JMJ
Reading through these posts leaves me very sad, but very thankful that I experienced the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for many years before the
Novus Ordo and the overwhelming, associated changes in Church design, decor, and “bringing up to date.” There is no relationship evident in too many of the above posts to the Christocentric purpose of the Holy Sacrifice. The switch to homocentric themes and purposes is staggering.
While the Holy Sacrifice can have a Sacramental element beyond the Holy Eucharist; such as, an ordination, a wedding, a funeral, and other very solemn Church ceremonies, the
sine qua non is the priest offering, with the laity assisting, the Infinite Sacrifice to God for our personal sins and the sins of all mankind. The priest and the individual assisting should remember during every moment in the Church that they are in the Real Presence of God. They are there to bend their knees and and to bow their heads in abject humility and submission to God, begging for His Mercy in full recognition, admission, sorrow, rejection, resolution, and amendment for their sins.
They are not there to see others and to be seen, not to display their talents and accomplishments, not to be entertained or amused. They are there to fall on their knees and beg for God’s forgiveness. They are not there to wonder how this parish and/or this priest
does Mass. Prior to the *Novus Ordo *and the uncountable, associated changes, the Holy Sacrifice of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church was the same throughout the world. The Missal you carried gave you all of the words and rubrics translated into your native tongue; and they were followed strictly. You were completely at home in a French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch village Church where not one other person spoke your language.
The music during Mass should contribute a mood in complete conformity to the purpose of the Mass, principly adoration and humble submission. Organ music had been determined to be the most effective and the least intrusive to this end. Foot tapping or being lost in a song is not proper to the purpose of the Mass. The organist and the choir are best hidden behind the laity to prevent distraction.
Clothing, especially headress, used to be a symbol of power, position, or wealth for men. In Church men removed their headress in humility. For women their hair was "their crowning glory. In Church women covered their hair. This remained a required custom and a public demonstartion of humility until those “associated” changes following “in the spirit” of the
Novus Ordo.
I’ve said in other threads that this is not a nostalgia for times past as so many acuse us. It is a great sadness that the awe, the mystery, the adoration exhibited in Church and especially during Mass has been reduced monumentally. I recognize that some priests have maintained or re-instituted proper decorum and attitude within the limitations of the
Novus Ordo, but these are exceptions, and in my experience rare exceptions, when compared to the researched and restored Mass required by Saint Pius V in his encyclical, *Quo Primum *(1570).
.papalencyclicals.net/Pius05/p5quopri.htm
As a personal opinion, my opinion can be dismissed, but the statistics show clearly and emphatically that immediately after these changes, Mass attendence has dropped severely, the belief in the Real Presence has dropped from above 90% to below 20%, that many Catholics have left the Church, that holy vocations have almost disappeared in the diocese exhibiting the most “modern” adaptations, that Catholic schools at all levels openly teach heresy and blasphemy.
Of course, the Church and its functions were not perfect or without sin and apostacy prior to the
Novus Ordo, but for those who have prolonged experience, both before and after, the difference is phenominal.
I pray for a Universal Indult. I **totally disagree **with those who say or hint that the *Novus Ordo *is illicit or that the Chair of Peter is vacant The Pope has the authority to establish a Mass which has only the Consecration and Communion to be offered in back yards on Sundays. Would that be wise, or the best human method to offer the Sacrifice? Would that better demonstrate in human terms our Offering to God in reparation for our sins. Again in my opinion, I think not. Likewise, I believe that the Novus Ordo has not produced any of the advertised advantages, but has resulted in many effects contrary to those advantages.
May God bless us all.
). This beautiful form of prayer feeds my devotion when I go to Mass. I don’t necessarily need praise and worship music at Mass to feed my devotion. Instead I can be drawn more deeply into the Divine Liturgy through my intellect and will because they have been primed through my more emotional prayer experience outside of Mass.