No doubt that you have heard by now that there is a report that there is a Secret Vatican Commission (don’t you just love secret commissions!?) charged with reviewing a number of proposed changes to the ordinary form of the Roman rite, typically known as the Novus Ordo. This is the Mass that the “Spirit of VII” made. It seems that Pope Benedict would like to be become the mass that the documents of Vatican II made.
[NLM] The rite of the Mass could change. According to some indiscretions, Benedict XVI has charged the Congregation for Divine Worship to study some modifications in the liturgy. In particular, the Pope is said to have the intention to restore Latin for the formula for the Eucharistic consecration within the Mass in the “vernacular language”, i.e. the one celebrated in the different national languages. The same could happen to the formulae of Baptism, Confirmation, Confession and of the other sacraments. In addition, the exchange of peace among the faithful during the Mass, which today takes place prior to the distribution of the Eucharist, could be anticipated (as in the Ambrosian rite) to the offertory so as not to disturb the recollection that precedes Communion.
The article written by Ignazio Ingrao, religion writer of the Italian weekly Panorama,also mentions some of the Benedictine reforms by example that have been occurring such as more traditional vestments, the crucifix in the center of the altar, and kneeling for communion. Whether or not these reforms are to be institutionalized remains to be seen.
Hopefully we will get some confirmation in the near future whether or not this “secret commission” actually exists and if it does, some clarity on its mandate. If this commission does exist, I think that something of this magnitude needs a proper name in keeping with the solemnity of their charge. May I humbly suggest the following.
Commission to
Remove,
Eliminate, &
Wipe-out
Liturgical
Innovations
Benedict
Style
Yes, I think that the SCREWLIBS commission would be a fitting name for such a noble endeavor. Don’t you?
July 4, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Are you saying that the ‘Spirit of VII’ is apart from the documents of the Council? Shocking.
The changes that the leak describes are most interesting. The addition of the Sign of Peace to the offertory is quite ancient, isn’t it? And the Latin Eucharistic Prayer would only make sense. But ad orientem is not mentioned.
July 4, 2008 at 4:01 pm
It can’t come soon enough.
By the grace of Our Lord, I attended the 8:45 mass locally this morning. It seemed that half the congregation (and there were several hundred today) were either “ministers” of some sort, liturgical committee reps, or people who had great diffculty remaining silently in their pews…so before the mass began it was a beehive of activity. And, of course, the mass itself required helf the neighborhood to have some extraordinary role–rather like the junior prom committee where all of the progrssive Catholic nonsense seemingly has its root.
And of course the celebrant took up five minutes, after making the sign of the cross, to refresh our memories about July 4, 1776…without any significant focus on how this relates to Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
It should be plain to see the crying need for “ad orientem” only masses, a reduction of lay ministers–to prevent injuries from overcrowding, and a strict observance by the celebrant not to add his own rhetoric and hot air to the mass itself.
July 4, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I was having a shitty day, and now I’m laughing. Thanks!
July 4, 2008 at 5:23 pm
HA!! LOL!
July 4, 2008 at 6:35 pm
We need this on t-shirts and mugs!
July 4, 2008 at 8:23 pm
“But ad orientem is not mentioned.”
It already is, or is at least assumed in the rubrics, and the writings of the man once known as Cardinal Ratzinger eschew the notion of mandating a re-introduction without adequate time for adjustment.
The mandated use of Latin would be reserved to the words of institution themselves (as the Holy Father already approves the vernacular formulae personally), as well as in the essential formulae for other rites. This is probably an assurance of doctrinal clarity, not to mention a guard against improvisation, where it matters most.
If this is to happen, I believe it should apply to all Rites of the Church, both East and West. The use of an arcane language at the climax of the ritual would serve to enhance the mystical aspects of the experience. Such has been a common device in worship throughout human history.
Even though the Sign of Peace occurs in a similar location in other Rites of the Church (or in the Byzantine, preceding the Nicene Creed), moving it thus in the Roman Rite would be a rupture of continuity. Better to instruct the faithful on the proper way to exchange the “holy kiss.” In the Orthodox Churches, it is not uncommon for the faithful to exchange the Peace among themselves, even as the clergy in the sanctuary do likewise.
“Novus Ordo 2.0.” Clever.
July 5, 2008 at 9:00 am
SCREWLIBS, LOL!
The moving of the Sign of Peace would reflect that of the Ambrosian Rite, which I actually think beter serves the Mass.
Hopefully they ax the Prayers of the Faithful and replace it with something similar to what the Byzantines have.
July 7, 2008 at 5:54 am
I think the Prayer of the Faithful could be done better by modeling it after the Good Friday prayers.
December 3, 2009 at 4:53 pm
In the byzantine rite the 'sign of Peace' is very different from roman rite. one places one's hands together as if in prayer and one's neighbor places their hands over the closed hands and then turns to the next with his hands closed together as the first. . .then his neighbor places their hands on his closed hands. . peace is passed this way