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Tuesday, October 1, 2013

IS THIS AN OPTION POPE FRANCIS WILL APPROVE FOR THE ORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS AS HE HAS APPROVED FOR THE ANGLICAN ORDINARIATE, IN THE NEAR FUTURE AT A PARISH NEAR YOU? I DON'T THINK ONE NEED BE CLAIRVOYANT TO SAY YES!


We don't know if the topic of the Liturgy is on the agenda of Pope Francis as he meets today (October 1) for the first time with the Council of Cardinals, aka, The Gang of 8! I would suspect that it will be. When I watch Pope Francis celebrate the Mass, it is obvious that he has changed the direction of papal Masses and of course of the papal style in general. However, his manner of celebrating the Mass is very austere, very sober which is a major characteristic of the Latin Rite Mass, even the EF. Flamboyance in terms of the manner in which the Mass is prayed by the priest is not a part of our tradition but rather a corruption of it. I've said it before and I'll write it again, Pope Francis celebrates the Mass facing the congregation in an "ad orientem" sort of way. Pope Benedict did so likewise!
The press is here in town in full force. I'm excited that today, part of our program is to go to the "Sacred Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith." I hope will be able to meet the Prefect there or at least others who are high up and ask questions. I hope reporters to mob us. 
The options that our Holy Father Francis has allowed for the Anglican Ordinariate Mass is truly radical. I am surprised that more bloggers haven't noticed it and commented on it. There should be dancing in the streets. But no one seems to have noticed except the Praytell blog and even there, there is no comment about who it is that ultimately approved this Mass with respect to the Elizabethan English but also the EF's Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, Offertory Prayers and EF rubrics for the Roman Canon and the Last Gospel. This is radical because Pope Francis did not stop it and he could have if he so desired. I think with time we will see, not the Elizabethan language, but who knows, but the EF elements restored to the OF Mass but as options, to be found in the Appendix of the Roman Missal. This is indeed good news.
So I print below what this option would look like for our Ordinary Form Mass. There is no change to the current Roman Missal either in Latin or English, but the addition of these options with more specific rubrics. This is directly from the Pope Francis approved Mass for the Anglican Ordinariate: 
This is what I would suggest to the Council of Cardinals and the Holy Father who are meeting this week to discuss in terms of the Liturgy of the Church and its ongoing revision, the normative liturgy and to make the following options for any priest in the world so that Pope Francis, on his own authority, may extend this privilege to all Latin Rite Catholics for the normative Mass, what is sometimes called the Novous Ordo or the Ordinary Form.
The Introductory Rite (option to what is already prescribed)
 After the Priest and Deacons have vested, the following prayers may be said in preparation for Holy Mass, either in the sacristy or at the foot of the altar. If the following is prayed at the foot of the altar, and if the People join in saying the responses and praying the Confiteor, this form may replace the usual Penitential Rite.
Priest  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Servers Amen.
Priest I will go unto the altar of God.
Servers Even unto the God of my joy and gladness.

At Masses for the Dead and during Passiontide, the following Psalm is omitted.
Psalm 43. Judica me, Deus.
Priest Give sentence with me, O God, and defend my cause against the ungodly people; O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man.
 Servers For thou art the God of my strength, why hast thou put me from thee? and why go I so heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?
Priest O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me, and bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling.
Servers And that I may go unto the altar of God, even unto the God of my joy and gladness; and upon the harp will I give thanks unto thee, O God, my God.
Priest Why art thou so heavy, O my soul? and why art thou so disquieted within me?
Servers O put thy trust in God; for I will yet give him thanks, which is the help of my countenance, and my God.
Priest Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; Servers As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world
without end. Amen.
Priest I will go unto the altar of God.

