Do we go to Mass to worship and pray or do we go to make a fuss to others about little things?
Many of us have been bothered by liturgical abuse in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. The correct response is to note it and deal with it after
However, this little column is going to be a little different from what is usually posted here because it needs to be said and that is liturgical abuse by the laity in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. But first, let me rant a little more so you get the picture of where I am coming from.
Some people who attend the Traditional Latin Mass can try ones patience.
Now, I have never considered myself a "Trad" or a "Traditionalist," someone has even had the temerity to label me a "Neo-Cath." Another labelled me as having "modernistic tendencies." Other have said that I am a "Trad" and other that I am not "Trad" enough.
Well, they can think whatever they want, I am a Catholic.
But while these labels are rather unfortunate, I'm going to nevertheless, use one.
"Trads" can be a nasty group and give the cause a bad name.
Last night in Toronto a beautiful Mass was held for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was a Missa Solemnis at St. Lawrence the Martyr in Toronto. The three Sacred Ministers were joined by three priests "in choro." The Servers were excellent as usual and the organist and choir were splendid.
It's the cranks that show up that are the problem.
So, let me rant because this is my blog.
1. Look friends, many people that come to these Masses are first timers. If they don't read the note in the liturgical handout about not singing the Pater Noster and they sing it, so what? But when you "trads" all go sssshhhhhh what you did was actually a vile intrusion on the Holy Mass. They acted in singing out of innocent ignorance, you acted out of rudeness, malice and what you did was a debasement of the liturgy. Stop it! What you "trads" did was a liturgical abuse.
2. Gothic Vestments are NOT NOVUS ORDO. They are called "Gothic" for a reason. In fact, the conical style "Novus Ordo" vestment as you refer it is actually of more ancient use than the "Roman" or "Fiddleback." Now, stop the whining about these little things and smarten up.
3. Artwork that shows the Blessed Virgin Mary's hair in paintings of the Immaculate Conception are not "Vatican II" and do not indicate that I am a "modernist." Until the puritanical Victorian 19th century with its feminine featured Jesus and its burka clad young Virgin and the über-puritanical attitude of you 21st century "Trads" the Immaculate Conception was portrayed as a pre-pubescent girl, a young virgin and without a veil as in the post two below this one which is a more recent rendition of the style of the many in the same style from the 15th century onward.
4. A Read Mass (Missa Lecta) with Dialogue is not a "Novus Ordo" invention. Nor is standing for the Pater Noster and the Postcommunion a "Novus Ordo" invention. The Church has desired that the people respond to the priest even though you have your preference for absolute silence. This is not where we are now or where the restoration will be. So you can drop this paranoia about NovusOrdoIsms. This is not a liturgical experiment or innovation. Read the rubrics!
You would think that these "trads" would be overjoyed with what has been happening since Pope Benedict XVI issued Summorum Pontificum and the recent Universae Ecclesiae.
As an example, when was the last time a Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite was offered in the Archdiocese of Toronto before last night? How about over 40 years ago!
Now behave yourself and be joyful for what has been accomplished, if you can be.
Some "trads" are really an offering up.
There, I feel better now.
10 comments:
I actually considered posting my opinions about a few of the trads I have run into, but I decided not to out of respect for you and your work with Una Voce, and here you write something similar.
My opinion, in brief, is that some of the trads have raised the EF Mass to such a high state in their own opinions, they are no longer worshipping God, they are worshipping the Mass itself, and the worship of something in place of and other than God is idolatry.
I should add that they are not alone. Others have raised their various preferences- architecture, music, vestments, whether in the old form or the new- that they are looking more to the form and details of the worship, rather than to the worship itself, and what we are worshipping with and through the Mass.
Oh,oh,oh....
