The Novus Ordo

[Revert_43]

This was written 35 years ago but it is just as relevant, if not more, today

adoremus.org/RecoverySacred_Chap8.html

 

[FightingFat]

For me, devotion to sacred scripture comes second only to devotion to the Eucharist and Mass. I don’t mean to call you out FF, nor do I want to go off topic but I feel strongly that this needs a reply.

No part of the Novus Ordo or any other approved Catholic Mass is heretical. The verbiage cited is Memorial Acclamation C and if it is heretical, then the passage in the Bible from which it is taken almost verbatim is also heretical.

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26)

When we acclaim those words at Mass, we are simply restating our belief in what Paul told the Corinthains so many centuries ago. The restoration of the Roman Missal which we will start using in the USA on the first Sunday in Advent keeps Memorial Acclamation C essentially intact and if it were heretical, then Jesus’ own words in John 6 would be heretical.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." (John 6:51)

Jesus calls himself living bread and says that his flesh given up for the life if the world is bread. Many of the Church Fathers and Doctors of the Church called the Eucharist the “Bread of Angels” and the “Cup of Salvation”. We know that the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus under only the appearance of bread and wine, but if Jesus can call his sacramental presence the “Bread of Life” and St. Thomas Aquinas can call Jesus’ sacramental presence the “Bread of Angels” then we should have no discomfort about doing so as well. The fact that these are St. Paul’s words taken directly from the Bible should give us no pause whatsoever when we say it at Mass.

-Tim-

[EDIT] Just saw curlycool89’s post.

Thanks for this Tim it has given me something to think about. My concerns are born of a study of what St. Thomas says about the Real Presence in Summa Theologiae 3 a 75, 3.

He considers the idea of consubstantiation, and asks whether the bread and wine remain after the consecration. He reasons that if the bread and wine remain, this would mitigate the truth if the Sacrament because Jesus did not say “This bread is my body”. The substance of bread is not Christ, and if bread remained, it would be idolatry to worship the Sacrament. This is echoed in the encyclical letter of Pope Paul VI, which states that “on the conversion of the bread and wine’s substance, or nature, into the body and blood of Christ, nothing is left of the bread and wine but appearance alone”. The Eucharist can only be one thing or another, it cannot be two things at the same time. To say “the Real Presence of Christ in the elements of bread and wine” is incorrect.

I think that the theology of Scripture you have clearly demonstrated is indeed rock solid. But the faithful are easily confused. Why aid their confusion by calling one thing something else? I recently went to a communion class where there was a presentation accompanied by a beautiful song you may be familiar with:

“Bread of life, truth eternal, present now to set us free
The risen Christ, His saving power
Is here in bread and wine for me”

No it’s not!

 

[CompSciGuy]

For those who prefer the Novus Ordo to pre-Vatican II Mass: What are some (or all) of the reasons that you prefer it? I’ve never attended a Traditional Mass, but I’m quite happy with the Ordinary Form, so I’m curious to hear some personal opinions regarding its benefits.

I think that the OF has benefitted me the most spiritually, because I can follow along with it. When I listen to the words that go on in the mass I am able to ponder them and gain a deeper theological understanding from them. Unlike most people I actually do like the music, and I think the OF masses I’ve been to are reverent and full of life. I think part of the reason is also that I grew up evangelical so it’s nice to have this sort of blend of liturgical and vernacular together, I think it’s a beautiful combination.

I have witnessed an EF and I didn’t personally like it. It felt very cold and stuffy to me and I found it (dare I say it?) boring. I know that there are missals that allow you to follow it with the Latin on one side and the English on the other but honestly I see no benefit in doing it this way. It just makes it harder to follow along IMO. I’d rather just hear mass in my native tongue, since the Church allows it. A lot of people like Gregorian chant. Personally I don’t like it. I think it is very limited and repetitive melodically. It literally gives me a headache if I hear it for too long. It would be cool to hear some of the polyphonic latin hymns/chants in mass but they don’t use those in TLM to my knowledge, just Gregorian.

I don’t have anything against TLM fundamentally, I think it’s wonderful for those who enjoy that sort of thing, and I think it should certainly be made more available for those who want it. It just isn’t for me. I would say the same of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. I know a lot of traditionalists who would say the same thing. I feel though that there are people from different groups who sort of look down their noses at the others, like there are traditionalists who are like “oh yeah, I go to Latin mass so I’m more holy than you” or progressive bishops who won’t allow the EF to be celebrated within their dioceses for one reason or another. All of this is ridiculous. I think there needs to be more tolerance for a variety of liturgical practices (not including abuses, mind you).

 

[DebChris]

I fully participate in the Ordinary Form of the Mass. The priest faces the people and I can see everything that he does. The use of the vernacular makes it easier to focus on the meaning of the Word as it is proclaimed and the prayers during the Mass. Instead of simply an Epistle and Gospel, we hear the Old Testament proclaimed and join in the Responsorial Psalm (taken from the Book of Psalms).
I feel myself drawn into the mystery of the Eucharist.

 

[christosdavid]

besides the fustiness of some Traditionalists.

The NO is the ordinary mass, said and worshipped in over the entire globe. Its benefits are those of the mass and communion with God in trinity, BVM and all the saints.