Continuation of the Editorial on Pope’s recent decree, allowing wider use of the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass.
Does the decree raise theological and liturgical difficulties? There are scholars who say it does. Mark Francis, a professor of liturgy, writing in the Tablet (14 July ’07, draws attention to the nature of a “rite” within the Church. The chief characteristic that distinguishes a rite is the way its adherents celebrate the Eucharist. But from 14 Sept when the Latin Mass decree will come into force, those who belong to the Roman (Latin)rite, one of the 23 recognised rites of the Catholic Church , will have two forms of the Eucharist: the post Vatican II Mass which will be “the ordinary form” and the Tridentine Mass, which will be “the extraordinary form.” He says this is unprecedented in the liturgical history of the Church.
That the old rite was never abrogated, he says, is a questionable presumption. “From 1970, when the Missal of Paul VI was promulgated, to 1984 when the congregation for Divine Worship issued an indult to allow a local bishop to permit celebrations of the old rite, the abrogation of the Tridentine Missal was taken for granted.”
Listen to what a highly respected Cardinal whom the media once projected as a future Pope has said on the decree. Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, former Archbishop of Milan, writing in II Sole 24 Ore (29th July), an Italian newspaper, said that although he loves the Latin language and would have no technical difficulty even preaching in Latin, he would not celebrate the Tridentine Mass. Why wouldn’t he?
The first reason is its lectionary that is deficient or limited in its use of Scripture. It has just a one year cycle of Scripture readings, while the new Mass uses a three – year cycle of different readings for Sundays and a two year cycle for weekdays. His second reason for not going back to the old mass is that it would be symptomatic of “that sense of closure that emanated from the kind of Christian life that people lived then… I am very grateful to the Second Vatican Council because it opened doors and windows for a Christian life that was happier and more humanly livable.”
The old Missal reflects an attitude that seems antagonistic to the world. It has a Mass “Against the Pagans”. More controversial is the way it treats Jews. Although the adjective “perfidious” describing the Jews was removed from the 1962 edition of the Missal, there are still prayers that call for their conversion. This says Mark Francis, is in direct contradiction to Vatican II’s “Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (see Nostra Aetate 4). How does the old Missal refer to Christians of other Churches? As heretics and schismatics. If you’d describe fellow Christians this way, how do you promote ecumenical dialogue?
Cardinal Martini’s third reason is the need for unity in prayer and worship within each diocese. He says his experience as a bishop convinced him of this.
All this, mind you, does not mean that he opposes Pope’s decision to allow a wider use of the old rite. He actually welcomes it. Shouldn’t the Cardinals approach be ours too? He says he thanks God for the Pope’s benevolence in allowing Catholics to worship both in ancient and the new forms. While he himself would not use this permission granted by the Pope of 7July, Cardinal Martini says the Pope’s reconciliatory gesture could signal an “openness to reaching out to everyone, which gives hope for a future of dialogue among all who seek God with a sincere heart.” M.A. Joe Antony SJ
The New Leader, August 16-31, 2007
(Printed with permission from the author.) |
