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"Unspontaneity is of their essence. In these rites I discover that something is approaching me here that I did not produce myself, that I am entering into something greater than myself, which ultimately derives from divine revelation. This is why the Christian East calls the liturgy the "Divine Liturgy", expressing thereby the liturgy's independence from human control."
-Joseph Ratzinger

Having grown up Catholic, post Vatican II, it always seemed to me that something was missing from the Mass as conducted in my town. The liturgy was downplayed - almost as if it was embarassing. All of the men would stand at the back, near the door, and none of them would ever sing. The teenage girls and the younger women would often walk about in outrageously loud high-heels. Twenty percent of the congregation would process directly from the communion rail to the parking lot, so as not to be caught up in the traffic after the service.

The first time I attended an Anglican Service, everyone sang, and dressed and processed reverently (this was before the pink triangle replaced the cross) and leaving early simply wasn't done. The liturgy was beautiful, and amidst this beauty and reverence, meditation and prayer were wonderful.

I pray that Pope Benedict XVI will inspire the RC Church to reclaim its wonderful liturgy!

If you get a chance attend the Divine Liturgy at a Byzantine Catholic Church. I did and was quite awed.
I will remain Catholic of Latin Rite but sometimes I do yearn for more reverence in our liturgy.

All of the men would stand at the back, near the door,

Even in the 50s there was a joke around about a driver of a crowded bus shouting to the passengers: "Why don't all of you pretend you're in church and all crowd to the back?"

I prefer the TLM too -- but some things never change!

Having grown up Catholic, post Vatican II, it always seemed to me that something was missing from the Mass as conducted in my town. The liturgy was downplayed - almost as if it was embarassing. All of the men would stand at the back, near the door, and none of them would ever sing. The teenage girls and the younger women would often walk about in outrageously loud high-heels. Twenty percent of the congregation would process directly from the communion rail to the parking lot, so as not to be caught up in the traffic after the service. The first time I attended an Anglican Service, everyone sang, and dressed and processed reverently (this was before the pink triangle replaced the cross) and leaving early simply wasn't done. The liturgy was beautiful, and amidst this beauty and reverence, meditation and prayer were wonderful.

And yes, I am sure every Anglican at every Anglican service, everywhere in the world is absolutely reverent. In reality, I am sure there are some liturgical abuses at Anglican masses, some parishioners more focused on what they're going to buy at the mall after mass than on the mass itself. Just as not all Catholic masses are dreary, post-V2 hippy communal breakfast meetings with tambourines and congas. For instance, I go to Mass occasionally at a lovely post-V2 Church that has Gregorian chant, an organ, bells, no Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, wonderful sermons, and beautiful, Eastern icon-style murals of Christ, Michael the ARchangel, and several saints on the wall.

There is an Anglican rite which has been approved by the Vatican! It is specifically for former Anglicans and was approved by Pope John Paul II in the eighties, I believe. (I just found out about it last month!) Please see this website for Our Lady of the Atonement in San Antonio, Texas:
http://www.atonementonline.com
for an example of an Anglican Rite Roman Catholic Parish. It is one of four in Texas (none near me, unfortunately). Three of the parishes have just jointly published the "Book of Divine Worship," which is 99% from the Book of Common Prayer (1928 and 1979) and has the official imprimatur, etc. It is available from Our Lady of the Atonement. In addition, they have made a DVD of one of their masses and it is just beautiful - English music, loads of incense, mass celebrated toward the altar, a beautiful church with gorgeous Lady Chapel, and dignified Rite I language! For those who love the Anglican liturgy and music, but want to be Roman Catholic, it will give you hope and make you cry from the beauty of it! I highly recommend visiting the websites of both Our Lady of the Atonement in San Antonio or Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston.