The Battle Over the Mass [Catholic Caucus]

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[Salvation]

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The Battle Over the Mass

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February 22, 2007

Why is such a battle over the Mass occurring now, 40 years after the Second Vatican Council? Because Benedict XVI wishes to restore what has been lost.

Pope Benedict XVI, against the opposition of many, is preparing to issue a "motu proprio," or personal decision, allowing wider celebration of the old Mass. We applaud his decision and urge him to publish it quickly. The time has come for the restoration of the perennial liturgy of the Church. It has been too long since the sublimely beautiful and holy liturgy of our ancestors, and of our own youth, was abandoned for light and transient reasons.

Cardinal Jorge Medina Estevez has stated publicly that the document's publication is imminent, so it would not be surprising if the document were issued even before this issue of Inside the Vatican appears. It would be good if it were so.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, a "motu proprio" is "the name given to certain papal rescripts on account of the clause motu proprio ('of his own accord' or 'by his own decision') used in the document." The encyclopedia continues: "The words signify that the provisions of the rescript were decided on by the Pope personally, that is, not on the advice of the cardinals or others, but for reasons which he himself deemed sufficient... A Motu Proprio was first issued by Innocent VIII in 1484. It was always unpopular in France, where it was regarded as an infringement of Gallican liberties, for it implied that the sovereign pontiff had an immediate jurisdiction in the affairs of the French Church. The best-known recent example of a motu proprio is the instructions issued by Pius X on 22 November, 1903, for the reform of Church music."

There are those who have argued that such a papal decision will "cause confusion," will be "too abrupt." But the decision which caused our current confusion was the decision after the Second Vatican Council to change the Mass, abruptly. That decision was taken virtually overnight, without consultation with the faithful around the world. And so let the return of the old Mass be brusque, let it come quickly and decisively, as the banishment of the old Mass was quick and decisive.

Pope Benedict has argued that the profound root of the ecclesial crisis of our time is liturgical, that the crisis of the sense of the sacred, the crisis in the sense of God's presence, which has characterized our time, is a liturgical crisis. If he acts now to restore the old liturgy, he will be coherent with everything he has been saying and writing for 50 years. A decision to delay the document, or set it entirely aside, would be out of keeping with his own expressed convictions over a lifetime of reflection.

The International Federation in support of the old Mass, Una Voce, on January 29 published an eloquent manifesto in support of the Pope. "There has been much speculation in the media in recent months about the expectation from Rome of a document that will grant greater freedom for the celebration of the traditional ([so-called] 'Tridentine') Roman rite of Mass," the document begins.

"There have been some highly critical comments from certain quarters, especially from the French and German bishops, who do not agree with the prospect of loosening the very tight restrictions imposed by most bishops around the world. It is a fact, for whatever reason, that these bishops oppose greater freedom for the celebration of the traditional Mass and have no interest in the opinions of the laity or even of many of their own priests who long to celebrate this ancient rite; a rite that has never been abolished and is still valid...

"In 1971 many leading British and international figures... presented a petition to His Holiness Pope Paul VI asking for the survival of the traditional Roman Catholic Mass on the grounds that it would be a serious loss to western culture. The then Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Heenan himself appealed to Pope Paul for the continued celebration of the traditional Mass. The full text of this appeal in 1971 was:

'If some senseless decree were to order the total or partial destruction of basilicas or cathedrals, then obviously it would be the educated — whatever their personal beliefs — who would rise up in horror to oppose such a possibility. Now the fact is that basilicas and cathedrals were built so as to celebrate a rite which, until a few months ago, constituted a living tradition. We are referring to the Roman Catholic Mass. Yet, according to the latest information in Rome, there is a plan to obliterate that Mass by the end of the current year. One of the axioms of contemporary publicity, religious as well as secular, is that modern man in general, and intellectuals in particular, have become intolerant of all forms of tradition and are anxious to suppress them and put something else in their place. But, like many other affirmations of our publicity machines, this axiom is false. Today, as in times gone by, educated people are in the vanguard where recognition of the value of tradition is concerned, and are the first to raise the alarm when it is threatened. We are not at this moment considering the religious or spiritual experience of millions of individuals. The rite in question, in its magnificent Latin text, has also inspired a host of priceless achievements in the arts — not only mystical works, but works by poets, philosophers, musicians, architects, painters and sculptors in all countries and epochs.

