Liturgical Renewal ordered by Vatican II

EWTN ^ | Colin B. Donovan, STL

[NYer]

In order that the Christian people may more certainly derive an abundance of graces from the sacred liturgy, holy Mother Church desires to undertake with great care a general restoration of the liturgy itself. For the liturgy is made up of immutable elements divinely instituted, and of elements subject to change. These not only may but ought to be changed with the passage of time if they have suffered from the intrusion of anything out of harmony with the inner nature of the liturgy or have become unsuited to it.

In this restoration, both texts and rites should be drawn up so that they express more clearly the holy things which they signify; the Christian people, so far as possible, should be enabled to understand them with ease and to take part in them fully, actively, and as befits a community. [Sacrosanctum Concilium 21]

The changes willed by the approximately 2700 to 4 vote of the world's Catholic bishops in the document cited above can be summarized as 1) restore the active participation of the people, 2) remove accretions and duplications which crept into the Roman Mass in millennium before Pope Pius V imposed it on the Latin Church, and 3) manifest the proper sacramentality of the Mass as an act of Christ, Head and Body. These were legitimate and long over-due reforms, as the virtually unanimous vote of the hierarchy shows. Other goals of the reforms can be read in Sacrosanctum Concilium.

1. Active Participation (Vatican II, Sacrosanctum Concilium 14-20). In the context of the Reformation the essentialism of the Missal of Pius V makes sense. The emphasis is on the theologically essential participant, the priest, without whose power the Eucharist cannot be confected. The role of the laity, who through baptism is a member of the Body of Christ, tended to be passive. The lay person's role in the effecting of the Eucharist was accidental (in the philosophical sense of not being "of the essence"), though the rubrics required the presence of at least one layman (to complete the sign of Christ, Head and members). As a consequence, the people were left to pray privately, their active role fulfilled by the servers. Put another way, their Mass participation was primarily devotional (the rosary, prayer books etc.), as opposed to liturgical (giving the responses, following the prayers devoutly etc.). One of the key reforms of the Council was to restore the properly liturgical role of the people to them. Even before the Council the trend favored lay missals with Latin-English, and dialogic Masses, where the people give the responses, over praying private devotions during Mass. Contrary to the assumption of many Catholics, liturgical piety is more meritorious than personal devotion. Certainly, the quiet and peace of nearly silent Masses fosters a feeling of devotion; however, objectively, through active liturgical participation we exercise the priestly office of Christ Himself conferred by baptism and thus share in His merit. Of course, interior spiritual participation must also be present, and not just external activity, for active liturgical participation to be authentic. Participation in the Pascal Mysteries is not primarily a matter of feeling, or even external doing, but of FAITH and CHARITY.

2. Accretions and Duplications (SC 21-25). The Holy See had long encouraged the study of the nature of the liturgy and the historical origins of its parts. The findings of theologians such as Fr. Joseph Jungmann (The Mass of the Roman Rite, 3 vols., Christian Classics, 1950, 1986), clearly reveal the mutability of the Mass from the time  of the earliest known Roman sacramentaries (5th and 6th century). Rather than being a static form, the Roman Rite had absorbed customs from other local Churches (e.g. Gaul), as well as developed it's own, an evolution that ended with Pius V and Trent. What had once been "novelties" when first adopted at Rome became fixed parts of the "immemorial Mass". The only constant being the authority of the Apostolic See to permit, order and even to impose them. Without judging the virtue of this change or that following Vatican II, on which there are legitimate arguments pro and con, the need for the reform of the Tridentine Mass was certainly accepted by all bishops and theologians. 

3. Sacramentality of the Roles (SC 26-32). The Church is the mystical Christ, Head and Body (1 Cor. 12). The ministerial priest is the sacramental sign of Christ the Head, who acts in persona Christi capitis (Catechism of the Catholic Church 875, 1348, 1548). The people, though baptism, also exercise an office (CCC 1188, 1273). It is not essential to the confecting of the Eucharist, but is essential to the sacramentality of the Eucharistic assembly.  Together, priest and people, are a sacramental sign of Christ's continuing mystical presence in the world through the Church, which makes possible the perpetuation in time of the One Sacrifice of Calvary, Eucharistic Communion and the substantial Presence of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament itself. The sacramentality of the Church as the Mystical Christ is clearer, therefore, when both priests and laity exercise their proper sacramental offices as Head and Members, respectively.

