Are the Gears Finally Moving?

I keep Catholic News Agency as my homepage. Every now and again a news story really catches my eye. Here is such a news story. I have a very special place in my heart for the Year of the Eucharist (2004-2005) which Pope John Paul II initiated, and which saw my full return to the practice of the Faith, my wife's reception into the Church, and the ascension to the Chair of St. Peter by Cardinal Ratzinger, taking the noble title of Pope Benedict XVI. Some of the initiatives that year were really important for my faith in the real presence to grow (such as our Archdiocese's Eucharistic Congress, right).

Upon closure of this special year, there was an Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (no, not Anglican synod) which focussed on the things which we have learned from this year of special Graces and the message which needs to be implemented for the Universal Church. The Bishops came up with some excellent suggestions, as I can tell by reading what the Mass of Ages magazine selectively published. Such questions were raised as the reception of communion (the ordinary way of kneeling and on the tongue versus the extraordinary special indult way of standing and in the hand); the orientation of the priest (versus populum having become the norm in the last 40 years when compared with the traditional ad orientem, or facing east, where the priest faces the same direction as the people - towards God); liturgical music (banal 60s durges compared with the sacred polyphony and Gregorian Chant which used to be a basic feature of Catholic liturgy); the erroneous and abused use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (who are lay parishioners who become the 'ordinary' means of distributing communion, generally and incorrectly referred to as 'Eucharistic Ministers'); the noble use of Latin in the Liturgy (encouraged by the II Vatican Council but suppressed by modernistic agendas and liberal priests); the wider celebration of the Tridentine Rite...

Well, I'm hoping and praying that whatever words and recommendations that are published in this Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis (even if not what I'd generally thirst for), can be assimilated widely and generously by the whole Church. If successful, then it will undoubtedly pave the way for the 'Reform of the Reform' which Catholics who lean towards a conservative approach to the Liturgy are generally calling for. This will result in Mass said more reverently, worthily, and with deeper devotion and understanding. That, of course, can only be a good thing. The Mass is not meant for the entertainment of the faithful, for comfort or community spirit, or even to foster a sense of "fellowship". The Mass is the re-presentation before us, each time, of the Holy Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which took place nearly 2000 years ago in Jerusalem. As such, all our hearts and minds must be orientated towards God, and be meditating ever more deeply on the prayers offered to him, in union with Christ's sacrifice, to incorporate ourselves into this mystery.

My thoughts on the "Reform of the Reform"? Well, for me it is a start and a middle ground. I have no doubt it is the will of the Holy Father to bring about a return to a traditional and reverent approach to the Mass. However, in my opinion the Mass has been re-written and reformed to such an extent that it is deliberately aimed towards trying to rupture with a traditional understanding of the Eucharistic Sacrifice. As such, I think it will be very difficult to tweak things and make all the problems go away. I believe the modern Roman Missal was written to resemble more closely the Protestant services which are so dear to those members on the Liturgical committee back in the late 60s (Brother Rogér et al). I think the typical 60s folk Mass is really the epitomé of what the reform was moving towards. I think, most importantly, it is not a product of Vatican II. If one reads Sacrosanctum Concilium closely, it is clear that it was not the will of the council fathers for the Mass to be re-written and re-crafted in such a drastic way. In fact, I think if a typical modern Mass were performed in front of them, most would have been horrified.

But what has happened has happened. Right? What can we do? And why does it matter? I will leave that to another post, hopefully if the rumoured Motu Proprio comes any closer to fruition. I trust the Holy Father will know the right thing to do, and will pray carefully over the manner in which he will do it. Whatever his decisions, there will inevitably be opposition on all sides, such is the climate of the Church today.