THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: For the last four years, The Catholic Knight blog has been preparing it's readers for the coming liturgical reform of Pope Benedict XVI. At times it seemed like the coming reform was so far away. At times it seemed like it would never come. NOW IT IS UPON US!
Starting in Advent of 2011, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will promulgate the new English translation of the Roman Missal, which has been in the works since the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, and mandated for immediate implementation by Pope Benedict XVI. You can learn more about the new Missal translation HERE at this official website put out by the USCCB. The website is designed to prepare the laity for the coming changes, as they will be quite profound. In reality, the official mass is not changing at all. The mass stays the same. What is changing is our English translation of it. The problem with our previous translation is that it wasn't a true translation of the original Latin text at all. It was more or less a paraphrase or what they call "dynamic equivalent." Many Latin scholars would disagree with the latter, saying there was nothing "equivalent" about it. They would contend the previous English translation was in actuality a watered-down butchering of the original Latin liturgy. Most Latin-English scholars agree this new translation is far superior, and a much more accurate rendering of the original Latin text.
The effect of our previous English translation on liturgical celebrations in the United States has been quite profound. In many parishes, what was once a solemn and dignified act of worship has degenerated into banal entertainment that often produces abusive innovations that are far from what the Holy See intended with the promulgation of the New Missal back in 1969. In most parishes throughout the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia, time-honored customs (with Biblical origins) were completely thrown by the wayside. This included everything from the veiling of women to kneeling for communion. Alter rails were torn out of churches, high alters were deconstructed, the use of bells and incense was all but forgotten. Some parishes even removed the kneelers! None of this was intended by Vatican II. A simple reading of the Vatican II documents will reveal that. Pope Paul VI, who oversaw the promulgation of the New Missal in 1969-70, would have never imagined such radical changes could occur in forty years time. Furthermore, it is doubtful that he was even aware of the deficiency of the English translation that accompanied it. Pope John Paul I never had the opportunity to do anything about it, having only reigned for a month before his untimely death. We know that Pope John Paul II deplored it and ordered it's reform. We also know that a letter to the USCCB from Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate referred to it as "defective" and revoked permission for the US Catholic Church to continue using it. That was back in 2006. It is now 2009, and the USCCB has announced the anticipated changes will be coming in Advent of 2011.
With the coming liturgical changes a golden opportunity now presents itself for Catholics to take back what was lost of our glorious Catholic tradition over the last forty years. The Catholic Knight is calling all his readers to a LITURGICAL RENEWAL CRUSADE!
This is how we'll do it...
- Familiarize yourself with the coming new English translation of the mass.
- Prepare your heart to kneel for communion, and receive in the mouth, once the new translation is implement in your parish. It is best to familiarize yourself with the spiritual principles behind this, and understand that you have the support of the Holy Father, and know that every bishop and priest in the world has already been instructed by the Holy Father to make accommodations you.
- Be mindful of proper liturgical rubrics for the laity. For example; the laity are not supposed to hold hands during the "Our Father." The time for personal contact with fellow parishioners is during the sign of peace. Personal contact with fellow parishioners during the "Our Father" is not technically permitted in the rubrics of the mass, and distracts from the true contact of unity we have in the Eucharist. Nor are we supposed to mimic the gestures of the priest during the liturgy. The only exception to this is when the laity mimics the priest as he crosses his forehead, lips and heart during the reading of the gospel. This is permissible. Otherwise, the laity should only cross themselves when appropriate, and keep their hands in prayer position at all other times. Mimicking the priest at the wrong time only distracts other parishioners, and takes the focus off important things in the mass.
- Men, women and children should prepare to dress modestly for mass. Tank-tops, flip-flops, short-shorts, etc. are completely unacceptable for the solemn celebration of the mass. The laity should prepare themselves by reviewing the standards of Mary modesty.
- Women should prepare for the special graces that accompany those who veil their heads for mass and all forms of public prayer. This is a Biblical custom of the Church which has NEVER been revoked. There is an entire spirituality that goes along with this, which men are not allowed to participate in. Indeed they physically CANNOT participate in. It is a spirituality that belongs exclusively to the female Christian. You should familiarize yourself with this, lest you miss out and deprive yourself of these magnificent graces.
Those who implement these five steps at the institution of the new liturgy will not only increase their spiritual participation in the mass, but will do much to effect the liturgical reform in the U.S. Catholic Church the Holy Father so eagerly desires. In review these five steps are...
