One Mass, two forms.
Mark Shea published an excellent bit of advice from Tolkien for Traditionalist Mass goers - and of course, Ordinary Form Mass goers. [BTW, I consider myself a traditional Catholic, as if you didn't know. I attend the Ordinary Form of Mass - which is the ordinary norm of the Latin rite. I also deeply respect the Pope and Magisterium and strive to adhere to Catholic teaching. I frequent the sacraments, especially the sacrament of penance, when I fail.]
"Also I can recommend this as an exercise (alas! only too easy to find opportunity for): make your communion in circumstances that affront your taste. Choose a snuffling or gabbling priest or a proud and vulgar friar; and a church full of the usual bourgeois crowd, ill-behaved children - from those who yell to those products of Catholic schools who the moment the tabernacle is opened sit back and yawn - open necked and dirty youths, women in trousers and often with hair both unkempt and uncovered. Go to communion with them (and pray for them). It will be just the same (or better than that) as a mass said beautifully by a visibly holy man, and shared by a few devout and decorous people. It could not be worse than the mess of the feeding of the Five Thousand - after which our Lord propounded the feeding that was to come."
This really works. Especially if one can acquire the habit of recollection. Tolkien still comes off a little condescending when he says 'go to communion with them - and pray for them.' I would just say, 'pray with them' and leave it at that. It's what I've done for years, since no longer going to St. Agnes in St. Paul - which I believed for a time, was the superior parish for celebrating the NO according to rubrics. There is a snobbism which creeps in - no matter what, if one approaches Mass with that attitude. When I first left the monastery years ago, I couldn't stand parish celebrations of Sunday Mass. I got over it.
They who truly adore God must adore Him in spirit and in truth.To really prepare for Mass, to assist at Mass, to focus on Christ, the Holy Sacrifice, to adore and worship, while at the end, spending time in thanksgiving, everything is holy. Even during the chatter after Mass, one can remain recollected and at peace. Frequently it all becomes white noise, or during Mass, the sounds of children warms the heart. You no longer pay attention to how others dress or behave, much less attempt to consider who is worthy - or not - to receive the Eucharist. All of that is out of place for the worshipper. I've never felt the holiness of Mass more than after the long draught of not having Mass publicly, when we were able to go back, in smaller numbers. How holy and beautiful were the simplest Masses.
There is one Mass in two forms, or uses. It is one Mass - the same Mass. We have one Faith, one Baptism, one Mass, one, holy, Catholic Church, and one reigning Pontiff as Vicar of Christ. That is not exaggerating his importance, nor is it papalatrous to believe that.As regards exterior things, he (Editor: one who is attached to the grandeur and pomp of the EF) will become unable to dispose himself for prayer in all places, but will be confined to places that are to his taste; and thus he will often fail in prayer, because, as the saying goes, he can understand no other book than his own village. - S. John, Ascent
There is a lot to think about in this post.
ReplyDeleteI belong to a Novus Ordo parish, which is dear to my heart. My pastor, who is celebrating his 10th Ordination anniversary on Saturday, is very faithful and solid in his Faith - and is a lot of fun. He is attracting new parishioners with his friendly and kind ways and the clear truth of his homilies. He has a great deal of responsibility on his shoulders, being pastor to 2 parishes, feeding upwards of 100 homeless/street people every day, chaplain to the Newman Center and the local children's hospital, and far more. He is a good leader and I am grateful. Our parochial vicar celebrated his 50th Jubilee 3 weeks ago and is much the same. Both celebrate Mass with great reverence, with no "short cuts" or improvisations. We are blessed indeed.
At one point a few years back, I was intrigued by the glowing witness of those who attend the Latin Mass, so I went to Mass at a local NO parish which offers it in their Sunday schedule.
