A SUMMER RERUN OF THE REFORM OF THE REFORM OF THE ORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS

The following "summer rerun" is the Ordinary Form of the Mass for the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, March 19, 2012 celebrated Ad Orientem or "toward God" or toward the Liturgical East at Saint Joseph Church, Macon, Georgia. Of course the choir is singing Schubert's Mass in G which is not Gregorian Chant and doesn't really invite congregational participation. This is a Mass of both Latin and English and perhaps the "template" of what the norm for the reform of the reform could be in the future but of course with Mass settings that a normal parish could sing with the cantor, choir or schola.

In many ways I wish we had sung our normal English Mass parts to show how Ad Orientem can show forth the continuity of the two forms of the one Roman Rite even in an English Ordinary Form Mass. That might be my next production! I think that would show how the reverence of the Extraordinary Form can be brought to the Ordinary Form with only minor revisions when celebrated Ad Orientem. The liberties that I should not have taken but did (and really are minor compared to all the silly stuff we see today in the Ordinary Form that detract from reverence rather than add to it) apart from how the Penitential Act is executed, is that I kissed the altar as in the Extraordinary Form each time I turned from it to the congregation and I added the "double genuflections" at the consecration and after the Great Amen. But that's it! You can, of course, fast forward to these parts.

Please note especially:
1. how the Introductory Rite is carried out which is reminiscent of the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, but entirely the Ordinary Form's version of it.
2. the Communion Procession with reception of the Body and Blood of Christ by receiving both the Sacred Host and from the Chalice through intinction with the option of kneeling although standing is the norm in the Ordinary Form, kneeling the legitimate option and the choice being the communicant's. It slows things down and certainly is more dignified and reverent looking. The law of outward reverence is the law of interior Faith!