And it looks like the typical trad positions automatically come across as uncharitable and unreasonable because we won’t say that our views are subjective preferences.
Let me say I consider myself fairly traditional even though I attend an OF Mass -explained earlier we have a very traditional parish. I think the problem is -the Church in Rome, the Holy See, the Pope -have not said one is better than the other, which is why I believe people get irked when a person of either preference (OF or EF) says their views are not a subjective preference. And to me it seems odd, especially because I think of traditionalists as those who see Rome as the final word in all things, that in this particular case a person who says they are traditional does not accept that the OF Mass is the the “ordinary” Mass of the Catholic Church -meaning the usual Mass, most often celebrated Mass and this is fine with Rome when celebrated as it supposed to be.
Now I am not blind to some of the abuses that have cropped up in certain OF parishes. I am blessed to have an abuse-free OF Mass -which is said mostly in the vernacular but often with a good deal of Latin, some women veil and some don’t, the priest faces us instead in the same direction as those in the pews, and we have the sign of peace -other than that we have the “bells and smells”, we kneel for communion, we have only altar boys, we have limited use of EMHCs, we only have organ music with traditional hymns, we receive by intinction except of course when an EMHC is utilized. I have access to a Trindetine Mass every Saturday at my parish. My personal preference is the OF.
If the only Mass available to me was an EF I would attend one without hesitation and if a “happy clappy” OF Mass was all that was available to me I would attend that without hesitation because to me the most important thing is fulfilling my Sunday obligation. Not whether I like the music, or the attire of those in the pews, or having to kneel on the floor because there are no kneelers.
I do not like to see abuses. It grieves me and sometimes greatly irritates me. I think the big problem is a huge lack of cathechesis over several generations has left a large portion of the laity at the mercy of a few rogue heterodox who think they know better than the pope and the rest of the laity simply do not know better.
I know what an abuse free OF looks like and that is my subjective preference. I love Latin but I do like having some of the Mass in the vernacular, I do not feel personally called to veil (if the church required it I would do it without question), I grew up with the priest facing us so that is what I am used to and the church says that is a legitimate way to celebrate Mass. If I grew up with that and found out later it was an abuse I would get over my preference for it. Like I did with the hand holding with the Our Father. I grew up with it and I liked it but once I found out that is not the way it should be done I know longer do it -I keep my hands pressed together in prayer and have become accustom to that.
My biggest concern is always following what the Church teaches. If the church allows things to be done in more than one way and have a preference that is available to me that’s what I go with. If others have a difference but legitimate preference all the more power to them. If I have a preference that I find in not line with Church teaching than I get over that preference.
So my long winded explanation is when you say your preference is not subjective people that have a different but equally legitimate preference get irked. Now I think you could say I personally feel the EF is more reverent -but I realize the Church does not say it is more reverent people may be less defensive. Because I think what irritates a lot of people is that by saying its not a subjective preference is that you come across as not adhering to what the Church teaches. And as a traditionalist I would think this would not be how you would want to be viewed.
I think some who prefer the EF especially those who did not grow up with it, have been subjected to too many abuses in the OF (which really stems from the environment in the parish and not the form of the Mass it self) that they have become permanently turned off by the OF Mass -which is not an unreasonable reaction.
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