In spite of what you may have been told, once upon a time, Vatican II did NOT call for
- The Mass entirely in the vernacular language (eg, English)
- Doing away with Latin in the Mass
- Doing away with Gregorian Chant
- Doing away with Organ music at Mass
- Doing away with communion on the tongue
- Doing away with women wearing head coverings in Church
- Removal of altar rails
- Priests saying Mass facing the people
- Not doing penance on Fridays
- Not needing to confess serious sins before receiving communion
- Doing away with "archaic" practices such as saying the Rosary
In Masses which are celebrated with the people, a suitable place may be allotted to their mother tongue. Nevertheless steps should be taken so that the faithful may also be able to say or to sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass.
~Sacrosanctum Concilium, Paragraph 54
The musical tradition of the Universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The Church acknowledges Gregorian Chant as specially suited to the Roman Liturgy. Therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services.
~Ibid, Paragraph 112 & 114
It looks like the fox has taken over the hen house, folks. At least for the past, oh, 40+ years or so. It makes me sad that most seminarians today are not required to study Latin. Hopefully, if the pope issues the expected motu proprio, allowing priests to say the Mass in Latin without needing specific permission from the local bishop, this will change. After all, Our Lord did promise that
That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18
Interesting post. I think it is high time for a clarification from the Vatican, The motu proprio is needed.
ReplyDelete//Joakim
Very true!
ReplyDeleteGood post. The "Spirit of Vatican II", as my priest says, is just a pseudonym for satan. I am still confused as to why so many changes followed Vatican II - changes that Vatican II didn't call for.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm actually not confused as to why: Pope John XXIII said, "open window" and "fresh air" and people who were chafing at the bit for radical change just ran with it. So...yeah. Perhaps your priest is right!
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