'Thus, it belongs to universal culture as well as to churchmen and formal Christians. In the materialistic and technocratic civilization that is increasingly threatening the life of mind and spirit in its original creative expression — the word — it seems particularly inhuman to deprive man of word-forms in one of their most grandiose manifestations. The signatories of this appeal, which is entirely ecumenical and non-political, have been drawn from every branch of modern culture in Europe and elsewhere. They wish to call to the attention of the Holy See, the appalling responsibility it would incur in the history of the human spirit were it to refuse to allow the Traditional Mass to survive, even though this survival took place side by side with other liturgical reforms.'"

The Manfesto then concludes: "We appeal to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 to allow the free celebration of the traditional Roman rite of Mass, the Mass of Ages, the Mass of Antiquity, on the altars of the Church."

Inside the Vatican joins its voice to this appeal

Dr. Robert Moynihan is an American and veteran Vatican journalist with knowledge of five languages. He is founder and editor-in-chief of Inside the Vatican magazine.

[Frank Sheed]

I've seen some Novus Ordo Masses that were celebrated with great reverence and some Latin Masses that were hurriedly rushed and mumbled so that one could not understand, much less 'celebrate' the liturgy. Regardless of Novus Ordo or Latin Mass, the most necessary element is to restore the sense of Sacred.

I submit that the Novus Ordo Mass is afflicted with a "horizontal" aspect or perspective that mimics Protestantism. Yes, it can be reverent and Latin can be used in it more. Sacred music can be added as well. The abuses are there, however, and they are in the person of a "presider" mentality that forces focus on us.

One need only read the text of the Tridentine Mass to see that the people are present at the Sacrifice of the Mass, that there is only one High Priest, Christ, and that the priest is serving only "in persona Christi" to confect the Body and Blood of Christ. He constantly speaks of his unworthiness and the point of adoration is re-emphasized over and over again. Even the "Last Gospel" was meant to leave us with the mystery of an enormous grace of God--the Incarnation. I would submit that I have never heard anyone refer to the Tridentine Mass as a liturgy and precious few refer to the N.O. Mass as a "sacrifice."

I know many abuses were wrought in the name of "The Spirit of Vatican II." I think this Holy Father recognizes the serious flaws in the N.O. Mass and this is why Archbishop Ranjith is being so forthright. He surely must reflect the view of the Holy Father if one has read the liturgical views of the Pope. Even John Paul II allowed for an indult and thought it would be more widely permitted. Now, it seems the quiet-spoken "Panzer-Cardinal" made Pope will have to see it through.

The changes needed for the N.O. include things like architecture which refocuses on the vertical dimension, on the return of the tabernacle to the center of our focus, the curtailment of Sacred wine at every Mass when it was intended as an occasional thing and probably by intinction only. I could go on and on. The changeover will not happen in our lifetimes. I am fascinated, however, by the comment that a 9-year-old child loves the Tridentine Mass which agrees with things I have heard. Children are open to Mystery; at one time, we all were. I feel the N.O. lacks that very essence, sad to say--Mystery! How can we explain what is happening at the Mass? How many can imagine the saints, angels and heavenly chorus present at the moment of consecration? It is there, however. We have become to inured to the focus being on us.

[Frank Sheed]

It's true. The original intent of the N.O. was shown on EWTN for years before it was changed. Much of the Latin was maintained and the priest was ad orientam.

[Salvation]

**The changes needed for the N.O. include things like architecture which refocuses on the vertical dimension, on the return of the tabernacle to the center of our focus, the curtailment of Sacred wine at every Mass when it was intended as an occasional thing and probably by intinction only. I could go on and on.**

I could agree with these. How about the music. I would like to have that be more sacred.

[Frank Sheed]

http://thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.com/

You'll love this site. I have given it out to a number of musicians who are tired of the Oregon music in Gather and so on and their hearts all skip a beat. There is a growing force in "musica sacra" and Schola Cantora are being formed all around the country in what mimics the "home school movement."

Check the Adoremus hymnal, Salvation. It is beautiful and samples of the music are displayed. One can find it on the Adoremus website.

[Frank Sheed]

http://www.musicasacra.com/

[trisham]

Without the Latin Mass, we'd have never found our bag! :)

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What a wonderful story.

[trisham]

Great article, Salvation. Thanks for the ping!

[Salvation]

Thanks for those links. Very interesting blog.

I will get a perusal copy of Adoremus Hymnal and give it to my priest. Our music minister is keyboardist, bass guitarist and would not be open to it at this time.