- Learn the new English translation of the mass.
- Kneel for communion (if physically able) and receive in the mouth.
- Cease mimicking the priest except when the rubrics allow, and stop holding hands at the "Our Father."
- Dress modestly.
- Women should veil in accordance with female spirituality and receive the special graces associated with it.
15 comments; post here:
Wow, Mr. Knight!!! an amazing post on your part. I think in this case it is lay people such as yourself who are ahead of the curve. With your kind permission I would like to re-post this article (giving due recognition of course). However, not to sound a sour note, but there will still remain the obstructionists among the liberal clergy (especially those occupying positions in chancery offices), some bishops (including a few notorious ones in my state of PA) and of course the "novus ordo establishment" such as the "music ministers" "RCIA instructors" female altar servers etc (most of whom are women--- and you can expect a hissy fit from them) But as someone pointed out, every time a priest commits any (no matter how small) a liturgical abuse, he commits mortal sin. When the more orthodox bishops begin to tell "Father Flake" to get on board or lose his paycheck, or when Rome tells Bishop Teilhard that,if he doesnt like the reform, he can be appointed bishop of Nome, Alaska, a few minds will suddenly change. Pete Frey
Permission granted. Just make sure to encourage your readers to participate in the poll.
Hey, Catholic Knight great blog
So this "reform" is about what? a more accurate english translation of the Latin text.
What`s really going to change? am I going to continue seeing women and other lay people serve the Holy Eucharist, Or guitar masses, people dressing like there going out instead of church, protestantized churches,etc.
God Bless.
anonymous, in a word "nope" they're gone or will be very very soon.
I don't think we should immediately convince women to wear veils to Mass. First we should convince all, men and women to dress appropriately. Then the veils will come back. Actually it would amaze me if women start to wear hats once more. I attended an Anglican High Church afternoon Sunday service (1928 BCP) in a Southern USA town and I saw the women and men dressed in the Sunday best. The women wore hats and the men in suits. The girls in dresses and boys in their suits. In the Sunday Mass (Novus Ordo with a lot of innovations of course!) I attended in the morning at the Catholic Church across the street from the Anglican Church. The men wore shorts, tees and the women in flip flops. Only two elderly Southern gentlemen and their wives were appropriately dressed.
When we assist at Mass properly attired, the people will see we are duly reverencing God. Then we will see the return of altar rails (some of them with immense artistic value), rood screens, reredos etc.
Sir Knight,
I came to your blog over 2 years ago. After moving from a very vibrant Southern parish to a progressive parish in PA, my heart was aching. We stand out in Mass! We have 6 children, all are dressed in their Sunday best, we genuflect in the Communion line, I wear a veil. I, for one, am anxiously awaiting the day they return the altar rail to our current Church. God Bless.
After reading the Knight's summary of the new (old) liturgy changes and in particular the "veiling of the head" to my wife this morning, at the conclusion of a couple chores she was doing this morning I saw her rummaging in the chest of drawers in the back bedroom pulling out her ol' mantilla and examining them and stating "I've got one for ever color of dress."
And one further thought, the Bishops needs to bear down on the youth of our faith, mostly of college age, about the dress code. Most all wear shorts and tank tops to Mass. Our college religious instructors, be it at Catholic Colleges or Catholic Student Centers at sectarian colleges, must be reached as they are the key to changing this disrespectful habit.
Hank
Hank, not just college age kids, but high school as well. But what can you expect when your 14 yr old daughter goes to mass wearing short shorts, tank top etc when HER PARENTS are similiarly dressed!!! Priests have again caved in to the "culture" and allowed that to go on. I know in Europe, you wouldnt get into St Peter's attired that way, as they have guards at the entrance turning people away Pete Frey
Sir Knight, please pray for us! Bishop Martino is resigning tomorrow. His reasons for doing so are speculative at the moment. Please pray that our Diocese is able to continue the renewal process that he has started.
while Bishop Martino is no firend of tradition, he has held the line on orthodoxy especially in schools. He has made tough decisons on closings etc, which are never popular, but basically he stands head and shoulders above many of his fellow bishops here in PA. My prayers to you and Cindy that your next bishop will be as strong in defending the faith. Pete Frey
Thanks Catholic Knight for writing this article and challenging us to more fully commit ourselves to the Reform of the Reform.
