Monday, July 11, 2011

Another Reason to Love the Extraordinary Form of the Mass

The priest who normally says the 6:30 on Monday mornings had a replacement priest this morning.  Not sure what his name was or what his order is or where he came from, but I have to say it was the first time I sincerely wondered whether or not I was assisting at a valid Mass.  When I tell you that the entire Mass was ad-libbed, I am not exaggerating.  When that happens, the congregation doesn't know what response to make.  The Mass takes on an awkward, lurching, rambling direction that resembles anything but a sacred mystery.

Quite simply, this doesn't happen at the Extraordinary Form, or Traditional Latin Mass.  The priest does not make himself the center of attention by leaving the congregation guessing :"Well, what's he going to do or say next?"  He says the black and does the red and the focus is rightly on the Holy Sacrifice.  It's not impossible to do the same with the Novus Ordo, but there simply isn't the opportunity to "experiment".

BTW, Happy Feast Day to all my Benedictine friends, especially Caroline.  There was a time when I entertained becoming an oblate of the Benedictines, but I'm not at all fond of unexpected, uninvited guests, which I imagine is a prerequisite given that hospitality is part of St. Benedict's rule.

8 comments:

  1. Thank You Joyce...Unexpected guests are not my strong-suit either...but I'm learning. You'd make a great oblate...I actually had thought of the Carmelites at one point.
    I'm praying as you asked for the EF Mass. That I know of...we have one in our area and it's only on Sunday.

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  2. Uh oh! sigh. Sorry to hear that. :( We did make it to the novena at Carmel on Sunday evening. Now that was beautiful. A sauna, but beautiful. :)

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  3. I find myself distracted at some N.O. masses for those same reasons.

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  4. i agree, Mass should just be Mass and followed in the black and white. The priest should be relaxed, but not so much so that he cannot follow the guidelines. Then again, he should not be so up tight that he makes the Mass sound robotic. excellent post!

    God Bless

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  5. Another excellent post, thanks for the inspiration.

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  6. I thought the same things after reading about the Boston 'gay' Mass - but even if the NO Mass was said as it should be - as well as ad orientum most of this novelty stuff wouldn't have a place. You are correct however - it's a good reason to return to the EF.

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  7. Thanks all, for your thoughtful comments. I went to a Mass this evening (because I couldn't haul myself out of bed for the 6:30 this morning) where the priest never raised the chalice during the consecration. I don't look to pick on priests or the Mass but it's really quite simple - say the words, and make the appropriate gestures and save the improv for some other time!

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  8. priests have two extremes, either way to much frill or not even the bare minimum

    God Bless

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