Why it bothers me that faithful Catholics are pronouncing 'the reform of the reform' dead.

There is one Mass.

I do not follow the liturgical wars.  I'm not a priest or a religious, I'm a layman.  I am so happy and grateful to attend Mass and receive Holy Communion.  I know there have been serious liturgical abuses since Vatican II - I've lived through all sorts of them.  I try to go to churches where Mass is celebrated faithfully and devoutly, according to the rubrics.  I appreciate the Novus Ordo, whether celebrated in Latin or the vernacular.  I grew up and was trained as an altar boy in what is now known as the Extraordinary Form - in my youth it was the only form.  In Catholic school we learned the Latin responses for Mass and we learned Gregorian Chant for Mass.  I studied Latin in high school, thinking I wanted to be a priest.  I have nothing against Latin.  Today we have the Ordinary and the Extraordinary form of Mass.  I love both, but I personally prefer the Ordinary Form in English.  Privately, I pray the old Office of the Blessed Virgin in English.

What bothers me today when people write or speak about Mass is that many who prefer the Extraordinary Form seem to denigrate the Ordinary Form of Mass, as if it isn't pleasing to God, or in extreme cases, as if it isn't licit, and worse, as if it isn't valid.  There is one Mass in two forms - two missals.  As Bishop Elliot said in his essay at NLM:

However, the integrity of the two forms needs to be preserved and respected, even as the two are meant to influence each other in these times. My hypothesis about a reform of the Extraordinary Form would also be constrained by that current approach.

Please let us keep this important conversation realistic, patient and moderate. The gift of Summorum Pontificum and Pope Benedict’s vision should not be compromised by loudly proclaiming the total failure of the Paul VI post-conciliar reforms. Sweeping claims and an imprudent triumphalism do no credit to some advocates of the Extraordinary Form. Nor is the Ordinary Form respected or supported by those who grumble about the new ICEL translations and others who draw absurd conclusions from a simpler papal liturgical style. 

Polemics also demean and discourage those of us who are still working to enrich the liturgy that is celebrated in most Roman Rite churches around the world. However, to maintain Pope Benedict’s Pax Liturgica, we all need much patience, and often that is hardest virtue on the Christian journey. - NLM

“News reports and judgments made without sufficient information have created no little confusion.” - Pope Benedict

The criticism and mockery of the "Novus Ordo" harms the Faith as much as the liturgical abuse does.  When leading voices in the 'new' liturgical movement disparage the Church by claiming the 'reform of the reform is dead' - it has an effect upon those of us who are  perhaps less enlightened - not part of the liturgical elite, those of us who struggle to live an ordinary Catholic life in fidelity to Church teaching.  The incessant criticism of liturgy, and liturgical styling, and the innuendo over the loss of grandeur in the papacy of Pope Francis can eat away at the spirit of devotion of ordinary Catholics.  It foments doubt among simple believers, and widens the divide among traditionalists and ordinary Catholics.  Those whose faith has been shaken by scandals and mishandling of Church funds, even those prodigals who may be experiencing a sort of 'dark night' of faith, can suffer from the open dissent on the part of their 'older brothers' in the Faith.   When academics use their sites to declare their disenchantment while declaring the death of the reform, it seems to me it only fuels the spirit of dissension.

Two prominent bloggers have written some things that may help explain what I'm trying to say.  It has to do with the indiscriminate nature of media, not unlike what Pope Benedict discussed when he contrasted the influence of the Council of the media to that of the Council of the Fathers when speaking about the implementation of Vatican II.  It seems to me the same dynamic is at work today when people declare the reform of the reform DOA.

I’m just old enough to remember when Catholic theological rumination, especially moral speculation, was restricted to scholarly journals and professional conferences. The understanding in those days was that, whatever merits the latest theological or moral theories might enjoy, it was inappropriate for experts to parade such novelties before rank-and-file faithful lest they jump to premature or erroneous conclusions thereon.

In our day, however, the internet, to a degree that dwarfs the impact of the printing press in its day, has destroyed the old physical and technological restraints on the dissemination of doctrinal or disciplinary speculation. As a result laymen (in the sense of that word implying non-experts) are at the mercy of any Catholic intellectual—and for that matter of any Catholic prelate—who thinks that swaying public opinion in this direction or that is a good way to prove the soundness of this idea or that. - Dr. Peters

The upcoming synod on the family is being shaped by the same phenomenon that influenced Vatican II. But this time the duplication appears intentional, with all of the risks that it involves. - Sandro Magister

For what it's worth.

I'm not sure if the following personal meditation is of any value, but this morning while praying I came across Psalm 78, which opens:

God divided the sea and led them through

and made the waters stand up like a wall.

He split rocks in the desert.

He gave plentiful drink as from the deep... 

We have two walls protecting us on our pilgrimage - two walls - one rock - that gives drink to the thirsty. We have two forms of one Mass.  One Mass - which gives 'plentiful drink from the deep.'

We must trust God.  We must trust God who gives such plentiful drink in the desert.

My apologies if I have offended my readers in sharing my opinions on news items that affect me.  If you find my posts disturbing, please do not link to me and avoid reading what I post.  Your criticisms and corrections are most welcome however.  God bless you.