Does a less organized Mass necessarily mean less Tradition?

[narrowpath]

C. S. Lewis certainly didn’t think so: After attending a Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy, he said:

"What pleased me most about a Greek Orthodox Mass I once attended was that there seemed to be no prescribed behavior for the congregation. Some stood, some knelt, some sat, some walked; one crawled about the floor like a caterpillar. And the beauty of it was that nobody took the slightest notice of what anyone else was doing. I wish we Anglicans would follow their example. One meets people who are perturbed because someone in the next pew does, or does not, cross himself. They oughn’t even to have seen, let alone censured. “Who art thou that judgest Another’s Servant?” – p. 10

And the Greek Orthodox certainly hold fast to their great Traditions.

But among Traditionalist catholics, it seems like many say that unless you follow the Mass EXACTLY you are going down a dangerous road.

 

[Cluny]

It depends on what you mean by “tradition” and “less organized Mass”–and I’m speaking as an Orthodox here.

Ideally, Orthodox churches do not have pews. I’ve noticed that the little ones are better behaved when they are not pinned to one spot in a pew, with nothing but the backs of furniture and other people to look at.

 

[Johndigger]

Tradition is not really about organisation. It’s about continuity and unity.

Each and every Mass is the sacrifice of the Church. The whole Church. Therefore, no individual outside of the Pope (and in some cases Bishops) have the authority to change the mass. To do so would mean we were not worshipping God as his Bride, the Church but rather as individuals (Each doing a wonderful and praiseworthy action, but ultimately seperated)

Eastern Rite Catholics may have their own traditions and practices that they use to praise and worship God. This is a necessary and intrinsic part of Catholicism as the Latin Church is not the only one and on its own is lacking.

However, this doesn’t mean we need to adopt more Eastern practices.

Also, on a final point, I believe a clarification is needed. Traditional Catholics mainly emphasize the need for the Priest to follow the rubrics as he offers up the sacrifice of the Mass. It is often the more liberal Catholics that critisize he fact that the laity are not performing actions uniformly (I.e Some are praying the rosary, some are saying the prayers of mass quietly, some are responding outloud), so I believe your point is valid but slightly misdirected.

God bless!

In Christ,

JD

 

[Cluny]

But take note that Orthodox tradition calls for the faithful to attend to the prayers and hymns of the public services (it’s not necessary that everybody sing every single word during them; listening attentively and prayerfully is participation), and not be occupied with their own private devotions during them.