A Biography of Bugnini Paints a Startling Picture

The Catholic Herald (UK) ^ | 1/31/19 | Fr. Dominic Allain

[marshmallow]

Many facts once dismissed as conspiracy theories are shown to be historically accurate

For Christmas I was given a copy of the newly translated biography of Annibale Bugnini, architect of the Novus Ordo Mass – and hero or éminence grise of the Council’s liturgical reforms, depending on your viewpoint. It is difficult not to tend towards the latter, though I don’t think the author intends it so.

Startling things emerge: many facts once dismissed as conspiracy theories because they were originally reported by those who opposed some reforms are here held to be historically accurate, perhaps the most notorious being the revelation that Eucharistic Prayer II was substantially composed in a Roman trattoria, since its authors were given only 24 hours for the task.

The tenuous thesis that the liturgical landscape of today is a direct outcome of the Council Fathers’ deliberations doesn’t survive a reading of this book. I suppose it is possible that the Holy Spirit, who blows where He wills, can work through the manipulations of committees, but it seems it is to such manipulations that we owe much of the reform. Consider the following facts recounted in the text.

When Pope John called the Council he set up an ante-preparatory commission to survey the world’s bishops. The replies to this committee (of which Mgr Bugnini was the secretary) reveal a desire to reform the liturgy. In what sense? Out of 2,109 responses from bishops, just three expressed the desire to restore Communion under both kinds. There was a sizeable demand for limited use of the vernacular, but only one French bishop wanted the entire Mass in French. Cardinal Montini (later Pope Paul VI) argued forcibly for “an extended use” of the vernacular, saying that “unless we do so the faithful will leave the churches.’’

In fact.....

[BlackVeil]

"For example, I recently visited a religious house where I was told that plainchant is banned."

I am surprised that the religious house in question still exists. Most of those who took that attitude have already faded away.

[ebb tide]

Ping

[John Locke]

The page doesn’t load for me. All I see is a request to “accept” cookies, but the site sets cookies anyway, whether I accept or not. Not, I would have thought, a righteous act.