Posted on 02/01/2014 1:39:19 PM PST by NYer
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SOLEMN PONTIFICAL MASS IN THE EXTRAORDINARY FORM FOR THE FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD AT THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE INFANT OF PRAGUE
02/02 at 11:00 AM ET; 02/03 at 12:00 AM ET
Bishop Edward J. Slattery of Tulsa celebrates Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form at the National Shrine of the Infant of Prague in Prague, Oklahoma. LIVE.
You’ve made public statements about problems with the liturgy. What changes would you like to see?
I would like to see the liturgy become what Vatican II intended it to be. That’s not something that can happen overnight. The bishops who were the fathers of the council from the United States came home and made changes too quickly. They shouldn’t have viewed the old liturgy, what we call the Tridentine Mass or Missal of Pope John XXIII, as something that needed to be fixed. Nothing was broken. There was an attitude that we had to implement Vatican II in a way that radically affects the liturgy.
What we lost in a short period of time was continuity. The new liturgy should be clearly identifiable as the liturgy of the pre-Vatican II Church. Changes, like turning the altar around, were too sudden and too radical. There is nothing in the Vatican II documents that justifies such changes. We’ve always had Mass facing the people as well as Mass ad orientem [“to the east,” with priest and people facing the same direction]. However, Mass ad orientem was the norm. These changes did not come from Vatican II.
Also, it was not a wise decision to do away with Latin in the Mass. How that happened, I don’t know; but the fathers of the Council never intended us to drop Latin. They wanted us to hold on to it and, at the same time, to make room for the vernacular, primarily so that the people could understand the Scriptures.
You yourself have begun celebrating Mass ad orientem.
Yes, in our cathedral and a few parishes where the priests ask me to. Most of the time, I say Mass facing the people when I travel around the diocese or when I have a large number of priests concelebrating, because it works better that way.
A few priests have followed my example and celebrate ad orientem as well. I have not requested they change. I prefer to lead by example and let the priests think about it, pray about it, study it, and then look at their churches and see if it’s feasible to do.
And it’s positive when people are thinking about and talking about the liturgy.
When people make the liturgy part of their conversation, it is a good thing. As priests and laypeople discuss the liturgy, they’ll see how important it is and how it is a work of God and not our own.
But we must approach the liturgy on bended knee with tremendous humility, recognizing that it doesn’t belong to us. It belongs to God. It is a gift. We worship God not by creating our own liturgies, but by receiving the liturgy as it comes to us from the Church. The liturgy should be formed and shaped by the Church itself to help people pray better. And we all pray better when we are disposed to receive what God has offered, rather than creating something of our own.
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National Shrine of the Infant of Prague
The beauty of the Maronite liturgy stems from its origins in Antioch where Peter served as bishop before he continued his journey to Rome. Many people forget that Jesus was born, died and resurrected in the Holy Land; He never went to Rome. As such, the first christian churches sprung up in the East.
The Maronite liturgy is older than the Latin mass, taking many of its prayers from St. Ephrem, the "golden harp". Some aspects of the rite date back to the first converts who were Jews. For example, during the consecration of the cup, the priest tips it in the 4 directions of the earth to signify that Christ shed His blood for all mankind. This action is a carry over from the Jewish liturgical practice of sprinkling the blood of the sacrificial animal on the 4 corners of the altar. You will certainly appreciate that communion is by intinction and on the tongue. There are no eucharistic ministers; only a priest or deacon may distribute communion.
Should you decide to go, freepmail me first and I will provide you with some additional information on the differences you will experience. Like the TLM, it is very reverent and follows a fixed calendar.
Pope Pius XII condemned antiquarianism.
NYer, surely your family went to Sunday Mass in the spring, autumn and winter as well, no? Yet, you only seem to recall the uncomfortable summer months.
Prove it.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1592763200/mikeaquilina-books-20
It would surprise you, I will leave it at that. Thank-you and God Bless.
I belong to a parish in which has a wonderful parish priest, does those the NO in a reverent manner and has a great sense of humor.
I was born just a few short years before the start of VC II, have very little if not any memory of what TLM was like, loves, the 3 year Bible cycle that it is based on. Right now would not be confortable about attending a TLM myself.
Everytime I go to communion, I feel much more closer to God and I thank Him for this reason at those times. Also understands how the early Christians felt as well.
What it all comes down to is, let us not argue what is the best rite. If you love TLM, wonderful, NO, wonderful, any of the Eastern Rites, wonderful also. God Bless.
The comment was not about the discomfort of summer heat. Before I explain, please tell me ... were you around in the 1950s?
Thanks for the correction.
The relevant passage starts in paragraph 63 and goes into 64:
... Just as obviously unwise and mistaken is the zeal of one who in matters liturgical would go back to the rites and usage of antiquity, discarding the new patterns introduced by disposition of divine Providence to meet the changes of circumstances and situation.
64. This way of acting bids fair to revive the exaggerated and senseless antiquarianism ...
The comment was not about the discomfort of summer heat.
Really? Then what was it about?
The TLM that you experience today, is held in an air conditioned church with microphones that enable you to follow along, even on the hottest day of the year.
It certainly seems you are focusing on the discomfort of hot summer days, NYer. Do you think it would have been less uncomfortable if you attended an Eastern Catholic rite on those hot summer days in your childhood?
Dear friend, rather than attack my response, it would be most helpful to know if you were around in the 1950s. Nothing I post will make sense without that context. Thank you for a response to that question.
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