(Rorate Caeli) - ...Moreover, the fact that “at the moment” there are not “institutional proposals” for reform, does not deny that already today there are proposals for study that have not yet become “institutional.”THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: In recent weeks we have witnessed a classic example of the back and forth Vatican game that usually precedes major liturgical changes. A report surfaced on Rorate Caeli blog (a highly reliable source of liturgical news), that a new document had been presented to the pope outlining future liturgical changes. Shortly after this, the Vatican announced that no "institutional" changes were planned "at the moment." In fact, the original article on Rorate Caeli never claimed that, but it was misinterpreted by other bloggers (including myself) to be a bit more than it actually was. In actuality what was presented to the pope were proposals for further study. In other words, they outline a general direction the Holy Father would like to go, but they do not force institutional changes by edict or decree at this time.
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This actually makes sense in the overall scheme of things. When we look at the present state of the Novus Ordo clergy throughout the world, and the history of liturgical reform under Pope John Paul II, we've learned that the Holy Father's wishes are often downplayed (even ignored) by the general clergy throughout the world, especially in English-speaking nations, where some of the most egregious liturgical abuses are commonplace.
It is the opinion of this blogger that the Holy Father seeks to implement the changes to the ordinary form (novus ordo) liturgy using a more subtle technique, simply by appointing hand-picked liturgical reformers to various dioceses throughout the word, and gradually implementing the reforms he wishes through private instruction of his bishops, while using the same liturgical publications already in place. Official edicts and decrees will be sparing at best, as historically these have proved to be fruitless with the current crop of clergy that now exists in the Church.
As for the current generation of Church leaders, it is also the opinion of this blogger that the pope will only discipline the most scandalous abusers in the years ahead, while he will allow the majority of the novus ordo generation to simply fade away. By that I mean retire. With the restoration of the extraordinary form (tridentine) liturgy, we are beginning to discover that the crisis of clerical shortage was transient. Traditional and orthodox seminaries are now busting at the seams with new seminarians, while the liberal and progressive seminaries can no longer afford to keep their doors open due to shortages of candidates. The post-Vatican II, novus ordo progressive priesthood is slowly dying off, and bishops are quietly admitting they will reach a total crisis within just five years, to where they will simply not have enough priests per parishes, and the only priests coming to replace them are traditionalists. To supplement for the coming shortage, bishops will also be forced to import foreign priests from the third-world (Africa and Asia), who are usually far more traditional and orthodox in their approach to ministry. When one takes these things into consideration, the pope's apparent plan for liturgical renewal makes sense. Rather than fight with the novus ordo generation, butting heads with them as they resist change, it may be best to just let them fade away in retirement, while the next generation of more traditional priests takes up the cause.
So what does this mean for the average traditionally minded and orthodox Catholic in a novus ordo parish? It means simply this. Participate in the liturgical renewal crusade on a personal level, then pray for a YOUNG priest to eventually replace your current priest approaching retirement. Your best bet at getting traditional and orthodox reform in your parish is with a young priest, fresh out of the seminary, and well trained in both the ordinary and extraordinary form of the liturgy. The rest of the liturgical renewal will occur in time. Of course, if you're inclined to frequent an extraordinary form (tridentine) mass, and if one is made available to you within reasonable distance, this may be a good place to seek refuge until the desired reforms have been fully implemented in your diocese.
9 comments; post here:
in the wake of the Kennedy funeral debacle, I would seriously begin major liturgical surgery on wedding and funeral masses, absolutely forbid the maudlin, sachharine bleep we were forced to endure, including those awful prayers of the faithless and euologies (already forbidden). Get back to pryaers for the dead, God's judgement, purgatory, repentence etc. Do the same for weddings which are equally un-catholic in choice of music, "readings" and other non-catholic activities. Pete Frey
HAHAHAAH just realized my unintended pun "in the wake of the Kennedy funeral" purely accidental, i assure you Mr Knight. Pete
http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/
check out the first item about "versus Deum" being litrugical law and the proper way!
Dear Sir Knight
Pope Benedict XVI intended the Novus Ordo as the Ordinary form of the Mass while the Tridentine Mass according to the revised Missal of Pope John XIII is the Extraordinary form. If we go beyond the Pope's intentions such as waiting for the "Novus ordo believers to fade away" then we are not thinking and believing with the Pope. The Pope gave permission for the unhampered celebration of the Tridentine Mass not to divide but the unite the Church. What I find disturbing is that some traditionalists say things that can divide the Church. Clearly this isn't what Benedict XVI had in mind.
