Liturgical Renewal

Some people think that liturgical renewal means the removal of kneelers from church pews, the knocking down of altar rails or the positioning of the altar in the middle of the sitting area of the people. The Church has never said any such thing.
— Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Address to the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (2003)

Unfortunately the Church never said anything to prevent the removal of kneelers from church pews, the knocking down of altar rails or the positioning of the altar in the middle of the sitting area of the people. The Counter-Reformation had ended.

“All right,” replied Fr. Benedetto, “we will do everything as you have said. Starting tomorrow, we will celebrate the Mass and the entire Office in Italian.”

Then we went from words to actions. One monk suddenly discovered he was a poet, another a translator; all of us became matchless connoisseurs of songs and musical scores.

Fr. Benedetto, for his part, wanted to show everyone a great sign of his courage by permitting the altar to be removed and another constructed, facing the people. The die had been cast.

— Guido Innocenzo Gargano, That Night, at San Gregorio. . .