The good things about the N.O

[Dempsey1919]

I attend the Tridentine Mass exclusively but I respect the validity of the Novus Ordo Missae. In fact, the Novus Ordo was the only Mass that I knew as a child.

I am starting to think that the Church should do away with the Pauline Mass, and offer the EF in the vernacular for those who want it. My reasoning is that the EF is so much richer in terms of symbolism and sacredness. The Tridentine Mass is just better in my opinion.

However, I realise that most Catholics love the Novus Ordo. My question is, why? What does the Novus Ordo have that the Tridentine Mass doesn’t? Some may say the vernacular. What if the EF was celebrated in the vernacular…would you still prefer the N.O?

I want to know why people prefer the N.O to the Tridentine Mass? Surely, if people knew the symbolism of Tridentine Mass then they would flock to this Mass in droves.

The Tridentine Mass have everything that the N.O has, and more.

 

[bear06]

I prefer the audible canon and the wider use of readings. I wouldn’t prefer one over the other if those were in place in the EF. Of course, I attend a very different Mass than a lot of people. I’ve got chant, incense, Asperges, etc. (BTW, I’ve read several articles on the silent canon and the symbolism of the EF so it’s not necessary to educate me any further on the pro-silent canon argument or the symbolism. I’ve read many articles on both but still prefer the Novus Ordo).

 

[Joel_Tunnah]

My question is, why? What does the Novus Ordo have that the Tridentine Mass doesn’t?

Sharing the “peace be with you” with your neighbors in the pew. It’s one of the highlights of my week. Truly.

 

[Sr_Sally]

I prefer the audible canon and the wider use of readings. I wouldn’t prefer one over the other if those were in place in the EF. Of course, I attend a very different Mass than a lot of people. I’ve got chant, incense, Asperges, etc. (BTW, I’ve read several articles on the silent canon and the symbolism of the EF so it’s not necessary to educate me any further on the pro-silent canon argument or the symbolism. I’ve read many articles on both but still prefer the Novus Ordo).

I agree. Especially about the additional readings. The Ordinary Form Mass that we attend is very reverant and beautiful, so I don’t have to worry about abuses, bad music, etc. As long as the Mass at my current parish stays this way (and I see no signs of it changing, even with new priests assigned here), I won’t drive out of my way for a regular Sunday TLM Mass.

 

[Brennan_Doherty]

I attend the Tridentine Mass exclusively but I respect the validity of the Novus Ordo Missae. In fact, the Novus Ordo was the only Mass that I knew as a child.

I am starting to think that the Church should do away with the Pauline Mass, and offer the EF in the vernacular for those who want it. My reasoning is that the EF is so much richer in terms of symbolism and sacredness. The Tridentine Mass is just better in my opinion.

However, **I realise that most Catholics love the Novus Ordo. **My question is, why? What does the Novus Ordo have that the Tridentine Mass doesn’t? Some may say the vernacular. What if the EF was celebrated in the vernacular…would you still prefer the N.O?

I want to know why people prefer the N.O to the Tridentine Mass? Surely, if people knew the symbolism of Tridentine Mass then they would flock to this Mass in droves.

The Tridentine Mass have everything that the N.O has, and more.

I would say that most Catholics who attend Mass attend the Novus Ordo because that is often the only option available to them (or that they are aware of).

And when it was promulgated the TLM was repressed so its not as if there was a fair competition and people started flocking to the NO because they liked it better.

 

[Pious_Mat]

Sharing the “peace be with you” with your neighbors in the pew. It’s one of the highlights of my week. Truly.

Really? I’d light a candle every day for ten years if we stopped doing that…

I think that there are certainly parts of the Novus Ordo are beneficial, such as the audible canon and greater exposure to scripture. However, I was never a real fan of a three-year calendar, in that each year is too dependent on one Gospel. For example, this year seems to show far too much of Luke (not that I don’t like him, quite the contrary–I just think that seeing somebody else’s account of the same motiff in the same year would be of great benefit to all of us). I truly wish some kind of compromise could be made between these two issues.

