Vortex Ping!
Dont know enough about Pre Vatican II to discuss!! Have to go do some reading!
I had a friend in the 90s who said that the Church would decline in numbers and that all you could really expect in terms of people who truly understood, believed and committed to their Catholic faith would be a smaller remnant. I had a hard time grasping that since there are millions upon millions of baptized Catholics. But I get it now, in terms of American Catholicism. The “remnant” is lively and faith-filled. The rest of the people, not so much. More like being Catholic when you need to have a pretty place to get married.
“Pax dominus vobiscum, eccom spiritu tuo...” I remember hearing the priest’s singsong version of this every Sunday back in the ‘50’s.
I think there is a change in the wind. It won’t be back to pre-Vatican II; it won’t be BACK to anything. I hear wonderful things from Kenya and Uganda. I see wonderful things in the Dominican studentate and elsewhere.
Yes, the touchy-feelies will hang on. Some.— like Pelosi, Biden, Kaine — will betray us. But I think the Church is rising from sleep.
The article , quite understandably, focusses on internal - RCC personnel and practices. However, it’s helpful in trying to understand this to consider also the larger picture. The “liberalized” or left-wing Protestant denominations have seen a decline which is, if anything, even more pronounced as the RCC. Almost the same with “reform” Jewish congregations - poor participation rates. There is good strong participation and growth going on -— but pretty much only on the more Bible- based Protestant and Jewish denominations. Not in the more “liberal” worldly, leftist churches. Conclusion: lots of people may want leftist politicians in government, but many of them do NOT want leftist politicians running their churches and synagogues. These millions of people still recognize or believe that God is not a communist. Or? Your thoughts most welcome, that’s the best I can do now , ha!!
The Mass was in Latin. and more formal than today. Midnight High Mass, Catholics followed the Mass with a missal with Latin on one side and English on the other. It was quieter as I do not remember a choir. The altar boys rang the bells at key moments. Greek was spoken: Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison
HOC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM. FOR THIS IS MY BODY.
Going to Catholic school, we knew everyone and there was a real community.
As a youngster I had the opportunity to participate in the Midnight High Mass and installation of an Abbot. Very formal and holy.
We do have one parish that offers the Latin Mass and the High Mass in Latin.
Everyone should have the opportunity to experience this Mass.
Spot On! and I believe we are now at a point that the Humbling is near.
Thanks!
I converted over 2 decades after that critical year but I converted out of books before I went to see a priest. The new church was a bit of a shock but I recovered and entered. When I am somewhere that there is an Eastern Rite parish I go to mass there. It doesn’t change with the whims of certain bishops and renegade popes there.