Lumen Gentium
Well, we this coming Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. I wonder if anyone is taking up Cardinal Sarah's invitation to celebrate Mass ad orientem more frequently? Despite hearing words of support - at least from among the clergy and people I tend to interact with, I'm not awaiting with baited breath a volte face in parishes across the country. The Cardinal's Sunday of suggestion for this almost passed me by, as all our Masses here are facing the Lord on the altar and in the tabernacle - and towards those clouds, should he happen to be planning to appear in glory this particular year and save all our politicians form their worst decisions. However, I came across an article in the Catholic World Report by Jeannette Flood, which reminded me. You can read it on-line HERE.
The article is another attempt to explain and teach in a calm way in answer to the cries of horror from modernists, who seem to feel that anything that looks like the Church from pre-1960's is the work of the devil.
It's always a great worry tome when I hear theological and liturgical discussion that references the Second Vatican Council as THE pivotal point in time and history, almost as though the Church had not really been in existence before then or had been suffering an absence of Christ's teaching since the sub-apostolic era: BC - before THE Council; AD after the Documents. It seems to me that one definition of heresy is to take some element of the Faith that is perfectly sound and good and emphasise it out of all proportion. That is, of course, as with all heresy, a devilish thing. The devil doesn't choose an evil to lead us astray but takes a good and makes it a god.
Before my comments box fills up with accusations of being a Vat II denier, I can say that I do accept the Council and believe it was a good but I also believe there was a good, functioning, holy, effective Catholic and Apostolic Church for nineteen hundred and and sixty two years before that as well and that quite a lot of what it did is still good and holy for us as it was for past generations. Continuity, as with any family, helps to bind us together.
Whilst I totally agree with you Father Simon I do worry about the reactions of most congregations. Having been at your Masses & amongst your congregation, who so obviously love & respect you, I regularly attend other Masses where the congregation would be very confrontational. If you have any ideas to defuse such situations I'm sure many like-minded priests would find them very helpful. The attitude of Archbishop Malcolm is to be applauded as most other bishops would not be so supportive.
ReplyDeleteYes, David. Hence my direction to the article, which has some suggestions for that. An occasional try at All Souls Day, Midnight Mass or the Easter Vigil could also be a gentle start. Using side altars during the week, particularly if there if there is a relevant feast day could also be a gentle introduction.
ReplyDeleteI think , sadly the majority of Clergy will not have given it a moments thought. Though I do think your ideas for occasional use to start with are excellent Fr Henry.
ReplyDeleteSadly my Diocese here in Scotland has only managed one traditional Mass in the last forty years. A. Liturgical desert indeed.
I think , sadly the majority of Clergy will not have given it a moments thought. Though I do think your ideas for occasional use to start with are excellent Fr Henry.
ReplyDeleteSadly my Diocese here in Scotland has only managed one traditional Mass in the last forty years. A. Liturgical desert indeed.
Thankfully here in Gateshead we do have regular Saturday & Sunday celebrations of the EF as we do also at Barnard Castle & Thornley on Sunday mornings. We do also have other weekly or monthly celebrations elsewhere in the diocese for which we are most grateful. I'm assuming, however, that the thrust of your post was to have OF Masses celebrated ad orientem &, hopefully, our clergy who read your blog may be encouraged by your ideas.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, David. The thrust of Cardinal Sarah's invitation and this particular post is that the OF needs to follow what the rubrics ask of us, rather than the accumulated layers of imported nonsense that have been shoehorned into it and are not to be found in the Missal, whilst instructions and options plainly given in the Missal are routinely and almost universally ignored.
ReplyDeleteI did write to my bishop asking his opinion but was already aware that on a previous occasion he soundly chastised one of our priests for trying it. His chastisement was (seemingly) a 1 or 2 vociferous parishioners. Sadly the silent majority (who would probably accept whatever the priest provided) were ignored. Being a part of the silent majority doesn't work!!
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