The Novus Ordo I believe will be the liturgical ordinary form for the Mass for years, decades or even centuries to come. What we want to see is that the Novus Ordo is restored to its majestic simplicity and according to the rubrics intended by the Fathers of Vatican II. I would like to see the Novus Ordo celebrated more in Latin with the reintroduction of plainchant whenever appropriate. Also it matters not if the Mass is celebrated ad orientem or facing the congregation. If the focus of worship the people is the Eucharist, then the direction of worship doesn't matter. In fact the rubrics of the Novus Ordo counsels priests to make sure that attention is accorded to the Host and not to the priest.
The Novus Ordo while celebrated more in Latin will still be celebrated in the Vernacular languages. What we want to see are faithful translations of the Mass from Latin to these languages.
Your suggestion that traditionalists can seek refuge in a parish that celebrates the Extraordinary form is divisive and is akin to what traditionalist Anglicans are doing. But Anglicans have no choice. Catholics have and they have the Bishop of Rome! The Catholic Church is not the Anglican communion which does not have a locus of authority. The Pope as the Vicar of Christ is our sign of unity and I believe that under the present Pope, the liturgical renewal of the Mass will be realized.
Thank you for your comments Blackshama, and for your insight. However, I must respectfully disagree. I do not believe the Novus Ordo can continue to exist in it's current form. I am 100% convinced the Novus Ordo liturgy will have to conform to the Tridentine standards if it is to survive at all, and I certainly don't believe the current Liturgy of the Eucharist will survive the ages in it's present form. It must (and will) conform to the Mass of the Catechumens, otherwise it is not the same mass, but an entirely new liturgy.
I believe the present state of things is transient - a mere aberration that was never intended by the conciliar fathers at Vatican II. The present state of things, with ordinary and extraordinary forms may be the will of the Holy Father for now, but I do not believe he intends to keep things this way indefinitely. Granted, it is always possible that it may take more than ten years to change, maybe twenty, maybe fifty, maybe even a hundred, but it WILL change. There can only be one mass for the Roman Rite. So one of these days, a new Missal will be promulgated, and when it is, I dare say what is now extraordinary will soon be ordinary, and there will be no difference between the two.
So in summary, I expect the Novus Ordo to eventually prevail in the Liturgy of the Word (Mass of the Catechumens) via the Lectionary and Psalter. While I expect the Mass of the Faithful (Liturgy of the Eucharist) to prevail over the rest. When that day will come, your guess is as good as mine, maybe under a different pope, but in the end, there can only be ONE MASS.
I would also like to add....
The pope is not forcing this paradigm shift between the ordinary (novus ordo) and extraordinary (tridentine) forms. It's happening all by itself organically. Younger Catholics are abandoning the ordinary form entirely. Some have left the faith all together, but a growing number are turning to the extraordinary form as a kind of refuge. A quick examination of any extraordinary form parish reveals a disproportionate amount of young families and young college-age singles.
Likewise the overwelming majority of seminarians in training now are traditionalists, expressing a strong preference for the extrordinary form, or else an exclusivity toward it. Meanwhile the number of ordinary form seminarians continues to drop off. The face of the entire Catholic Church is slowly becoming more traditional and orthodox. This is happening organically, all by itself, with or without the actions of the pope.
What the Holy Father is trying to do is catch up with the trend, recognizing of course that this is a move of the Holy Spirit. Extrapolate the trend over 20 years and what you see is the virtual extinction of the novus ordo Church, and a revival of the tridentine Church. If the pope failed to act with Summorum Pontificum and the coming novus ordo reforms, it would only result in schism, bolstering the status of organizations like the SSPX over against the magisterium. The actions of the pope only promote unity because that is already the direction the Church is going. Rome is simply trying to accomodate and hopefully get ahead of the curve.
First Sir Knight, I think we are agreed that we have to recover the Latin that has been lost. Then we are on the way to having one liturgical use for the Latin Church. Unfortunately in my diocese, hardly anyone promotes the Mass in Latin. The last Latin Mass I assisted was when I was in Westminster Cathedral in London. It was a Mass of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales. These holy men and women sacrificed for the right to pray in Latin. In praying in Latin, we are praying with them.
In my opinion, I think how it will end up is that the extraordinary form of the Mass will become regular form (perhaps with more vernacular in it), while the ordinary form will become a kind of Ecumenical form used only on special occassions such as weddings and funerals of celebrities and politicians where only a fraction of the people attending are Catholic, and also for Ecumenical celebrations with other Christians or religions.
http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=60344
Mr Knight, you may find this article "interesting" While Martino was no traditionalist, it shows that the more "liberal" elements within the USCCB are calling the shots on abortion, liturgy, Barrycare etc and that "troublemakers" like Martino will be removed. Can you spell O'Malley? Pete Frey
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