Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Business as Usual

Don Marco vividly describes a typical American Catholic Sunday liturgy. This is exactly why many of us are eager to at least occasionally participate in a traditional Latin Mass, the Mass of the ages. We merely want to worship almighty God in a sublime and reverent manner, not in a free-for-all which can only be described as the most banal of amateur theatrics. Share

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Clergy who are throwing up roadblocks to the recent motu proprio are nervous. They are acting like cornered criminals - desperate and angry.

But, this situation is their fault. The laity's desire for wider access to the extraordinary form would not be quite so great if clergy would have allowed the Novus Ordo to be celebrated with respect and reverence. They have insisted on shoving banalities and ugliness down our throats and we can't stomach it anymore.

Since some bishops and priests are putting up such a fuss and digging in their heels, the only conclusion I can draw is that some clergy do not want holiness, silence, reverence, awe, Latin, lovely music, wonder, worship or beauty. They don't want it in the Novus Ordo, and they certainly don't want the extraordinary form.

The Bass player said...

what i can't understand is "why" why would a man devote his whole being to...banality?

Anonymous said...

(Yay! Blogger is letting me get into the comments today!)

Good point about the Latin Mass, EMV. I have a great hope that even for those who do not have an immediate access to a Latin Mass in their parishes/dioceses, that a new wave of devotion will sweep through the world, inspired by the Latin Mass where it IS celebrated, and a sort of joy and enthusiasm for the return to devotion will reach even the more remote and most weary of faithful.

Vara said...

Remember, there is much more than just the mere form of the ritual involved. A sacred space requires a sense of "apartness" and "consecration". We Orthodox do it with icons, the ikonostas, the many flickering candles, traditional vestments, and strictly regulated chant forms. I have seen good Latin liturgies in Europe (especially in Brompton, I believe the church there is called the Oratory), so I know that it is just as possible using Catholic forms and expressions.

Nevertheless, I warn that it shall take much effort (and no little expense) to convert the present-day liturgical barns into proper churches of the Latin ritual. You can do it, many of you are ready to do so, but be aware that it shall be a hard task, one that shall ask of you much sacrifice in terms of time and money.

I confide that many of you are not only capable of such, you are willing to do such, which is a God-pleasing impulse. This outsider wishes you well.

Vara