However, despite the fact that the OF can be beautiful when properly celebrated, I think that many, many people like it for the wrong reasons. I think that many people go only for the sense of community, and the fact that at many NO masses, the presence of Christ is almost downplayed. At the EF, one feels so small in comparision to the deity before one, and there is no way to hide from Him there. During the NO, however (when poorly celebrated), it can be rather easy to “hide” from Our Saviour.

However, I NEVER see such sentiment come out at an EWTN Mass, and if every NO Mass were celebrated as it is there, you wouldn’t catch me complaining about anything.

The NO has enormous potential, some of which I think Cardinal Bugnini didn’t even see, like making Latin and Gregorian Chant more accessible to the laity. It also has enormous potential for Evangelization through its flexibility, and seemingly can accommidate reverent practices that formerly would have constituted and entirely different Rite. However, this brought on a responsibility that was often abused, and so certain re-thinking, which might be rubrical, theological, or educational, or all three, in nature, must take place.

 

[chotock]

The 3 year reading cycle for Sundays is great in how it gives a much broader sense of Scripture (the 2 year weekday is also wonderful, though I unfortunatly unable to attend Mass daily). I also adore the Responsory Psalm format, I love singing the Psalms.

 

[freudmacher]

Really? I’d light a candle every day for ten years if we stopped doing that…

LOL…but I agree and I will light em too!!!

 

[homewardbound]

Sharing the “peace be with you” with your neighbors in the pew. It’s one of the highlights of my week. Truly.

Thats one of the things I despise most about the NO. It takes the focus off of God at a moment when it seems we shouldn’t and puts all the focus on ourselves. I hate it. Plus, I have had some bad experiences with people during this time. I have social anxiety and some days I do not wish to speak to all the people standing around me. I’ve been standing there as the “peace be with you” part starts and trying to focus on God and His Presence, and have had people poke me repeatedly in the back just because I didn’t turn around and shake their hand. After that, nuh uh no way, no more! I go to Mass to worship, not socialize. I guess as a convert, its just far to Protestant for me. I prefer to worship together during Mass and wish each other well after.

Anyway, as for the good things about the NO. I honestly don’t know besides it being in vernacular. I have never experienced a reverent NO Mass and I think getting rid of it and having the EF is vernacular instead would be wonderful! Right now, I’m just glad for having the EF now. So glad, just in time for my conversion. If I had nothing but the NO like the ones in my area to attend, I would feel so spiritually empty. I hope someday to experience a good NO so I can have something good to say about it.

 

[Markstorm]

Sharing the “peace be with you” with your neighbors in the pew. It’s one of the highlights of my week. Truly.

Yeah, this really sums up my feelings on this issue. I mean sure, I could just go up to people after Mass, shake their hands, wish them peace, and probably receive the same wish in return.

But you know, there’s something special about having a captive audience for my handshakes, and knowing that it’s compulsory for people. Just makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Besides, if we left social activities like shaking hands for after Mass, we wouldn’t even get to interrupt a beautiful celebration!

How silly would that be…

 

[WanderAimlessly]

I have been to good and I have been to bad OF Masses. Currently, I go to an OF Mass that is as close as you will probably get to the EF Mass for that form:

1. 
   *]Said Ad Orientum
   *]Chant (more than 80% of the time)
   *]Latin (Mostly with the Chant, but sometimes other parts of the Mass)
   *]No Hand Shake at the Sign of Peace.
   *]Communion on the Tongue using the Altar Rail
   *]Altar Boys Only

 

[bear06]

I would say that most Catholics who attend Mass attend the Novus Ordo because that is often the only option available to them (or that they are aware of).

And when it was promulgated the TLM was repressed so its not as if there was a fair competition and people started flocking to the NO because they liked it better.

You’re going to get pious people who prefer the EF and you’re going to get some pious people that prefer the OF. We have both Masses at my parish and, yet, there are still those of us who prefer the OF after many years and many experiences with both.

 

[havemercy]

I love the Novus Ordo because I feel very confortable, almost like I’m at a party. I also like to talk a lot, and the NO does a good job of allowing me that reality.

