WILL THE STATELINESS OF THE ANGLICAN USE MASS BE AN EXAMPLE OF THE REFORM OF THE REFORM OF THE TRADITIONAL ORDINARY FORM NOVUS ORDO LATIN RITE MASS? TIME WILL TELL

The hoped-for gravitationAL pull of the Anglican Use Mass and altar arrangement and orientation of the clergy on the revision of the Traditional Novus Ordo Mass of the rest of the Latin Rite Church:

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Many in the Catholic Church, and this would include me, would say that the problem with the Novus Ordo isn't so much that it is a New Order of the Mass compared with what preceded it, but how liturgical theologians directed rank and file bishops, priests and laity to implement it.

In reality the revised Mass which was first revised in Latin and over the course of a number of years beginning in 1964 through 2011 in the English vernacular is in continuity with the Mass that preceded it. Where the continuity is ruptured is not from official teachings or documentations, but unofficial experimentation and wishful thinking about what Vatican II taught and pushing it forward in a discontinuous way. An exaggerated understanding of "noble simplicity" led not to actual noble simplicity but the dumbing down of altars, vestments, decoration, iconography/images, and the architecture of churches to reflect a wishful thinking about the amalgamation of the laity and clergy with no distinctions whatsoever. In other words, theologians promoted on their own authority the clericalization of the laity and the laicization of the clergy. The liturgy these theologians promoted and continue to promote reflects a hermeneutic of on-going reform that will create a "church" that in no way appears to be the Church that we've had since Constantine.

The Anglican Use Mass may help Catholics who celebrate the tradition Novus Ordo Mass to recover the stateliness of the Mass which Vatican II never intended to discard.

But we in the mainstream of the Latin Rite who celebrate the traditional Novus Ordo Mass need to see how we can revise/reform our traditional novus ordo Mass and make it more like that from which it evolved, the Extraordinary Form while continuing to acknowledge that Sacrosanctum Concilium asked for a revision of the Tridentine Mass.

So here are my brilliant suggestions for a slight revision of our traditional Novus Ordo Mass. In other words I offer no rupture in the tradition of the Novus Ordo Mass:

The Traditional Novus Ordo Mass at the Brompton Oratory, yes it is celebrated ad orientem and legally so!

Let us pray that this will become the Liturgical Norm for the Reception of Holy Communion by the laity:

THE PROCESSIONAL AND PENITENTIAL PRELUDE TO THE HOLY MASS: (We should return to understanding the Penitential Act as a prelude to the Mass and as the communal preparation of the clergy and laity for the actual beginning of the Mass which starts after the penitential absolution with the singing of the Introit. The asperges may replace the Penitential Prelude, but should be modeled after the EF's form of the Asperges to make it clear it is a prelude to the Mass.)

The Prelude Entrance Hymn: Instrumental Music, a metrical hymn or some other anthem may be sung as the Liturgical procession makes its way to the altar.

The Penitential Prelude at the Foot of the Altar: Priest and congregation prepare for Holy Mass through the recitation of penitential prayers

Facing the Altar, at the foot of the altar, The priest begins with the Sign of the Cross and then invites all to recall their sins with a moment of silence.

Then all bowing, together the priest and congregation recites the Confiteor.

The priest offers the "absolution."

The Mass:

The choir, schola or cantor now sings the Introit which actually begins the Mass: As the priest ascends to the altar, kisses it and incenses it. The Introit is sung as in the Tridentine Mass with refrain, verse(s), Gloria Patri, and refrain.

The Priest after incensing the altar goes to his chair to preside.

Afterwards at the choir and congregation sing the Kyrie in its nine-fold form.

Then the Gloria is intoned by the priest and sung by all.

Then the priest greets the congregation with "The Lord be with you" and chants or says the Collect of the day.

The Liturgy of the Word

All sit for the Liturgy of the Word as it is normally proclaimed or sung. The Gradual may substitute the Responsorial Psalm.

After the homily, the priests sits for a moment of silence.

Then he rises and intones the Credo which is then chanted.

Then the priest introduces the Universal Prayer and the deacon or cantor chants these.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist and Communion Rite

The Preparation of the Offerings

The altar is prepared, the collection is taken and the gifts brought to the altar.

The cantor, schola or choir sing the offertory antiphon and any other anthem to cover this action or their might be instrucmental music after the offertory antiphon is sung.

The preparation of the offerings and the ensuing Eucharistic Prayer (any of the options) ensues but prayed "ad orientem."

The Priest turns to the people for the Orate Fratres, but remains facing the altar until "The Peace of the Lord Be With You" and the Sign of Peace which all exchange is a noble, sober way.

During the chanting of the Agnus Dei, the priest "Breaks the Bread" and prepares for His Holy Communion.

Then after the Agnus Dei is sung, the priest genuflects, turns to the congregation for the "Ecce Agnus Dei" and its "Lord, I Am Not Worthy..." recited by priest and congregation.

The priest turns back to the altar and receives his Holy Communion, thus completing the "unbloody" Sacrifice of the Mass. As he does this, the cantor, schola or choir sing the Communion Antiphon with its verses.

During the Communion of the Faithful, other antiphons, hymns or motets may be sung to cover the Communion Procession.

Holy Communion is distributed to the faithful kneeling and by intinction, which is the norm for large congregations. Smaller congregations may receive the Precious Blood directly from the chalice, but kneeling.

After Holy Communion the ablutions are completed.

The Concluding Rite

The priest returns to his chair for a moment of silence (no post-communion hymn is prescribed, only silence)

The priest stands, greets the people saying or singing Let us pray and the Post Communion Prayer is prayed.

Then if there are announcements or acknowledgements these are made.

Then the priest goes to the altar, kisses it, turns to the congregation, greets them, offers the solemn blessing or prayer over the people if prescribed and bless them. The deacon dismisses the people.

A hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary is sung according to the season of the year and the recession then takes place which could include an appropriate hymn.

My Final Comment: This Reform of the Reform but in continuity with the Traditional Novus Ordo Mass would require the full panoply of priest, deacon, sub-deacon (which will be resurrected) acolytes, lector, cantor, schola, choir and congregational active and spiritual participation. It will be stately, the altar will be free standing but in the so-called "Benedictine Style" and the altar railing will be recovered and viewed as an adaptation of the "rood screen" or "iconostasis" and the sanctuary will once again be understood as the Holy of Holies. The altar railing will also be seen as an extension of the "altar-table" where the Faithful kneel for Holy Communion which has a longer tradition in the Latin Rite than standing does.