...has been a catch-phrase concerning the Church's liturgy for some years now. There are those who just can't bear it: I once saw some one covering her ears and shrieking, because she couldn't accept the idea. But things will continue to move in the r-of-the-r direction and this discussion is now under way...
I have long imagined that by the time I am old there will be a Mass that looks and sounds a bit like what Vatican II really wanted. Latin at Mass will be the norm, along with some vernacular, and among things retained from the 1969 changes will be: a general "dialogue" form with the congregation encouraged to sing or say various responses, the Scripture readings proclaimed towards the congregation and probably by a lay person, much more audibility of what is said by the priest than common in the standard 1962 Form, and everyone joining in the Pater Noster. Masses will have the Canon ad orientem, have the reading from St John ("The Last Gospel")at the end, and (probably)include the "Introibo ad altare..." at the beginning, probably in the vernacular. And there may be some (rather formal) Bidding Prayers, possibly tagged on to the sermon. And some form of the Sign of Peace although certainly not where it is now.
The Church's approach is to emphasise continuity , and one way of doing this is to sweep things along in a breezy sort of way by making a general statement that "this is the way it was always meant to be...", rather like the mother of a large and messy family who announces that "this is the way we've always done things" even if some members of the family know that there have been many messy times when they haven't.
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6 comments:
Oh my God, if only ...
Still, with the Holy Ghost guiding the Church, we must hope.
Sounds pretty much like a return to my childhood with the latin mass and all the trimmings.
Just wonder how many more times the wheel will turn until the church gets it right.
Probably not in my lifetime.
I have to confess, I'm not big on the Latin mass. I prefer to understand it all. But for those that do, it should be availab le. Both should be available.
I like the idea of blending the vernacular with the Latin in the mass. I'm not sure if I like the priest facing the altar simply because I want to hear him. Still, as a convert who knows only the current liturgy, I am in awe of the beauty and reverence of the mass. My parish is an orthodox one with all of the bells and smells.
As an aside, I attended my first ordination a week ago; it was an indescribably beautiful and moving mass. I now know why people have said that we should attend an ordination at least once in their lifetime.
The big problem is having an inaudible Mass. If the priest faces ad orientem this blocks the faithful from seeing the Host and the Chalice, and our attention instead is fococused on him, which is irritating. The problem is resolved if the Consecration is audible, so we can be aware of this sacred and awesome mystery, and can pray and adore and worship.
I must admit that although I mostly go to a Mass which is said ad orientem, I find a great sense of awe and mystery when attending a Mass where it is possible to see the Host and Chalice at the Consecration: there is a glory and a drama which is missing when you simply have to guess and hope that the priest is doing the right thing.
If we follow what is happening on the altar, we can pray in our hearts, and not merely be making the outward gestures and/or reading along.
I agree with you auntie, I am in awe when the priest consecrates the host and the wine. As he elevates the the host I am praying silently an act of faith in the real presence. I hope that our priests continue to face the congregation throughout the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
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