I found the congregation and ushers rather forbidding and cold. I later found out it was because of the way I dressed (slacks, silk blouse, cardigan - and no head covering). I simply had not gotten the memo about the dress code. Rather than an usher or sympathetic woman taking me aside and perhaps kindly explaining, they simply stood in judgment instead of engaging me. There was no translation offered, and I was completely at sea during Mass - it may have been Mandarin for all I knew. If there had been a translation, I would have probably been looking down at that instead of praying the Mass and watching the priest. I have attended Mass in Quebec, which is prayed in French, but I was able to follow and understand because the flow of the Mass was identical to Mass in English, and I had a Magnificat so I could read the Scripture.
The music was *splendid* at the Latin Mass, however - it was absolutely lovely.
I understand the devotion of those who attend the TLM, and I respect them and the TLM.
I find that often people tend to view the Novus Ordo and TLM to be in some kind of competition as to which is more faithful or sacred. To me, this is the real problem. Both Masses are recognized as sacred and valid in the Church, as are the Eastern Rites - and they are not rated as to which is preferable in sanctity - *all* are equally valid and sacred. I think you and I are on the same page on this, Terry - I don't want to hear about how one form is superior to another. It is a matter of personal preference, I I do not want to listen to anyone disrespect or belittle one form over another.
God bless and protect you, my dear brother in Christ, and all here! - Susan, TOF
At one point a few years back,
Yes - we're definitely on the same page. I love the EF Mass, I grew up with it. I love the OF because I feel I can participate, assist, follow more closely, and I'm attached to the new calendar and cycle of readings - it forms my daily prayer, or Lectio Divina. When Communion in the hand was allowed, I trembled - I couldn't believe we were allowed to hold Him in our hands - I never felt any opposition to it, nor did I find it irreverent. Of course, I know there have been many abuses.
DeleteSusan, your experience brings back many memories. My son lived near a TLM parish so I'd walk over for Mass. I knew they preferred ladies in veils so I bought one and wore it. I was quite excited to wear it! But before I'd been there 10 minutes my head was sweating from the polyester material lol! I also spent a lot of time looking at other veils and comparing mine. It was the nicest lol! In that parish some women showed up in jeans and bare heads and nobody said anything or gave them the hairy eyeball - not obviously in any case. The music was divine! However...zero fellowship or welcome or can I help you navigate this Mass? One lady did try to help once but I'd forgotten my glasses so could not read the missal with translation. From what I've read online the TLM isn't just a Mass but a whole culture that one must buy into completely. I don't think I'm cut out for that.
DeleteI grew up with the Latin Mass and served throughout high school. It was beautiful. People do not understand the liturgy. It was complex with the Priest being the sole communicant with God. There was no real participation by the congregation. In a sense it was easier for them. Bit by bit things fell away and people were expected to actively participate. Church was not just “attending” Mass, but being involved. Expectations were to carry over into daily life the teachings of the Faith. I cannot imagine what life would be like if nothing had changed.
ReplyDeleteVery well put, Mr. H.
DeleteMy late father and his brothers all served Latin Mass from the time they were 6 or 7 years old - and understood exactly what they were praying, because my Sicilian grandfather spoke Italian at home and it is somewhat similar, they were taught it at the parish school, and because they attended Mass daily and on weekends and they understood the structure and meaning of the Mass and its prayers. And they all loved it, even when they had to get up at 5 in the morning on rainy and snowy days so they could be in time for the first Mass (this was in Akron during WWII, and all the defense workers worked round the clock - the first Mass at 6:15 AM was for the workers at Goodyear whose shifts ended at 6 AM).
For someone like me (I am almost 60, and the Mass changed to the vernacular when I was about 5 years old), it is difficult to understand because I never learned Latin. As you point out, it is also very strange because I am used to participating actively at Mass, responding to the prayers and not depending on the servers to answer for the congregation.
As I said above, even if I had a translation, I would be constantly reading it and trying to keep up, instead of actively praying and watching the priest, which does not seem optimal, especially in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament - I should be adoring Him, not studying a translation.
Please don't take this as a criticism, however. I fully respect and recognize the sanctity of the TLM as much as I do the Novus Ordo Mass - which, prayed with devotion and reverence as is done at my home parish, is awesome. It is just a matter of preference and it is what I am comfortable with and what I am used to.
Peace to you, Mr. H, and to all here!