Posted on 04/16/2007 11:26:42 AM PDT by franky1
Admittedly, I am not a fan of returning to a Latin Rite. I am also not a fan of the happy-clappy love-ins that pass for Mass these days. The Anglicans produced a fabulous English liturgy in the 1928 BCP, which, in my view, could be used as a basis for an English Rite (that service is actually more “Catholic” than what one funds in most parishes today). Even the Orthodox have used the 1928 BCP as their “Western Rite”.
Imagine if the Anglicans (having tossed ECUSA), Catholics, Lutherans and Orthodox could agree on the same basic English language liturgy that is reverent and traditional (with minor adjustments for each group). The first three already use the same lectionary.
Well, and I say this as someone who is a member of an exclusively Latin Mass parish, the days of 100% Latin are over. It shouldn’t be 0% either, though, and there has to be a happy medium somewhere which could result in a mixed-language liturgy such as is seen on EWTN.
I’m right with you with the ‘28 BCP. We have something close in the Anglican Use:
http://www.liturgies.net/Liturgies/Catholic/RCCAnglicanUse.htm
If groups like the Traditional Anglican Communion reunite with Rome (as they are trying to do as we speak), this liturgy might well get more play.
So there is already something of a commonality among all these groups around an Anglican nucleus. I wish the Novus Ordo could follow suit, but that doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen.
Oh, Claud, thank you so much for this window into the Latin tradition. It is almost wiped out. I share your hope and prayers that attempts to destroy it will fail. I still don’t fully grasp what the liberals are so “offended” by when it comes to these ancient rites and Mass.
See, I can totally relate to that! We are required to fast from midnight (and that includes abstinance from passionate activities as well) and confession before receiving communion. Confessions are usually given during the Hours precedind the DL by 45 minutes. Some parishes offer confession at vespers on satuday night, but confession just prior to the DL are favored.
Stict fast during the Great Lent is a given, and so is bi-weekly abstinance from meats and animal products on Wednesdays and Fridays.
The Antiochan Orthodox Church in America I believe has a western-rite (Orthodox) liturgy in Latin in some parishes. It is my understanding that old Scottish Orthodox rites were also Latin-based.
I am almost positive that Latin-rite included bi-weekly absitance from meats and animal prouducts at one time and that most traditional Catholics make a sign of the cross with three fingers as we Orthodox do.
I also noticed that in the NO rite the people do not bow to insence, and that a sign of the Cross is made only at the beginning and the end of the liturgy.
I was very suprized how "Catholic" some Anglican services appear.
Of course, I stand corrected.
I didn't include Confession, but most TLM venues have Confession for at least the 30 minutes prior to Mass.
It should never have been suppressed anyway. I have never understood the radicalism of the reformers. In the name of the people they trampled on the feelings of many. many Catholics, especially the old.
Anglican worship can range from contemporary evangelical to traditional Catholic. Unfortunately, too many “Anglo-Catholic” churches engage in what many call “liturgical theater with a retro flair”. In another words, they trot out all of the Catholic trappings- more so than most Catholic parishes- but none of the Catholic policies. The priest and laity there know exactly when and how to cross themselves and genuflect, but don’t ask them about abortion or gay marriage.
When using a traditional format, we must avoid the “liturgical theater” trap. The service must have meaning and substance, not just pretty language and snazzy vestments.
There are such good signs everywhere on the horizon—and most of the bad signs come from 60s retreads who are (unfortunately) in control in most of the chancery offices but are steadly losing their grip.
I have a very dear priest friend who has experienced persecution because of his attachment to Latin tradition; he and most other traditionalists back in the 1990s and early 2000s were ardent admirers of a certain Cardinal Ratzinger. Ratzinger was one of the few Cardinals, by the way, who actually offered the Old Mass publicly in recent years and spoke out continually in favor of it. But my friend thought that the new mentality was so entrenched that it was impossible that he become Pope. The election of Benedict XVI sent shock waves throughout the Catholic world...causing progressives to shudder in horror and traditionalists to gasp in shocked ecstasy. It might not have been apparent to those who were watching from the outside and did not know him as well as we did, but traditionalists were stunned that the person who was their biggest champion within the halls of the Vatican was now Pope.
And young priests...God bless them...they are such a holy, pro-traditional bunch. Traditional orders of nuns are growing by leaps and bounds and don’t even have room for the applicants that are trying to get in. The progressive orders are aging, dying out, and not attracting any vocations whatever.
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