I disagree. As a matter of fact, the rubrics of the Novus Ordo are too strict as it is: too dogmatic, too legalistic, too Pharisaic. The Mass is too focused on “worship”, “submission”, etc. It should be about our Faith Community, the Christ Within each one of us. The time for self-flagellation, veiling women and moaning over beads was thankfully ejected with Vatican II.
The Church doesn’t need an “official language”. Latin is not even the original language of the Church (Greek), let alone Our Lord and His Apostles (Aramaic, some Hebrew). But the Lord commanded us to go forth and teach all nations; when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles He gave them the Gift of Tongues, not Roman Missals.
What should happen is that each priest should say the Mass in whatever language he is fluent in, and everyone in the congregation can use his Holy Gifts to follow along. If the priest is a convert from Pentecostalism, so much the better: he can use his glossolalia.
Modesty is another word for being ashamed of what God created and saw as Good. People should wear whatever they please, as long as they feel good about it and don’t think it’s wrong. If a woman wants to wear a tint tank top and hot pants – heck, if she wants to go nude – that’s up to her – it’s her body to do with as she wants, and no archaic patriarchal theo-Nazi church is going to keep her down and subjugated. If a man can’t keep his patriarchal women-oppressing eyes to himself, that’s his problem. Any man who lusts after a woman’s body, regardless of how she is dressed (which is only her business, since she dresses (or not) for herself), has already committed sexual assault against her in his heart, and in reality too, and should be prosecuted.
But of course the opposite applies to men. Good looking men should wear whatever they like; they have “healthy sexuality”. Old or ugly men should not be allowed near women, since they are all “lechers”.
Au contraire, mon frere. Hard kneelers and wooden benches may have been OK for the medieval yahoos who whipped themselves into bloody pulps or lived on pillars in the desert. Today’s Mass is about becoming One with God, transcending the surly bonds of earth and uniting with the One in His Yahwehness. **We don’t need mortification, that’s for losers. We need uplifting, affirming. We need to know the spiritual comfort of the Father. So I suggest La-Z-Boys. **With pockets in the side for missalettes, of course.
Another misstatement of EENS. Since we all long to be with God, it is obvious that everyone is more or less part of the Universal Church. I mean, who really wants to go to Hell? Seems to me we have some uptight bluenoses who like to get their knickers in a knot over the silliest things; I think they actually want people to go to hell. I think criticism of the Church should be encouraged, especially since it’s done a rotten job over the past 2000 years. I mean – the Inquisition? Burning at the Stake? Blood libel? OCP? Obviously, when we say that “God is in the Church” we don’t mean the Church™ as a corporate institution with monsignors and curiae and vicars apostolic, but the real Church, the Church of You and Me and God Makes Three! As for that other Church, it should be open season. The press should NOT be allowed to criticize ANY religion EXCEPT for Catholicism. Criticizing the Church is OK because the Church is archaic and has weird oppressive beliefs like “modesty” and “responsibility” and “penance” and “informed conscience”, and should get with it – it’s the 21st century for God’s sake!!! (However, don’t criticize other religions or cultures – that’s their values and traditions, you have no right to impose your cultural imperialism on their ancient venerable ways, like sati and FGM and raping virgins to cure AIDS.)
Peace.
