Marketing The "New" New Mass!

When I heard the report at the end of last week that Pope Benedict has asked the Congregation for Divine Worship to study some potential changes to the liturgy, I got very excited. Think about all the possibilities! Think about what the Mass could be, rather than what it often is. The abuses and experiments, gone! The tawdry celebration of self, gone! Latin back in its proper place! Gregorian Chant! The priest's magnificent back on glorious display!

The more I thought about it the more excited I became and the more I started wondering how would such a change be successfully introduced to the faithful? How could we not only have the faithful accept the changes to the mass, but actually desire them? To want them, need them, can't live without them?!?

Then like a light bulb, I realized there is no need to re-invent the light bulb. We should use some tried and true methods that have proved their effectiveness over generations. We should use some ol' fashioned marketing techniques to sell the new New Mass to the masses!

Now I know what you are thinking. "Patrick, we have no idea what the new New Mass of the masses will look like or even if there will be a new New Mass." I say, don't bother me with such minutiae. We need to build anticipation, we need to build hype, we need to build overwhelming demand! Therefore, let's move full steam ahead with some advance marketing!

First, we need a good product name. Fortunately, I took care of that for them the other day when I dubbed the new New Mass, Novus Ordo 2.0. I know, I know. Stroke of genius that.

But now we need a marketing campaign sell the Novus Ordo 2.0. As you know, any good marketing plan starts with good packaging. So I decided that I should to help ante-deluvian dolts in the Vatican marketing department out. Therefore I have issued, motu proprio, the first great marketing campaign of the "Reform of the Reform" era. I give you Papa Ben's Novus Ordo 2.0!

This idea is a surefire winner, don't you think? Well, I have to go now, the Pope should be calling any minute.

This just in from the summorumpontificum blog!

Pope guarantees the authentic faith that comes from above, Spanish cardinal says

This is simply an orthodox Catholic statement, one that should not raise any eyebrows.

But in this case, it comes from the Archbishop of Toledo, Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera.

Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera is rumored to have been chosen to be the new Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, according to RorateCaeli.

Here's a Google translation of biographical data from the Spanish press link:

LD (AP) was born in Utiel Cañizares (Valencia), October 15, 1945 and was ordained in 1970 in Sinarcas (Valencia), by Archbishop Jose Maria Garcia de la Higuera. In 1992, he was appointed bishop of Avila and in 1997 he was Archbishop of Granada. On October 24, 2002 he was appointed archbishop of Toledo by Pope John Paul II and takes possession of the Toledo headquarters on December 15, 2002.

He was appointed cardinal, with the title of San Pancrazio, by Pope Benedict XVI, in the Ordinary Public Consistory March 25, 2006 and is a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.

In the Spanish Bishops' Conference has played numerous positions, including that of vice president. Currently, a member of the Standing Committee of the Executive Committee and Council presidency.

The Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, founded in 1908 and named after Pope John Paul II in 1988, is responsible for everything related to the liturgy and the sacraments. The current prefect of this dicastery is Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze.

Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera has ordained priests for the ICK and is said to be a supporter and promoter of the Gregorian Rite. See the photos at this post on Fr. Z.'s blog.

Now just imagine having Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments -- with Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don continuing to serve as Secretary.

Those rumors about the reform of the Novus Ordo don't seem so outrageous any more in such a context, now, do they?

UPDATE:

RorateCaeli has a subsequent post:

It's certain
According to the most well-informed Vaticanist in this pontificate, Andrea Tornielli, Archbishop Angelo Amato, SDB, current Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will be the new Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Tornielli even mentions the probable day of publication of this indication: next Wednesday.

This means that the list of those who may be picked by the Pope for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (Prefect) is reduced to two names: Cardinal Cañizares Llovera, Archbishop of Toledo, and Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, current secret
I love watching this Pope play chess.

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