WHAT TO DO!? WHAT TO DO!? WHAT TO DO!? OH! WHAT ARE WE TO DO!? WELL, I’M GOING TO TELL YOU!

There are all kinds of ideas about the future of the Mass, both the ancient and modern. It’s all so very confusing.

And finally we have a good Abbot in France writing the pope about forming a new Missal with two ways of celebrating it. But many people don’t like his ideas, although they merit consideration and his recommendation to Pope Leo is more likely to garner widespread support, with only modern and ancient liturgical nerds complaining.

But here’s my definitive recommendation to Pope Leo:

The modern/Bugnini Missal is a disaster, not so much the Missal, as the manner in which it is celebrated, to include all the Kitschy music dragged into it and all the instrumentation and all the Broadway melodies set to sacred words. 

A thorough revision of the Bugnini Mass needs to take place, which eliminates the clericalism of options that the priest makes exclusively, depending on his ideologies or how he’s feeling that day.  The Ordinariat’s Missal with its limited options, is the way to go and how they were allowed to modify the Roman Calendar. 

The Bugnini Mass’s Introductory Rite is a disaster! Take away all the options except for the Confiteor and Kyrie following. Mandate the use of the Propers, chanted or spoken. Mandate no improvising annd the celebrants verbosity! Address the disaster of liturgy music, and priests ad libbing and acting like an MC imposing his happy, clappy personality on the Mass. 

Make sure the Liturgy of the Eucharist is ad orientem and Kneeling for Holy Communion and receiving on the tongue is the norm!

As far as the Ancient Mass goes, go back to Summorum Pontificum but emphasize the role of the bishop in supervising its use, so that it isn’t foisted upon any parish where it isn’t welcomed. Allow pastors of parishes to determine its use in his parish, not any other priest, assigned or visiting. 

And this is my bombshell promulgation, the Roman Missal that is to be used for the Ancient Latin Mass, is the Roman Missal revised after Vatican II as Vatican II actually requested,  the 1964/65 Missal not the 1962 Roman Missal.