The Latin Mass is back in the news. On Friday, the Church released the long awaited instruction on the Latin Mass following the ground-breaking issuance of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.
There are many fine analyses of the instruction (here and here for instance.) The document takes a few minutes to read and many more minutes to digest, so if I may, let me provide the Reader’s Digest Version.
Pope to Church: You know I wrote in Summorum Pontificum four years ago that priests who want to say the Traditional Latin Mass–can? And you know how I wrote that a group who wants it can request it and that that request should be granted if all possible? And you know how I wrote that I want the two forms of the Latin Rite to stand side by side and mutually enrich one another? I really really meant it. And for those loophole seeking Bishops who didn’t get it the first time, I will now provide some legalese to close most of those loopholes. Peace out!
I am paraphrasing of course. Now with that out of the way, I want to focus on a part of the instruction that will likely be overlooked or ignored by most. Actually, this part of the document was in Summorum Pontificum as well, but not much hay has been made of it. I want to make some hay. So let me quote from the instruction….
May 16, 2011 at 7:19 pm
At the time Paul v1th was writing about smoke in the church, he wrote two other instructions ignored deliberately by the clergy. One was "no more changes the faithful are confused". The second is why in Universae Ecclesiae Pope Benedict wrote in paragraph 26 about the use of the vernacular. Paul the sixth wrote and told us how often the Latin mass was to said in every parish and how it could be celebrated. The Priest in the vernacular and the people chanting the responses in the plain chant of missa Del'Angelis. We did this once at a pilgrimage and priests and many of the laity presence were crying. Some priests came up to us and thanked us so much. It became embarrasing
May 17, 2011 at 2:28 pm
I just want to see people get their noses out of the Missalette when the readings are Proclaimed. Could you imagine living in "ye olden days" and as soon as there was a "proclamation from the King" we all got out our little books and looked through the text rather than listen to royalty??? And yet, we content ourselves doing just that at every Sunday Mass.
It's ridiculous when the Deacon has to wait in the middle of the Gospel for the rustling of pages to stop on the page turns…Yuck! Just listen people, just listen…
Big hint: if you read through the scripture passages of the day prior to going to Mass, it makes it that much easier to absorb the message…
May 18, 2011 at 3:06 am
Yes! Horror of horrors! Imagine! People actually following along with the readings while listening and reading! OMG! I would rather a bunch of blank stares from people acting like their listening without any visual references. Remember! The ONLY palatable interpretive mode of communication in the modern age is "listening" (which is really nothing more than an exercise in hearing), NOT reading! Too bad for those people who benefit from BOTH senses of the interpretive mode of communication. It's all about HOW OTHERS PERCEIVE YOUR best practices of active participation.
May 18, 2011 at 6:30 am
Actually, I make a point to read the missal as many times the scripture is slightly 'changed' for progressive reasons. I really wish I did not have to do that but the message changes. How about just do it in Latin and the changes go away.