This article got me to prayerfully consider kneeling for Holy Communion. While I've always supported its practice, I've personally shied away from it because of not wanting to draw attention to myself. Well, today for the first time I received this way and it was very special; I will now continue to receive this way.
So thanks for bringing these and other liturgical issues to light in this column.
May the Lord bless you and your loved ones.
Pax et Bonum
Reform of the Reform is good, I suppose, for those who are Novus Ordo Mass-goers. But the Novus Ordo Mass was created to appeal to Protestants, period, even in it's original Latin formulation after Vatican II.
I am afraid that I don't pay attention to the doings of the USCCB with their New Mass, revised or otherwise. I'll adhere to the Traditional Latin Mass and the traditional Roman Catholic faith.
Actually Elizabeth, I tend to be in the same boat as you, though I am occasionally forced by circumstances to endure a Novus Ordo liturgy, I regularly try to avoid it as much as possible.
However, the reform of the Novus Ordo is important for traditional Catholics in an indirect way. This is because it would appear the Holy Father has a long-term plan for the distant future that involves the reunification of the ordinary and extraordinary forms.
For the time being the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the mass are to remain separate, so as to allow organic growth of the extraordinary form (Tridentine), and organic reform of the ordinary form (Novus Ordo). The Tridentine liturgy is to be left alone (unmolested) for a period of time, so that it may grow and experience full revival. Meanwhile the Novus Ordo is to be reformed so as to bring it back in line with the rubrics of the Tridentine. Once that has happened, and has been allowed to be fully established, (maybe 10 years time), we can expect the promulgation of a whole new missal, which will merge the Tridentine liturgy with the Novus Ordo Lectionary and Psalter. In other words, the Mass of the Catechumens will be expanded to include more readings from the new Lectionary and the longer Psalter, while the Mass of the Faithful will be virtually unchanged from it's present Tridentine form. We can also expect the new missal to be promulgated in Latin, using approved vernacular translation, with some portions remaining in Latin untranslated.
What does this mean? It means at some point in the distant future (maybe 10 years) the Tridentine mass will totally prevail! The extraordinary prayers and responses will become universal again. The only thing that will change will be the expanded readings and psalms. We will have one mass again! By that time, the overwhelming majority of priests will be fluent in Latin and will probably offer most masses entirely in Latin, making occasional vernacular exceptions only in the portions of the mass where it is permitted and the translations are approved by Rome. So the good news is, we've won! And what is now the Extraordinary form will someday become the Ordinary form -- and there will be only one form in the end.
The current changes to the Ordinary form (Novus Ordo) mass can be viewed as a kind of preparation. First and foremost, comes a proper and accurate translation of the liturgy (next year). You simply can't get anywhere without that! Next comes the changes to the rubrics of the Novus Ordo to bring it more in line with the Tridentine (2 to 5 years away). Finally will come the reintroduction of Latin to certain portions of the Novus Ordo in various places throughout the mass (maybe 5 years away). This will be allowed to continue for a while, until the final reform comes, the promulgation of the new Missal (5 to 10 years away), merging the two forms, relegating the Novus Ordo to the history books, and restoring the ONE TRUE MASS!
Elizabeth, sadly in most places in America, Catholics are subject to the whims of their local parishes. We aren't Novus Ordo by choice. We are that because that is what we have in our parishes. There isn't a Traditional Mass within 200 miles of here. There is one sometimes in NY State, but it comes and goes. I weep on Sunday. I WAS a Protestant, so I know what I'm getting. But many cradle-Catholics don't have a clue that what they are getting is Protestantism. I have a friend in his 40s who has NEVER been inside a Protestant Church. I WISH I didn't have to listen to the USCCB. Here in lies the problem. The Bishops and parish priests have a responsibility to ALL of us. They have failed. Only a few can even recognize the problem. Please pray for those of us who don't have a lot of options.
If I may be so bold, I would strongly recommend you consider my upcoming book, Praying the Mass: The Prayers of the People, to assist you in becoming liturgically and spiritually prepared for the new English translation of the Mass.
It's a mystagogical catechesis (the sort of thing which the Church has been calling for since the 1985 Extraordinary Synod on Vatican II) which guides you through the Latin and English text of the Mass (said by the congregation) to show you what we say, where it comes from, why we say it, and what it means.
Look for it in a couple of weeks!
Post a Comment