Fr. Fessio: THE MASS OF VATICAN II [ And...What the Council Didn’t Say!]

Catholic Dossier ^ | Father Joseph Fessio, S.J., is publisher of Catholic Dossier and editor of Ignatius Press

[Polycarp]

So, the Council did not abolish Latin in the liturgy. The Council permitted the vernacular in certain limited ways, but clearly understood that the fixed parts of the Mass would remain in Latin. Again, I am just telling you what the Council said.

[heyheyhey]

Paragraph 23 continues: "And care must be taken that any new forms adopted should in some way grow organically from forms already existing." Organic growth - like a plant, a flower, a tree - not something constructed by an intellectual elite, not things fabricated and tacked on, or brought back from ten centuries ago, or fifteen centuries ago, but an organic growth.

Great quote! Things turned disastrous wherever there was lack of that "organic growth" in implementation of the Council decrees.

[Dajjal]

So, the Council did not abolish Latin in the liturgy. The Council permitted the vernacular in certain limited ways, but clearly understood that the fixed parts of the Mass would remain in Latin. Again, I am just telling you what the Council said.

Well then, clearly the Council was not in touch with the Spirit of Vatican II!!!

[Polycarp]

I'm gradually becoming convinced that Father Fessio's banishment was not entirely unjustified.

I sincerely hope you simply forgot the "/sarcasm" tag with this comment. Fr. Fessio's comments here are 100% correct. I thought you understood these matters better than this.

[Domestic Church]

Perhaps the Spirit of Vatican II should not be capitalized...perhaps it is as smoke filled as the Sanctuary that Pope Paul VI spoke about back then. The real Spirit of the Vatican Council has been busy holding us to the Sacraments while all the commotion ensued.

Given how slowly the Church has acted over time on important issues...discerning carefully, how the grist wheels of God grind slowly, it has always bothered me how radical the changes were back in the 60's and how forcefully and quickly they were implemented without concern for the faithful's adjustment(almost to weaken and scatter the faithful) ...the hallmarks of communist behavior. It just didn't seem like the Catholic way (a gentle slow introduction and transition) to proceed.

It is a Eucharist Sign of the power of Divine Grace that we have survived to the point of being able to reflect on this now, especially with the recent scandals underfoot.

[redhead]

I have this lecture on tape. Thanks for the hard copy. Bumping!

[Snuffington]

Terrific article! Thanks for posting.

[ultima ratio]

The so-called "normative Mass" was brutally imposed on the faithful, first in Latin, then in English, without official abrogation of the old Mass which was muscled-out by systematic punishment of priests who dared hold onto it. Once the liturgy went, a cultural revolution followed. Our devotions were tossed out, along with kneelers and communion rails, statues and crucifixes. Catholic colleges and universities weeded out books published before Vatican II. Finally, as the crowning insult, the revolution began to attack our doctrines--first by suppression and subterfuge, then openly. When some Catholics banded together to preserve their traditions, they were openly smeared in diocesan newspapers and persecuted. This was done with the full knowledge and acquiescence and participation of our last two popes.

[TotusTuus]

This essay is based on a lecture on the liturgy given by Father Fessio in May, 1999.

Hey, I think I was in attendance at this lecture!

Coo...ool!

[TotusTuus]

Perhaps the Spirit of Vatican II should not be capitalized...

"The spirit of the law is found in the letter of the law" so that:

The "spirit" of the Council is to be discerned by reading the "letters" of the Council.

That is what I always tell the dissenters who try to justify their abuses by the "Spirit of Vatican II" line. Of course, it never goes anywhere directly, but hopefully it catches in the minds of younger un-catechized individuals whom, one can hope, would "ponder it in their hearts" at a later time.

[Domestic Church]

Good words! Now if we can only get them to read the actual documents.

[saradippity]

I too thought that you had made a sarcastic remark.But it seems you meant what you said. Could you elaborate on your statement?

[narses]

The Universal Indult is coming. Fr. Fessio is allied with some of the best and brightest in the modern American RCC educational system. The Gates of Hell will NOT prevail.

[narses]

A Fr. Fessio fandom bump.

[heyheyhey]

clearly the Council was not in touch with the Spirit of Vatican II!!!

I like it! I really like it!
Keep up the good work ;^)

Peace.

[ultima ratio]

Cardinal Ratzinger disagrees with you. Here is the Cardinal weighing-in on versus populum:

"This is not a case of something accidental, but of what is essential. Looking at the priest has no importance. What matters is looking together at the Lord. It is not now a question of dialogue but of common worship." (Ratzinger, The Spirit of the Liturgy, p. 81.)