand(s) am perfectly free to question the judgment which was applied. There were MANY mistakes made here--and Ratzinger (inter alia) agrees...