Extraordinary Form in the Vernacular, The Reform of the Reform, and the Best of Both Worlds

[ProVobis]

It’s possible I was recalling an even earlier version than the 1962 missal. I remember telling a friend once that you could go to Mass anywhere in the world, and understand the main parts of what was being said, because we all know the common Latin parts. Now that travel is more common that’s no longer true!

Some posters here have claimed that Latin is used for some of the Mass in many other areas, including Africa and Asia. In some countries kids are taught several languages so it’s less of a barrier to them. I know it’s less of a barrier for me when I use a Latin-Spanish printout of the Mass, enabling me to follow the Mass better. Also to make the responses.

By the way, the St. Joseph Missal was copyrighted around 1958 and it had already dropped the Latin in the propers. And their translations were not so good, IMO. I couldn’t figure out how some of them were derived and weren’t that good in following the Mass.

 

[amicatholic2000]

But then it wouldn’t be the extraordinary form so what’s the point? Sure, anytime you create a variation, there will be some people who will like it. Vernacular Mass. Guitar Mass. Clown Mass.

I have my own very subjective “ideal” Mass in mind and it isn’t a vernacular EF. It’s actually closer to the opposite; a Latin OF so a vernacular EF would be moving in the wrong direction.

Latin OF Masses do exist - it is the Latin Rite after all. They might not be near you, though.

 

[amicatholic2000]

There is no such rule.

There definitely is a rule preventing a parishioner from switching rites. Belonging to a certain parish because no parish in your rite is nearby or it is the only worship time you can make might allow for someone to register at a parish that is not of their rite, but I would think that following the rule in good faith would require someone to register at a parish of their rite if doing so does not impose an undue burden on that person.

I’m sure an Eastern Rite parish would let me register with no questions asked. As I have mentioned earlier, I like rules. I don’t like following them myself - but I like it when institutions set rules and follow them without having lots of pastoral gray areas. I feel if there is going to be a gray area, the rule should not be specific in the first place. But that’s just a matter of taste. The Holy Spirit knows better I’m sure. It still really annoys me that there is so much messiness about the Church following its own rules and there are so many ways in which the Church is permitted to deviate from its own rules.

 

[Elizium23]

Yes but there is no such rule and there is no grey area. There is in fact a rule allowing the faithful to change their canonically ascribed Church. (Church, not Rite, of which one is a member.) Parish registration is a legal fiction which you will not find codified in Canon Law. Registration is simply a convenient way for parishes to track the parishioners who are actively coming to Mass in their church. They are not going to ask you your canonical ascription, and while we ask what sacraments people have received, we don’t even ask your religion, so we don’t mind Hindus or Muslims registering at our parish, though it is of course a rare occurrence.

All Catholics have the right to worship in any Catholic rite to fulfill their obligation so I don’t see what the problem is there.