LEST WE FORGET, THE ORIGINAL LITURGY WARS HAD ORTHODOX CATHOLICS RALING AGAINST LITURGICAL ABUSES IN THE SO-CALLED NEW MASS,!

I recognize that for many Catholics, but a small minority, the problems they experienced after the 1970 Roman Missal was promulgated wasn’t so much with the verncular Mass or its order—most orthodox Catholics, even if they preferred the Ancient Form of the Mass, obediently accepted the new.

Within the first couple of years, 1969 to about 1972, the new Mass was celebrated reverently, even with modern music, mostly of the folk music style.

But things quickly went south with priests experimenting with the new Mass and making changes in its rubrics and wording.

So, let me be clear, the first liturgical war wasn’t about the 1970 Roman Missal, but about how it was deformed by “spirit of Vatican II liturgists and priests.”

These were the issues and it wasn’t about returning to the 1962 Roman Missal:

1. Music applied to the Mass with the choir or ensemble next to the altar leading the congregation or performing seemed nonsensical and entertainment oriented in style—distracting. 

2. Bells were removed from the Mass and incense as well and these were derided and pre-Vatican II and no longer needed and those who wanted these were derided as “bells and smells” Catholics!

3. With the bells gone, so to were the elevations at the Mass and any genuflections by the priest during the consecrations. 

4. Girls were illicitly trained as altar boys, prior to approval

5. Eucharistic Ministers were employed, even prior to approval

6. Kneeling for Holy Communion was forbidden and those kneeling denied Holy Communion

7. Real bread was used with flaky crusts and debris from these scattered on carpets and floors and carelessly neglected. Those who complained were derided as “Crumb theology” Catholics. 

8. The tabernacle was moved either to a side altar or outside the main part of the Church,often in a closet setting

9. Talking in the church before and after Mass was encouraged

10. Communion in the hand as well as the common chalice were done prior to these being approved.

11. Laity were self-communicating as Eucharistic Ministers simply held the ciborium and allowed the laity to take the Host from it with their own hands. 

12. When too much Precious Blood was consecrated in large pitchers, what was left over was poured down the sacrarium. 

13. Transubstantiation was considered an outdated terms as well as the sacrificial aspect of the Mass—a sacred meal was emphasized instead, a convivial get-liturgical meal get-together. 

14. The priest was changing the words of the Mass including making up the Eucharistic Prayer. 

16. Churches were stripped, reconfigured and made to look like Presbyterian churches and sanctuaries 

17. Mass was celebrated casually, without proper vestments and in settings outside of the church, like outside, on the beach, on floors, no altar and improper elements, like coke and crackers, instead of bread and wine. Relevancy was the new battle cry.

18. Priest celebrants received Holy Communion last, after everyone else in the Church received, often did not distribute Holy Communion allowing only the laity to do so.

19. Communion Ministers came to the altar prior to the priest’s Communion and  then all were given the Host at the same time and consumed together with the priest.

20. Since the sacrificial aspect of the Mass was not emphasized, the priest’s communion was not seen as completing the sacrifice, thus his communion was no different than anyone else’s.

Traditional Catholics were not pleading for the Ancient Mass, they were pleading for the 1970 Roman Missal properly celebrated. They were pleading for reverence and formality during Mass.

Their pleading was in vain and today we have those who prefer the  Ancient Mass because they know what  they will get and their religious beliefs and need for reverence won’t be offended there.