The genius of having two forms of the one Roman Rite is that we can experience the Mass as both beautiful and solemn by contrasting the ethos of both and appreciating both as they are meant to be experienced.
The criticism, although I would call it a strength, of the EF Mass is that it is too vertical in its approach to the worship of God. It is true that the primary emphasis is on the priest who acting in the person of Christ and thus the "mediator" between God and man is the focus of attention. Very little attention is paid to the congregation, although their responses at least by proxy in the persons of the altar boys and choir is needed. Yet, it is what the priest does (keeping in mind the priest also represent the people) that is the focus. In other words there is no "horizontality" meaning there is no focus on fellowship and folksiness and I don't mean these terms in the negative way they are often understood.
The criticism, although I would call it a strength, of the OF is that it is too horizontal in its approach to the worship of God. With the priest facing the people in all the prayers and the emphasis on the people's priestly role configured to the ministerial priest, there is a desire to be welcoming of the laity and as inclusive of them as possible. No one acts on their behalf by proxy. The priest can even get perturbed if the laity are not doing their parts in the most conscious and active way possible, such as not singing, not focusing on the action, or getting up and moving about, like going to the bathroom, at the most inauspicious times.
For example at Father Dawid Kwiatkowski's first Solemn Mass at St. Joseph two weeks ago, there was flexibility enough for me to welcome him and his family and visiting clergy, seminarians and others after the greeting of the Mass. There was flexibility as well after Mass for me to make comments and for there to be a fun sharing. That would not be welcomed in the EF Mass.
8 comments:
I think you are on to something here. If all Catholics of the Latin Rite--and that's well over 90% of the Catholics in the USA--will familiarize ourselves with the beauty of both forms of the Roman Mass, then the Church will be in a better position to move forward liturgically. But as long as we remain ignorant of, or antagonistic towards, one form or the other, then we will just keep spinning our wheels, with one side stuck in the black and white 1950's and the other in the psychedelic 1960's.
I like both but I prefer the EF, I feel it's more reverent. It's easier to shift one's focus from the Lord to the congregation in an OF mass.
I know the Holy Father wants to heal the "rupture" that developed in the Church after Vatican II (pre-Vatican II/ post Vatican II talk). But I feel it would be a giant leap forward if the EF were to be allowed in the vernacular, but following strictly the rubrics. I know the Holy Father wants to preserve Latin, but he could maintain that in both the OF and EF that certain parts always be in Latin, such as unchanging parts. But that's just my opinion.
I've noticed that when the people--rather than just the altar boy at Low Mass or the schola at Sung Mass--participate vocally in the Gloria, Credo, etc., their fear of Latin fades. But, yes, the changeable parts of the Mass, especially the lesson and gospel texts, could surely be in the vernacular someday. It seems silly to me for people to have their noses buried in hand-missals.
Is not the "criticism/strength" paragraphs exactly the kind of observations one makes regarding the "mutual enrichment" both forms are (theoretically) to have with each other, with the EF taking the lead?
This should become a "both/and", rather than an "either/or" proposition, so long as beauty and reverence are the focus.
First, the group looks genuinely happy, and that is nice.
Secondly, I agree with Father Shelton in so far as it can defeat a lot of the benefit of the Mass in any form to read along too much.
So I will put a target on my back and ask an question: what about a display near the alter that shows the Latin and vernacular translation. I have seen this done at the Met and some other opera venues. This would take a lot thought, but I think could be done properly and reverently.
(It looks like the poor fellow photo right had a run in with the lame duck, too!)
rcg
RCG, I get it...sort of like those movie screens in Prot churches where they show the lyrics to the songs and Jesus pictures..or, maybe altar girls with cue cards marching around like between rounds at a prize fight...Gee, how did non-Latin speaking cultures ever get along in the Mass for hundreds of years without a damned media specialist. Target acquired...LOL!
I almost suggested the lyrics with a bouncing ball over them. I guess that is a no-go. Heh.
rcg
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