Answered by Colin B. Donovan, STL

[ninenot]

The one with the simplistic view is the writer of that screed you posted. It is crap like that which is not only on par with the radical trad element, but it further drives a wedge between faithful Catholics on both sides of the fence.

Although I take issue with FrD's thought and am a bit put off by his style (condescension does come to mind), I think you're being a bit less than charitable in your response.

I don't think FrD maliciously wishes to shove trads around. Lighten up a bit.

[ninenot]

The one with the simplistic view is the writer of that screed you posted. It is crap like that which is not only on par with the radical trad element, but it further drives a wedge between faithful Catholics on both sides of the fence.

Although I take issue with FrD's thought and am a bit put off by his style (condescension does come to mind), I think you're being a bit less than charitable in your response.

I don't think FrD maliciously wishes to shove trads around. Lighten up a bit.

[sinkspur]

I see no point to having folk guitars, garish modern art, long political-speech sermons, clapping, liturgical dancing, and germ-spreading handshaking at Catholic Masses.

Clapping is common in St. Peter's Basilica, and has been for years.

[Flora McDonald]

I agree.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

The kind of clapping that takes place in Novus Ordo liturgies in the U.S. is of a couple varieties. One is where people clap in approval of either a musical hymn or when the priest or some other person in the pulpit makes some annoucement or tells a joke. I have seen priests do stand-up comedy for their sermons for years. The length of time hardly makes it appropriate. The other kind of clapping is clapping to the beat of Afican-American or Baptists gospel spirituals. This is silly. It does not have a basis in the Catholic tradition. The effect and the sensibility indicate the congregation or whoever think they are at an entertainment event. They have picked this up from television culture. That is discussed in the relevant conservative literature critical of post-Vatican II silliness. If I'm not mistaken, the clapping in Rome takes place at the end of Mass (not the middle) or is done for the Pope. That is a slightly different context. Context. intent, and attitude make a difference in Catholic thinking. There is nothing strange about disliking disruptions of the Mass including unnecessary clapping, cheering, or other noises. Or are you thinking of clapping during papal audiences in the Paul VI auditorium in the Vatican which, of course, is not during a Mass? Lengthy disquisitions of weekly bulletin annoucements during Mass are distracting as well.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

My great objection to the reforms of the last thirty years is that, ironically, the laity has had so little participation in them. The excesses are the result of the worst sort of clericalism, whwre individual priests have imposed their tastes on their congregations with indifference to the feeling of those reared in "the old style." 19 posted on 05/20/2003 8:35 PM PDT by RobbyS (uks)

That's an excellent point. I would take it a step further. It's definitely true that liberal clergy have their own clericalist style of shouting and bullying down lay critics. We were in a parish quite some years ago which had a very verbally iconoloclastic and flamboyantly liberal pastor. He would insult and condescend to the congregation from the pulpit. He talked down to us. Now, one of his claims and one of the claims of a lot of Catholic liberals is that old Catholicism was nothing more than a peasant ghetto church obsessed with sin, guilt, and damnation. I would argue that Catholic liberalism is even more guilt-obsessed than ever. According to the pastor's liberation theology we were guilty for every American imperialist sin from capitalism, to bourgeois crassness, to exploitation of Latin American countries, consumerism, the investments of pet food corporations in South Africa, you name it, etc., etc. The list of social sins was even longer than 1950s guidebooks on the horrors of sexual sin.

There is one thing which the "spirit of Vatican II" absolutely did not do. It did not result in less guilt. It took it to a Marxist dimension not dreamed of by 1950s Catholics.

[Arthur McGowan]

The "new Mass" became the norm on the First Sunday of Advent in 1970. Or was it 1969?

Anyway, it is NOT the restoration of the Mass that the Fathers of Vatican II had in mind. It is the Mass of the radicals--the fringe element.

Paul VI is without doubt the most destructive Pope of the last 200 years. He was a cultural vandal. Abusing his power, he ripped the heart out of Western Civilization.

[Judith Anne]

Thanks for the ping, and your thoughts...occasionally I have fallen asleep praying the rosary...my mother told me that if I did, the angels would finish it for me...