Servers Even unto the God of my joy and gladness. Priest Our help is in the Name of the Lord.
Servers Who hath made heaven and earth. ___________
At the discretion of the Priest, the following forms of the Confiteor may be omitted, and the Preparatory Prayers may continue then with the versicle, Wilt thou not turn again.
Priest I confess to Almighty God, to Blessed Mary ever-Virgin, to Blessed Michael the Archangel, to Blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to you, brethren, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, deed; [he strikes his breast thrice] by my fault, by my own fault, by my own most grievous fault. Wherefore I beg Blessed Mary ever- Virgin, Blessed Michael the Archangel, Blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brethren, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
Servers May almighty God have mercy upon thee, forgive thee thy sins, and bring thee to everlasting life.
Priest Amen.
 Servers I confess to Almighty God, to Blessed Mary ever-Virgin, to Blessed Michael the Archangel, to Blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to thee, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, deed; [they strike their breast thrice] by my fault, by my own fault, by my own most grievous fault. Wherefore I beg Blessed Mary ever- Virgin, Blessed Michael the Archangel, Blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Angels and Saints, and thee, Father, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
Priest May almighty God have mercy upon you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to everlasting life.
Servers Amen.
Priest The almighty and merciful Lord grant unto us pardon,  absolution, and remission of our sins.
Servers Amen. ___________
Priest Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us, O God? Servers That thy people may rejoice in thee.
Priest O Lord, show thy mercy upon us.
Servers And grant us thy salvation.

