I submit that the Novus Ordo Mass is afflicted with a "horizontal" aspect or perspective that mimics Protestantism. Yes, it can be reverent and Latin can be used in it more. Sacred music can be added as well. The abuses are there, however, and they are in the person of a "presider" mentality that forces focus on us.
One need only read the text of the Tridentine Mass to see that the people are present at the Sacrifice of the Mass, that there is only one High Priest, Christ, and that the priest is serving only "in persona Christi" to confect the Body and Blood of Christ. He constantly speaks of his unworthiness and the point of adoration is re-emphasized over and over again. Even the "Last Gospel" was meant to leave us with the mystery of an enormous grace of God--the Incarnation. I would submit that I have never heard anyone refer to the Tridentine Mass as a liturgy and precious few refer to the N.O. Mass as a "sacrifice."
I know many abuses were wrought in the name of "The Spirit of Vatican II." I think this Holy Father recognizes the serious flaws in the N.O. Mass and this is why Archbishop Ranjith is being so forthright. He surely must reflect the view of the Holy Father if one has read the liturgical views of the Pope. Even John Paul II allowed for an indult and thought it would be more widely permitted. Now, it seems the quiet-spoken "Panzer-Cardinal" made Pope will have to see it through.
The changes needed for the N.O. include things like architecture which refocuses on the vertical dimension, on the return of the tabernacle to the center of our focus, the curtailment of Sacred wine at every Mass when it was intended as an occasional thing and probably by intinction only. I could go on and on. The changeover will not happen in our lifetimes. I am fascinated, however, by the comment that a 9-year-old child loves the Tridentine Mass which agrees with things I have heard. Children are open to Mystery; at one time, we all were. I feel the N.O. lacks that very essence, sad to say--Mystery! How can we explain what is happening at the Mass? How many can imagine the saints, angels and heavenly chorus present at the moment of consecration? It is there, however. We have become to inured to the focus being on us.
**The changes needed for the N.O. include things like architecture which refocuses on the vertical dimension, on the return of the tabernacle to the center of our focus, the curtailment of Sacred wine at every Mass when it was intended as an occasional thing and probably by intinction only. I could go on and on.**
I could agree with these. How about the music. I would like to have that be more sacred.
This is very true. My sister, who is a church organist and choir director, made a very interesting observation based on comments she has heard in recent years. Many people, she said, seem to think that the most important part of the Mass is saying the Our Father. She has actually heard them say things to this effect, and they all seem to think that the most central thing is some kind of warm, fuzzy glow they seem to get from this. That's why there's all that handholding and the wave at the end when the Protestant tag is said.
I think the effect of the NO is that many people have absolutely no idea of what is going on at Mass. They think it's a prayer service and they think it's neat that they're all "together" there saying the Our Father, because "togetherness" is what they come for.
When the N.O. Mass is celebrated according to rubrics and with reverence, it is fine. When it is not celebrated according to the rubrics and with reverence, when the priest or others do and say things that are not found in the rubrics, then the horizontal aspect of the Mass is wrongly elevated over its vertical aspect. This clearly refutes your claim that the is something intrinsically wrong with the Novus Ordo, that the rite itself elevates the horizontal over the vertical.
The word "liturgy" comes from the Greek and means "public work." In this context it means the public worship or prayer of the Church. The Mass, the Sacraments, the Divine Office, are all parts of the liturgy. It is entirely proper to call the Mass the "liturgy" because that is what it is.