[Salvation]

The new G. I. R. M. (Including Adaptations for the Dioceses of the United States of America)

And the new G. I. R. M. without the Americn Diocese adapatations

Questions and Answers about the General Instructions for the Roman Missal

G. I. R. M. adapatations (American) approved by the Holy See

General Instruction of the Roman Missal [G. I. R. M.]

Bishop: "Let chaos storm! When will it stop, change after change in liturgy? Never!"

The Return of the Latin Mass?

[ultima ratio]

A reform of the reform of the reform--what a looney hall of mirrors. In fact what the Vatican needs to do is scrap the Novus Ordo altogether. It has already destroyed the faith of millions and has protestantized an entire generation. The Pope and his bishops need to return to the Catholic faith.

[TotusTuus]

Christos Voskrese!

We will always have those who don't SEEM to "participate" at Mass--or don't even seem to PRAY at Mass. What shall we do about that?

This caught my eye. The answer lies in a little secret that the Church has learned over the Centuries (and seemingly has forgotton recently here in America).

Other than offer a dignified Mass - do nothing. That is, let individual people drift in and out of "participation" as God calls them to. That is one of the benefits of chant - people can drift into it at any time and out again for whatever reasons. Reasons known only to them. It's when you start trying to "force" "the people" that the troubles soon begin. Think of all the games played by music leaders (leaders of music?) - oftentimes well intentioned people who took classes, etc., etc. - trying to get "the people" to sing. Frustration in all parties involved.

Just allow Christ to offer His Sacrifice. A sober, dignified, mysterious event happens. Each individual needs the freedom to absorb it "where they are at".

Of course, the foregoing gets to the heart of all the abuses generally encountered at many "modern" Masses.

[Desdemona]

Paul VI is without doubt the most destructive Pope of the last 200 years. He was a cultural vandal. Abusing his power, he ripped the heart out of Western Civilization.

He'll get the blame for it, but the reality is, it wasn't him. It was the people around him and he was too weak to stop it.

[ninenot]

Clapping is common in St. Peter's Basilica, and has been for years.

So what?

[ninenot]

do nothing

Precisely.

It's like trying to stop babies from crying. The cure is most often far worse than the disease.

Attempting to force 'attention' to the Mass logically leads to making the Mass more "attention-getting," which has led to all the game-show host-priest stuff (in some places,), the cha-cha/marimba/Protestant show-production music and drama, and the eventual focus on what is here and now v. what is eternal.

The fact is that contemplation is difficult for most, as is adherence to every single Commandment.

Has to do with Eve's work in the Garden, you know.

[ninenot]

It is perfectly just to ascribe the problems to Paul VI's authorization of the vandalism--but I am not so wont to judge Paul's intentions. I think he was enchanted by the lovely language and pie-in-the-sky fantasies created by Bugnini/Weakland et.al., who put this thing together.

[maryz]

One is where people clap in approval of either a musical hymn or when the priest or some other person in the pulpit makes some annoucement or tells a joke,

I'm with Miss Manners on this one -- if God wishes to applaud in Church, He may; for anyone else to do so is unseemly!

[maryz]

. . . like the rosary, the Stations, Novenas, litanies, and other "sacramentals."

I've never encountered any of these but the rosary said during Mass. I remember in the late 50s, a number of people would make Stations before or after Mass. Novenas were totally separate, at night, often followed by Benediction. Unless you mean the little novena cards that people carried in their Missals -- but if they were carrying Missals, they were prepared to follow the Mass. Litanies were always part of something else. (Though in my parish in the late 50s, someone would actually lead a rosary at daily Mass during October, followed by the litany of the BVM.)

[maryz]

I would argue that Catholic liberalism is even more guilt-obsessed than ever. According to the pastor's liberation theology we were guilty for every American imperialist sin from capitalism, to bourgeois crassness, to exploitation of Latin American countries, consumerism, the investments of pet food corporations in South Africa, you name it, etc., etc.

True -- but it's that lovely, free-floating liberal guilt (if everyone's guilty, no one really is!) that only proves you're actually better than other people -- as long as you've properly seen the light and vote Democratic!

[k omalley]

I remember the same as you, maryz. Some people did say the Rosary during Mass but I never saw any other devotions carried out. Novenas were on Monday night. I remember because my boyfriend's(eventually husband) mother always went. In the early 1960's I remember reading responses aloud in Latin so the people were already participating prior to VII.

[Jim Noble]

Protestant show-production music and drama

Smile when you say that...