Priest O Lord, hear my prayer. Servers And let my cry come unto thee.
If the Preparation is prayed in the sacristy, the Priest says:
Priest The Lord be with you. Servers And with thy spirit. Priest Let us pray.
Most gracious God, incline thy merciful ears unto our prayers, and enlighten our hearts by the grace of the Holy Spirit: that we may be found meet to serve thy holy Mysteries; and worthy to love thee with eternal charity; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Or if prayed at the foot of the altar, the Introit follows. The Priest ascends to the altar and venerates it with a kiss and, if appropriate to the dignity of the celebration, he censes the altar and cross. Mass continues with the Collect for Purity. 
Then the Kyrie, Gloria and Collect are prayed, with "The Lord be with you" prior to the collect. The Gloria allows for the priest to make the Sign of the Cross at the conclusion of the Gloria.
The Liturgy of the Word remains as is from the revised lectionary with the option of the Gradual in place of the Responsorial Psalm.
The Credo has the option of kneeling at the words of the "incarnation." 
The Intercessions follow and then the offertory collection and procession of offerings by the laity to the altar.
The option of the EF Offertory Prayers:
The Offertory (Form I)
Having prepared sufficient bread for communion, the Priest takes the paten with the bread and holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands, saying in a low voice:
Receive, O holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, this spotless host, which I, thine unworthy servant, now offer unto thee, my living and true God, for my numberless sins, offences, and negligences; for all here present; as also for the faithful in Christ, both the quick and the dead, that it may avail for their salvation and mine, unto life everlasting. Amen.
Then making a cross with the paten, he places the paten with the bread upon the corporal. The Deacon pours wine and a little water into the chalice, the Priest first blessing with the sign of the cross the water to be mixed in the chalice, saying:
O God , who didst wondrously create, and yet more wondrously renew thedignity of man’s nature: Grant that by the mystery of this water and wine we may be made partakers of his divinity, as he vouchsafed to become partaker of our humanity, even Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Then he takes the chalice, and offers it, slightly elevating it and saying in a low voice:
We offer unto thee, O Lord, the chalice of salvation, beseeching thy mercy, that it may ascend in the sight of thy divine majesty as a sweet smelling savour for our salvation, and for that of the whole world. Amen.
He makes the sign of the cross with the chalice and places it upon the corporal, and covers it with the pall. Then with hands joined upon the altar, bowing he says:
In a humble spirit, and with a contrite heart, may we be accepted of thee, O Lord, and so let our sacrifice be offered in thy sight this day, that it may be pleasing unto thee, O Lord our God.
Standing upright, he extends his hands, raises them and joins them, and lifting his eyes to heaven and then lowering them, says:
Come, thou O sanctifier, almighty, everlasting God, and  bless this sacrifice, made ready for thy holy Name.
 If incense is used, he blesses it saying:
Through the intercession of blessed Michael the Archangel standing at the right hand of the altar of incense, and of all his elect, may the Lord vouchsafe to bless this incense, and to receive it for a sweet smelling savour; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
And receiving the thurible, he censes the Oblations, in the customary manner.
Then he censes the altar and returns the thurible to the Deacon or server. Then the Priest is censed by the Deacon or server, and afterwards the others in order. Meanwhile, the Priest, standing at the side of the altar, washes his hands, saying in a low voice:
I will wash my hands in innocency, O Lord; and so will I go to thine altar; That I may show the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth. O shut not up my soul with the sinners, nor my life with the blood-thirsty; In whose hands is wickedness, and their right hand is full of gifts. But as for me, I will walk innocently: O deliver me, and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth right; I will praise the Lord in the congregations. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Psalm 26:6-12
Then bowing in the middle of the altar, with hands joined upon it, he says in a low voice:
Receive, O holy Trinity, this oblation which we offer unto thee in memory of the passion, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ; in honour of blessed Mary ever-virgin, of blessed John the Baptist, of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, that it may be to their honour, and for our salvation; and that like as we remember them on earth, so in heaven they may plead for us. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Priest kisses the altar and, turning towards the People, extending and then joining his hands, says:
Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable unto God, the Father almighty.
 The People stand and respond:
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at thy hands, for the praise and glory of his Name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church. 
The Mass continues as usual with the option of the Roman Canon prayed in an EF style with its rubrics, but aloud or in a quiet voice, chanted or spoken:
The People kneel. The Priest, with hands extended says; or, extending, raising, and then joining his hands whilst raising his eyes to  and immediately lowering them, bows deeply before the altar, and with his hands resting on it, says:
[Celebrant alone]
THEREFORE, most merciful Father, we humbly pray thee, through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord,
He may kiss the altar. Making then the sign of the cross over the bread and chalice together he says:
and we ask, that thou accept and bless these  gifts, these offerings, these holy and unblemished sacrifices.
With hands extended, he continues:
WE offer them unto thee, first, for thy holy Catholic Church: that thou vouchsafe to keep her in peace, to guard, unite, and govern her throughout the whole world; together with thy servant N. our Pope, [N., our Ordinary,] or [N., our Bishop,] and all the faithful guardians of the catholic and apostolic faith.
Commemoration of the Living
[Celebrant or one concelebrant] REMEMBER, O Lord, thy servants and handmaids [N. and N.]
The Priest joins his hands and prays briefly for those for whom he intends to pray; then with hands extended, he continues:
and all who here around us stand, whose faith is known unto thee and their steadfastness manifest, on whose behalf we offer unto thee, or who themselves offer unto thee this sacrifice of praise; for themselves, and for all who are theirs; for the redemption of their souls, for the hope of their health and well-being; and who offer their prayers unto thee, the eternal God, the living and the true... 
The Rite of Holy Communion through the end of the Mass is as usual. 
The Option of the Last Gospel:
The Priest may recite this Gospel after Mass (except on Christmas Day when this is the Gospel of the Mass).
After the Blessing and Dismissal the Priest goes to the Gospel corner of the altar and reads the Last Gospel as follows, all standing. Having said The Lord be with you, he makes the sign of the cross with his right thumb on the altar table or on the book, and then on his own forehead, lips, and breast. Everyone genuflects at the words And the Word was made flesh.
V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.
 The Beginning of the Holy Gospel according to John. R. Glory be to thee, O Lord.
IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. [He genuflects, saying] And the Word was made flesh, [and rising continues] and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
The People respond: Thanks be to God. 























1 comment:

John Nolan said...

The Anglican Ordinariate is a very small group. Restoring the Tridentine Offertory prayers, PATFOTA, Last Gospel etc. cannot be seen as retaining the Anglican patrimony (it has nothing to do with Cranmer's prayer book or indeed with the pre-Reformation Sarum Use). The Ordinariate priests I know see the definitive liturgy as being the Tridentine Roman Rite and it would seem that they have got this past the CDW just in time.

Pope Francis has never celebrated what he calls the Vetus Ordo and has no great regard for it. The English hierarchy will never allow non-Ordinariate priests to celebrate this hybrid rite except in exceptional circumstances (such as celebrating Mass for an Ordinariate parish). I can't see the US bishops doing otherwise.

That said, it is a valid Mass of the Latin rite as far as Rome is concerned, and if a non-Ordinariate parish wanted it, it would be difficult to explain why they couldn't have it.

But a harbinger of ROTR? I don't think so.