No I'll be good.
http://ycrcm.blogspot.com/2011/12/tcs-and-tps-good-job-we-just-lost-more.html
Okay, whoa. I thought your Una Voce letter was great, but let's not go publicly ballistic on the mostly elderly people who have stuck with the "Mass of John XXIII" through thick and thin, hell and high water. They have suffered a lot in the past 45 years, and it's a miracle they didn't just follow or stick with the SSPX.
Yes, there's a learning curve for everybody as we try as a church to get back what we lost. But the way forward is to clear up misunderstandings with gentleness.
Yes, it is a real pity those who sang along with the Pater Noster were shushed. However, I suspect the shushes were born of the fear that the newcomers, whose commitment to the EF is of relatively recent duration, will change something that a group of stalwarts have desperately hoped (and for which they have suffered) to keep the same.
Meanwhile, don't worry about being called a modernist. When you stick your head above the parapet, it will be shot at, guaranteed, by friends as well as foes.
"Yes, there's a learning curve for everybody as we try as a church to get back what we lost. But the way forward is to clear up misunderstandings with gentleness."
And that's the point Seraphic. But sadly, we have to correct our own and remind them that "you attract more bees with honey than vinegar." At least you try to do that in your weekly columns to the CR.
One must realize that we live in an age that rejects reason. Faith should be reasonable. In a fatalistic, unreasonable age, heavily formed by protestantism. It is no wonder that many Catholics trying to reject one extreme fall into another. e.g. the crass sexualization, degradation, dehumanization of women is not to be countered with a false de-sexualization of women. The two extremes of the whore and the burka-clad are both to be rejected. One perverts the feminine, the other rejects it. Both are sins. One can also think of much mediaeval literature banned by protestant sects as licentious...
Nothing is so silly as to see little girls at Mass wearing enormous shawls and dreadful sacks to the ground. This is of course countered by the innumerable historical photographs that show Corpus Christi Processions which include young girls in white skirts and dresses above the knees. No one thought of this as evil, as sinful... (ah, unless one perhaps consults the Wahabi et al.).
It is not a question of returning to the 20s or 30s. It is a question of returning to Catholic sanity that accepts the human person as body and soul. Angelicism is a perversion.
Another tragedy is that "traditionalism" (like true modernism and protestantism) is a conduit for personal papalism. No where is this seen more in the innumerable anonymous postings of "catholics" who are quick to point out the evils of Pope Benedict. If the Pope is not an open Hegalian, then at the minimum he is ( like that incorrigible Bl John Paul II - oh, I apologize, his beatification too is questionable! ) imbued with German philosophy; breathing Kant etc.
Friends - love and obey the Pope! Love and obey your bishop in union with the Pope! Pray for them. Pray for your priests! Pray for each other! We are all sinners. We are all in some way pharisees.
I would love to have a EF mass of explanation (not a real mass though) for people like me and their children.
Explain all the parts - what to do, when to sit and stand and kneel.
And how to figure out how to read through the missal.
I'd like to go but I am always confused so am not making an effort to go out of town to an EF mass.
Teresa B.,
Your point is valid and I can assure you that the new Board of Una Voce Toronto is going to do exactly this some time in 2012.
Good post. I was fortunate that when I first began going to the TLM, everyone was very nice and patient, even when our then 2 year old was a bit squirmy.
I always try to say hello to new people or families and I am just happy and grateful to live where I can attend the TLM every Sunday so no labels or criticisms for me.
Teresa
You might want to check out this booklet. Though it is geared to maybe 8-12 year olds, you would hardly know it due to the beautiful art work. The notes on what the priest or congregation are doing are in color which makes it easier to follow and there was a link to download it for free.
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/a-traditional-missal-for-young-catholics/18594922
If you get to the point where you want or need a daily missal, the Fr. Lasance Roman missal has been reprinted by a company in Indiana. This was the missal I happened to by back in the 1990's and it has a very good section on how to set your ribbons as well as what to pencil in the margins so you know when to stand or kneel.
http://www.moscompany.com/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=1419619&showprevnext=1
I have no interest in either of these items, I am just passing on the information.
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