ncjohn;2995142]Everything that the documents specified was done. The vernacular was extended “in the first place” to the parts you noted. But it was left to the territorial authorities to determine how much further it might need to go. Which is exactly what happened, and exactly what the Pope approved.
The reformers wrote the Constitution and they were clever. The Fathers believed that the competent authority would decide **whether or not **the vernacular would be used and if it was to what extent.They never envisioned the entire Mass in the vernacular.
(3)These norms being observed, it is for the competent
territorial ecclesiastical authority mentioned in Article 22:2,
to decide
whether, and to what extent, the vernacular language is to be used."
But what exactly did the Fathers believe that they were voting on?
They believed that they were voting on the Traditional Latin Mass where only the Gospel, Epistle and a few prayers would be said in the Vernacular. They believed that the Mass would have more Gospel readings, that a few prayers would be omitted and that Communion under both kinds would be permitted.
The Constitution did not authorize the following:
Communion in the hand
Removal of the Tabernacle
Priest facing the people
The entire Mass said in the vernacular
Removal of the Canon and replacing it with nine Eucharistic prayers
Changing the words of Consecration
Eucharistic Ministers
Sign of Peace
Music with guitars, drums etc.
Here is what they voted for
- Finally, in faithful obedience to tradition, the sacred Council declares that Holy Mother Church holds all lawfully
recognized rites to be of equal right and dignity; that she
**wishes to preserve them in the future and to foster them **in every way. The Council also desires that, where necessary, the rites be ** revised carefully in the light of sound tradition……
Nothing here told the Fathers that the Latin rite would be banned.
**23. In order that sound tradition be retained, and yet the way
remain open to legitimate progress, a careful investigation -
theological, historical, and pastoral – should always be
made into each part of the liturgy which is to be
revised…….**Finally, there must be no innovations
unless the good of the Church genuinely and certainly requires them, and care must be taken that any new forms adopted should ** in some way grow organically from forms already existing…….
Again nothing to indicate radical changes in the Mass. Did the New Mass grow organically? NO Were there innovations? Yes
- The Church recognizes Gregorian chant as being specially suited to the Roman liturgy. Therefore, other things being equal,** it should be given pride of place in liturgical services **Other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded from liturgical celebrations
Was Gregorian Chant given pride of place?Article 30…the people should be encouraged to ** take part by means of acclamations, responses, psalms, antiphons, hymns **as well as by actions, gestures and bodily attitudes. And at the proper time a reverent silence should be observed.
Still nothing out of the ordinary
36 (1) The use of the Latin language, with due respect to
particular law, is to be preserved in the Latin rites.
(2) But since the use of the vernacular, whether in the Mass, the administration of the sacraments, or in other parts of the liturgy, may frequently be of great advantage to the people, a wider use may be made of it, **especially in readings, directives and in some prayers and chants. **
Was Latin preserved? No
(3) These norms being observed, it is for the competent
territorial ecclesiastical authority mentioned in Article 22:2,
to** decide whether, and to what extent**, the vernacular language is
to be used.
54. A suitable place may be allotted to the vernacular in Masses which are celebrated with the people, **especially in the readings and “the common prayer,” ** and also, as local conditions may warrant, in those parts which pertain to the people, according to the rules laid down in Article 36 of this Constitution.Nevertheless care must be taken to ensure that the faithful may also be able to say or sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them.
Throughout the document the reformers stated that “active participation of the people was above all else”.This is how the reformers justified all vernacular. For how could the people participate if it were in Latin? How could they sing if it were in Latin? How could they participate if the priest were facing the Tabernacle etc.etc.etc.