Another item -- I would slowly like to get rid of the altar girl servers and make them all altar boy servers. It used to be an honor for a fourth grader to be asked to become an altar boy.

[Frank Sheed]

Another item -- I would slowly like to get rid of the altar girl servers and make them all altar boy servers. It used to be an honor for a fourth grader to be asked to become an altar boy.

It also fostered vocations, Salvation. My boyhood neighbor became a priest for that reason.

[Salvation]

**It also fostered vocations, Salvation. My boyhood neighbor became a priest for that reason.**

BTTT! If priests were smart they would start this practice IMMEDIATELY!

[JoeFromSidney]

I mean, I know I'm not the only person who's ever had to go to confession because of uncharitable thoughts about the music or other thing that should have been something that lifted me closer to God instead of causing me to sin...

My wife told me that she once spoke to the priest in the confessional about how upset she was at the loss of the Latin Mass. The priest's response was, how about me?

Priests who want to say the Latin Mass deserve our sympathy and prayers, even more than do the lay people who miss the reverance and transcendence of the old Mass.

[steadfastconservative]

I don't understand why it has to be either the Novus Ordo or the Old Mass. Why can't it be both? After all, that is what the universal indult would do: it would permit both forms of the rite to co-exist.

[steadfastconservative]

Of course, when I attended an indult Mass for three years, most of the time I couldn't even hear what the priest was saying, so I did not learn most of the prayers. I had a missal and read the translation and if I was lucky, the priest and I were on the same page, but often we were not. And, of course, you can't "read" the Mass and watch what is going on at the altar at the same time. I finally stopped going to the Tridentine Mass because I was disappointed at not being able to do anything more than to watch and listen.

Much about the old Mass is beautiful and it has a certain mystery. But I think people's attachment to it is a matter of taste more than anything.

[livius]

I submit that the Novus Ordo Mass is afflicted with a "horizontal" aspect or perspective that mimics Protestantism.

This is very true. My sister, who is a church organist and choir director, made a very interesting observation based on comments she has heard in recent years. Many people, she said, seem to think that the most important part of the Mass is saying the Our Father. She has actually heard them say things to this effect, and they all seem to think that the most central thing is some kind of warm, fuzzy glow they seem to get from this. That's why there's all that handholding and the wave at the end when the Protestant tag is said.

I think the effect of the NO is that many people have absolutely no idea of what is going on at Mass. They think it's a prayer service and they think it's neat that they're all "together" there saying the Our Father, because "togetherness" is what they come for.

[steadfastconservative]

I agree with you completely but I doubt that the traditionalists on this forum will be able to grasp such a nuanced argument.

[steadfastconservative]

Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 54: "In Masses that are celebrated with the people, a suitable place may be allotted to their mother tongue. This provision is to apply in the first place to the readings and to 'the common prayer,' but also, as local conditions may warrant, to those parts which pertain to the people, according to the norm laid down in Article 36 of this Constitution.

"Nevertheless, steps should also be taken so that the faithful may also be able to say or sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them.

"And whenever a more extended use of the mother tongue within the Mass appears desirable, the regulation laid down in Article 40 of this Constitution is to be observed."

I don't see how people who haven't read the documents of the Second Vatican Council, especially Sacrosanctum Concilium, can possibly comment at all on the changes to the liturgy which the Council decreed.

[Frank Sheed]

No one is arguing for an either or. What is being stated is that the Mass of St. Thomas Aquinas--the Pian Mass--was never decreed null and void. Therefore, there is no reason why an "indult" was needed to say it to begin with.

The Church has had many rites for centuries with the Ambrosian Rite and others among those being featured.

[Frank Sheed]

The Tridentine Mass has places where the priest says certain phrases more loudly than others. This was the signal we used to use to make sure we were "in sync" with the priest. In time, this became second nature. I think that if this had been shown to you, you would have picked it up easily.

[Frank Sheed]

I am looking at the names posting here and I don't recognize any who are traditionalists!

I, for one, attend a Tridentine Mass perhaps 6 times per year! I try to attend morning Mass at least 5 times per week. So, this is not a matter of "ours" is better than "yours!" My comments are statements based on comparing what I have witnessed at a great many parishes depending on work schedule, etc.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I've learned how to deal with the handholding. I bow my head, close my eyes, and fold my hands in prayer, often wrapping my rosary around my hands. Works every time.