I just read an excellent book by a Fr. Robinson, an Oratorian priest, who analyzes the failure of the NO and the philosophical problems that led to its creation. However, he doesn't think it would be possible or desirable to restore the Old Mass, as he calls it, because we have a whole generation who have grown up without it and therefore the link with tradition is broken. He feels that its restoration would cause great upset among the people (like the imposition of the NO didn't cause upset????). He's probably right, though, because one of the problems is that our clergy is too theologically ignorant and litugically badly trained to be able to bring it back in the first place or explain it to the people and encourage them in the second.
That said, his suggestions are: More Latin in the NO (the entire Canon in Latin, for example); the priest should face ad orientem during the Canon and any parts of the Mass not actually directed at the people; the cycle of readings should be revised to make the readings not just a three-year trudge through the OT, but memorable and intelligible passages that are repeated on a yearly cycle, as they used to be in the Old Mass; the restoration of Gregorian chant; and the removal of "options" from the rite, whether they are optional readings, Canons, things to be omitted, etc.
I think this would clean it up and might help people to refocus on worship of God as being the purpose of the Mass, rather than "fellowship," feeling good, or any of the other horrible things that have crept in. I'm not sure it's the ultimate solution though, because the NO is about the flattest and least liturgical of all the liturgies found in the liturgical churches (such as the Orthodox Church).
I agree with you,though I would still prefer the "old Mass". I made my first communion in 1963. We still used Latin, though the priest read the readings in English. My mom used her missal (which she still has) The choir sang in Latin, and the atmosphere of reverence was so beautiful. That is all gone now. This Sunday, in church, before the priest came in, (he's new to our church), we were all told to stand up and greet each other. It was like an "I'm ok, you're ok" session! It sounded like an auditorium. I wanted to walk out. I've never liked the 'sign of peace' in the mass in the first place - and now this!
I have always believed, in my heart, that we would see a growth in numbers of men entering the priesthood if the Mass was restored to what it should be. Why bother becoming a priest if you can already 'concelebrate' the mass, in a sense, from the 'stands'. The emphasis on the Eucharist - shoved off in a corner somewhere - is gone. Our church is locked so that you can't even visit and spend time with the Lord. I have so much more to rant on, but I get upset as I type and try to put it into words. I know that it would be difficult to bring back the old mass, but I would love to see at least one mass a month in the Latin, in each parish. Or, insert more and more Latin into the mass, and bring the mass back to where it was intended to be. Also, a sincere emphasis MUST be placed on the Eucharist. so many don't believe in the Real Presence! No wonder the church sounds like an auditorium before a school assembly! No one genuflects. The 'altar' is nothing more than a stone slab (artfully arranged, mind you).
Enough. I have already whined enough.
God bless Pope Benedict. May God guide him and give him wisdom.
I'd like a "market-based" approach. Set the Traditional Latin Mass free, restoring the right for any priest to offer it without having to get permission.
Perhaps also allow the 1965 Missal. Let them all co-exist, and see what results.
We are so fortunate to have Fr. Robinson as one of the priests here in our parish. I attended a public talk about his book at the "evenings at the Oratory" a few months ago and he gently explained the thesis of his book. Very interesting. By the way, Mass at Holy Family parish, served by the Oratorians here, implements all the reforms of Fr. Robinson into the Novus Ordo Mass. I think most people would prefer the Novus Ordo when it is done with due reverence, soaring polyphonic chant, and without profane modernist "options."