 

[Joel_Tunnah]

Yeah, this really sums up my feelings on this issue. I mean sure, I could just go up to people after Mass, shake their hands, wish them peace, and probably receive the same wish in return.
But you know, there’s something special about having a captive audience for my handshakes, and knowing that it’s compulsory for people. Just makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Besides, if we left social activities like shaking hands for after Mass, we wouldn’t even get to interrupt a beautiful celebration!
How silly would that be…

I couldn’t agree more. And I also hate sitting in a pew with other people - why can’t they have separate chairs for everyone?
And that guy greeting people at the door with the hymn books - what a phony!!! I make a point of scowling at him as I grab the book.
Speaking of hymn books - why do we sing? It’s so distracting! and complusory! The woman next to me is off key. I think I might hate her.
Speaking of hate - I hate the fact that they interrupt my prayerful contemplation with their annoying rememberences of dead people. They’re dead, folks! get over it!

It’s all too much to bear - in fact, I’ve been forced to come up with my own Mass: the Novus Singularum. It’s ultra orthodox, and consists of me sitting in my SUV in the parking lot, with my iPod on. That way there’s no touching! I can’t stand all the touching!!! It’s DIRTY!!!

Where’s my hand sanitizer? Don’t look at me.

 

[Wolseley]

Dempsey1919:

I want to know why people prefer the N.O to the Tridentine Mass?

Well, let’s see…

The NO doesn’t invite itself to liturgical abuse…oh, wait…

The music is uplifting and…no, can’t say that…

There’s a silence and a sense of sacred reverence that…whoops, that’s not right, either…

It’s got a…

There’s…

You could say that…

Well…

Um…

Lemme get back to you, okay?

 

[pippin]

If the TLM was the only mass, and I can remember when it was, there would be just as many abuses as there are now with the NO. Requiring all priests to say only the TLM will not turn bad priests into good priests. Also, there are, unfortunatly, many Catholics who only go to mass because it’s a mortal sin to miss mass. These people will be just as unattentive and unparticipating at a TLM as at a NO mass.

 

[Brennan_Doherty]

I love the Novus Ordo because I feel very confortable, almost like I’m at a party. I also like to talk a lot, and the NO does a good job of allowing me that reality.

Hey, that’s why I like it too!

 

[Brennan_Doherty]

You’re going to get pious people who prefer the EF and you’re going to get some pious people that prefer the OF. We have both Masses at my parish and, yet, there are still those of us who prefer the OF after many years and many experiences with both.

Actually, my concern isn’t so much with what people “prefer”, particularly in this day and age. I’m more concerned with which liturgy is organically developed and embodies the Catholic Faith in a more explicit and concrete way.

 

[Sr_Sally]

If the TLM was the only mass, and I can remember when it was, there would be just as many abuses as there are now with the NO. Requiring all priests to say only the TLM will not turn bad priests into good priests. Also, there are, unfortunatly, many Catholics who only go to mass because it’s a mortal sin to miss mass. These people will be just as unattentive and unparticipating at a TLM as at a NO mass.

That is absolutely correct. The priest who ad libs his lines in English/venacular is likely to be the same priest who mumbles through Latin. The priest who comes out of the sanctuary for the sign of peace/homily will be likely to get through the TLM in 25 minutes so he can spend more time having donuts and chatting with folks in the basement.

And those folks who come to Saturday evening Mass in jeans now, will come to the lowest, low Mass so they too can have donuts and chat.

BUT, those who love the sacrifice of the Mass, will still be found at reverant, orthodox Ordinary Form Masses.

 

[Brennan_Doherty]

That is absolutely correct. The priest who ad libs his lines in English/venacular is likely to be the same priest who mumbles through Latin. The priest who comes out of the sanctuary for the sign of peace/homily will be likely to get through the TLM in 25 minutes so he can spend more time having donuts and chatting with folks in the basement.

And those folks who come to Saturday evening Mass in jeans now, will come to the lowest, low Mass so they too can have donuts and chat.

BUT, those who love the sacrifice of the Mass, will still be found at reverant, orthodox Ordinary Form Masses.

Granted both Masses can be abused. I would argue that the abuses are of a different sort.

Nevertheless, I would argue that even if a Priest mumbles Latin, that still doesn’t prevent me from engaging with prayers that go back hundreds of years and were prayed by most fo the Saints in the Catholic tradition. In other words, the TLM isn’t as dependent on what the Priest does for someone participate fully in the Mass.