Watching the old Latin Mass...

I watched the first part of the old Latin Mass (the Extraordinary Form) celebrated recently at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Lots of old fashioned vestments, the bishop wearing gloves, men with all sorts of capes and veils. But vesture is only one of the negatives so apparent in the old Latin Mass.  I am familiar with this form of the Mass from seminary days in the sixties, but now the rite does appear to be a museum liturgy, a ritual of mystification rather than mystery.

 I must be honest in saying that I find this rite offensive by todays’s liturgical standards. It isn’t just the endless bows, nods and genuflections, nor even the silly dancing birettas. Nor is it the bishop preaching, surrounded by vested ministers sitting undecorously on the steps, as if the basilica has run short of seating for ministers of the Mass. And to whom, exactly, are the readers proclaiming the scriptures? If it’s to the people, then this critical proclamation is in an unintelligible language. If to God, well, God already knows the readings. 

I find it offensive that anyone would foster the return of a rite that is immune from the fundamental principles of good liturgy annunciated by the formal teaching of Vatican II. Why would anyone return to a rite that virtually ignores the Hebrew Bible on Sundays and feasts, that requires no homily on the scriptures, that strictly exculdes any lay ministers? The Church teaches that full participation is required by all, that our rites should be simple, short, clear, and unencumbered by useless repitions. Our rites should be within the people’s power of comprehension, and not require much explanation. The old Latin rite ignores all these fundamental principles. It is a rite that cries out for reform, just as it was crying out the day before Vatican II began.

Comments

[Tom McA]

For the benefit of Seattle area readers who want to experience the reverence and beauty of the Extraordinary Form of Holy Mass, the Church of North American Martyrs (at the temporary location of St. Alphonsus Church) offers it daily with the full approval and blessing of Archbishop of Seattle Alex Brunett -- every Sunday at 11:30 am; Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:30 pm; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 12:10 pm; Saturdays at 11 am; and Holy Days at 12:10pm & 7:30 pm. The church is located at 5816 15th Ave NW. Details are at northamericanmartyrs.org. Go to EcclesiaDei.org for a directory of traditional Masses throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Pax Vobiscum!

[Msgr. Pope]

Father, Find a place in your heart for us.

[MC]

Oh, one more thing. The Old Mass is chock full of Old Testament Psalms. FYI.

[Paul Griffiths]

This post represents an antiquated liturgical vision, mired in nostalgia for the seventies.

This sort of thinking in the liturgy is quickly going out of style. People are tired of pedestrian, anemic, street-level liturgy. They want something which lifts their hearts and minds to higher things - which allows them to enter into the mystery of the holy Eucharist.

Bland prayers and plainly proclaimed readings don't do this. Good liturgy will draw us into something greater than ourselves. Through its beauty and solemnity, it will overwhelm our senses and draw us into an ever deeper love of God.

The traditional liturgy deserves our greatest reverence, as a treasure for the universal church. It's completely disordered to dismiss so harshly how the church has prayed for centuries.

[Ad Orientem]

Father,
As an Orthodox Christian I read your above post with some interest. It affirms why so many of us are deeply disturbed by the ongoing dialogue with Rome. How can we ever hope to restore communion with a church that is in a mad rush to repudiate its 2000 year old liturgical heritage and replace it with something cooked up by a committee in an effort to reach the lowest possible denominator? The theological implications of the liturgy you seem to prefer are more than slightly incompatible with us.

Finally based on what you wrote in your review, most particularly this little gem...

"...that our rites should be simple, short, clear, and unencumbered by useless repitions."

I would strongly encourage you to stay far far away from any Orthodox churches. Were you to accidentally step into one during our liturgy I fear the shock to your sensibilities might prove fatal.

ICXC NIKA
John

[Andy Milam]

"I must be honest in saying that I find this rite offensive by todays’s liturgical standards."

I disagree. According to the Holy Father, there is no incongruity between the two. They are different expressions of the same mystery.

"It isn’t just the endless bows, nods and genuflections, nor even the silly dancing birettas."

Endless bows? Is that not what we have now, since we are not allowed to genuflect any longer except for entrance to and recession from the sanctuary? I mean your cronies lobbied for and had it approved. As for the nods and genuflections, I would have you look to Phillipians. Ah Scripture. Dancing Birettas, as opposed to dancing women and men? One is allowed, one is not. Correct? Correct.

"And to whom, exactly, are the readers proclaiming the scriptures? If it’s to the people, then this critical proclamation is in an unintelligible language. If to God, well, God already knows the readings."

They are proclaiming the Scriptures on behalf of the people to God, in the vernacular language of the Church, which is still Latin.

"The Church teaches that full participation is required by all, that our rites should be simple, short, clear, and unencumbered by useless repitions. Our rites should be within the people’s power of comprehension, and not require much explanation. The old Latin rite ignores all these fundamental principles."

Are you speaking of participatio activa or particiaptio actuosa? I cannot tell the difference.

May God Bless you in your endeavours, however, I find that your position is several things, 1)Dated, 2)Tired, and 3)Incorrect.

[Doc]

Oh brother. The biological solution can't happen fast enough.

We were there, and the attendance was primarily young families and young adults.

True worship. Aging hippies need not apply. Get over it.

[MSL]

Father, you "find it offensive that anyone would foster a return of a rite....". I assume then that you find our Holy Father offensive, since he has asked for this Mass to be more widely available. You also objected to the Old Testament scriptures (in your words, Hebrew scriptures) being absent from the Extraordinary Form. If you would take the the time to read prayerfully the just ordinary of the Mass, you would find that there are many scriptural passages there.

[Marc Dillon]

Fr. Larson,

I just finished reading Deacon Laurence Paul Hemming's book "Worship As a Revelation: The Past, Present and Future of Catholic Liturgy." You might enjoy reading it in light of the reflection going on with the Gregorian Liturgy. I have to be honest, I found your above comments somewhat shocking. Is this not the liturgy that fostered your own vocation to the priesthood? Is this not the liturgy that served Ignatius Loyola, Therese of Lisieux, Maximilian Kolbe, and the countless other Saints of the our Church? How can it be defective or offensive?

[Warren Goddard]

Father,The Novus Ordo Mass,though valid,is more Protestant Deformation in Scripture, structure and theology than Catholic.
Warren