Posted on 04/07/2011 11:15:34 AM PDT by Mary Kochan
Sure, there’s only one Roman Rite celebrated in two forms, Ordinary and Extraordinary, but let’s be honest; that’s just on paper. In the real world, the Ordinary Form comes in more flavors than Baskin Robbins. Here are just some of the choices at my disposal:
(Excerpt) Read more at catholiclane.com ...
It has never, in 20 years, occurred to me to fuss about how the Mass is done. If I’m a participant in presenting the liturgy (lector or musician), I’m focussed on doing what I’m supposed to do correctly while following the Scriptures and the prayers. If I’m in the congregation, any spare attention goes to keeping my children from disturbing everyone around us.
This writer would probably have a conniption over our Spanish Mass at St. Luke’s Redneck Evangelical Catholic Party Barn, but I think it’s heavenly.
I’m pretty much with you on that — usually trying to keep my grandkids from creating a ruckus and trying to pray and be collected myself takes about all the concentration I can muster.
But somebody has to care about it — and apparently Rome cares a lot.
Whatever Rome says is the thing is fine with me. My parish has gone from way-left, under the founding pastor before we arrived, to compliant with all directives but we kinda wish we didn’t have to, to the latest pastor, quite holy but a bit of a stump.
The Spanish-speaking congregation - aside from having an average of about 5 kids per family, which is rather chaotic - is more liturgically conservative than most of the English-speaking attendees, and the Spanish Mass text is already in line with the changes in the English liturgy, mostly. I’m not sure how “consubstantial” compares to “de la misma naturaleza del Padre,” theologically.
The first thing I do when I get to Mass, whether I’m sitting in the congregation (any language) or getting organized to lead the Spanish choir, is say, “Thank you, Lord, for letting me be here again, and for being here for me.”
I love that — that is always what I say too. As soon as I get in the pew, I look at that tabernacle and say, “Thank you for letting me be here.” I am amazed all the time.
de la misma naturaleza del Padre = of the same nature of the father, I would guess. Sounds like the point.
I’m sure there’s a Spanish word that’s precisely equivalent to “consubstantial,” since it’s a Romance language, but I don’t see how that would convey any meaning better than “of the same nature.” In English, I haven’t seen how “one in being” is theologically different from “consubstantial,” although I suppose they’ll cover it in the diocesan news before the English-language changes go into effect in Advent.
| Compare... Traditional Latin Mass |
With ... Modern Mass at your parish |
| Atmosphere of Reverent Worship: Peaceful, otherworldly atmosphere. Emphasis on individual "lifting his heart & mind to God." Members of congregation direct attention to God, not each other. |
Social, Classroom, Entertainment Atmosphere: Constant standing, sitting, amplified noise; atmosphere like a public meeting. Emphasis on "instruction." Socializing in church before & after service, and handshaking during. |
| Profound Reverence for Real Presence: Sixteen genuflections. The hands of the priest alone touch the consecrated host. Communion given only on tongue. |
Indifference, Irreverence towards Real Presence: Only three genuflections required. Lay men & women distribute communion. Communion given in hand - a practice protestants introduced to deny Christ's Real Presence. |
| Fidelity to Catholic Doctrine: Over the course of a year, presents all facets of Catholic doctrine. |
Systematic Omission of Catholic Doctrines: New prayers systematically omit references to hell, judgement, punishment for sin, merits of the Saints, the one true Church, the souls of the departed & miracles. |
| Antiquity: Bulk of Sunday prayers & their arrangement goes back at least to 300s and 400s AD. Canon essentially the same since St. Ambrose (d. 397). |
Novelty: Old Sunday prayers omitted or stripped of doctrines, and rearranged in 1960s. Only 17% of old prayers remain. Chunks of ancient Canon are now "optional." The words of consecration, Christ's own words "For you and for many" are changed. Three substitute "Canons" invented & introduced in 1960s, and still more invented later. |
| Stability: Everything regulated by precise laws to protect purity of worship and doctrine. |
Constant Change: Options, options and more options. Individual priests & parish liturgy committees get to pick, drop or invent texts to push what they think people should believe. |
| Priest is Sacrificer: Priest faces tabernacle, cross and altar (symbolically toward God). Priest performs all the actions & recites all the prayers of the Mass. |
Priest is "President", Actor: Priest faces people instead of symbolically "toward God." Priest sits off to side. His functions given away to lay men and women. |
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Thank you Steve, yes, I have seen that before. I used to be suscribed to Latin Mass magazine, in fact. The problem I have with that list is that it attributes to the Novus Ordo things tht are really abuses. Abusus non tollit usus (abuse does not preclude proper use).
The Novus Ordo can be celebrated reverently — the Pope does it! Communion in the hand is not integral to the Novus Ordo — and hopefully will be done away with.
Not sure if you are familar with Fr. Benedict Groeschel’s comments on the Latn Mass issue — he comes from a completely other angle and points out that it was people who celebrated the Latin Mass all their lives who embraced every worldy fashion of the 60 and 70s — the sexual revolution, birth control, the New Age movement, etc. Apparently all that “lifting of their mind and heart to God” and “presentation of doctrine” that was supposed to be going on really wasn’t in a lot of cases.
Was never claimed that attendance at the Tridentine Mass would preclude sin, cure cancer and halitosis or prevent fallen-away Catholics. But it is a correct Mass! (and I think some of those free souls have returned to the 1,000 year Mass minus their bad habits). Have a good weekend!
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