Thursday, January 11, 2007

Pope Paul VI - Changes In Mass For Greater Apostolate

Have you ever read the words of Pope Paul VI in his "Address to a General Audience, November 26, 1969" where he was introducing the Novus Ordo Mass to the people? These are the words that strike me the most. Reading them makes me mourn for all we have lost, and grieve for the Mass of the Ages that has been replaced by the often less than reverent Novus Ordo.

2. A new rite of the Mass: a change in a venerable tradition that has gone on for centuries. This is something that affects our hereditary religious patrimony, which seemed to enjoy the privilege of being untouchable and settled. It seemed to bring the prayer of our forefathers and our saints to our lips and to give us the comfort of feeling faithful to our spiritual past, which we kept alive to pass it on to the generations ahead.

3. It is at such a moment as this that we get a better understanding of the value of historical tradition and the communion of the saints. This change will affect the ceremonies of the Mass. We shall become aware, perhaps with some feeling of annoyance, that the ceremonies at the altar are no longer being carried out with the same words and gestures to which we were accustomed—perhaps so much accustomed that we no longer took any notice of them. This change also touches the faithful. It is intended to interest each one of those present, to draw them out of their customary personal devotions or their usual torpor.

4. We must prepare for this many-sided inconvenience. It is the kind of upset caused by every novelty that breaks in on our habits. We shall notice that pious persons are disturbed most, because they have their own respectable way of hearing Mass, and they will feel shaken out of their usual thoughts and obliged to follow those of others. Even priests may feel some annoyance in this respect.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do you think that they really thought this whole thing out?

I really cant understand where he is coming from in stating..."It is intended to interest each one of those present, to draw them out of their customary personal devotions or their usual torpor"
or when he says.."We must prepare for this many-sided inconvenience."

Inconvenience...sacrlige more like it!

OK let the flaming begin :)

Anita Moore said...

I don't see any arguments in here for changing the rite that is not in fact an argument against it.

paramedicgirl said...

Anita, that's what I thought too. The whole documnet is a compelling argument to NOT change the Mass.

Terry Nelson said...

Ah! What a sad comentary. The age old question must be asked, "What were you thinking?"
I loved Paul VI, but..."What were you thinking?"

Good post!

Fr LWG said...

I was 17 years old when these words were uttered. The Mass of my youth was pulled out from under me just at the time in my life when I needed the spiritual strength of the ancient liturgy. The Novus Ordo pales in comparison to the TLM. Yes, the Lord is present, yes, grace is effected, but so much less in the current normative rite...thus, the crisis present today.

Anita Moore said...

We must prepare for this many-sided inconvenience. It is the kind of upset caused by every novelty that breaks in on our habits. We shall notice that pious persons are disturbed most, because they have their own respectable way of hearing Mass, and they will feel shaken out of their usual thoughts and obliged to follow those of others. Even priests may feel some annoyance in this respect.

Isn't this the same reasoning that purports to justify invasions of my personal space at Mass by people who insist on grabbing my hand during the Our Father? What insufferable arrogance.

Dymphna said...

How sad.