I like the EF of the Mass. I don’t remember much about it because I was not that old when it stopped being the form of the normal Sunday Mass. What I don’t understand now is why in addition to the Mass we needed to go back to the old calendar and old Rites for the celebration of the Sacraments also?
In the EF there is no Lectionary and Sacramentary as in the OF. Everything is integrated into the Roman Missal. You really can’t separate the Liturgical Calendar from the cycle of Readings.
This modern day concept of a modular plug and play Liturgy where you can make any changes to any element of the Mass without affecting any other element certainly has some advantages. But, where is the logic in trying to force this back into the EF of Mass - which just wasn’t designed to be manipulated this way.
In the OF what the Readings are don’t seem to matter too much. They will be different next year and different again the next. This past Sunday (4th Sunday in Ordinary Time) the Gospel of Matthew was read. “Blessed are the poor in spirit”. Next year we have Mark. Jesus has authority over the demons. In 2 years we will hear Luke. Jesus is sent to the Gentiles as well as the Jews.
So, we have God’s love of the poor, the authority of Jesus, and the fact that the Church will include Gentiles and Jews as themes in differing years.
Very different themes. But all of the other prayers of the Mass stay the same.
The Entrance Antiphon - “…that we may proclaim your holy name and glory in your praise”
Opening Prayer - “…help us to love you with all our hearts…”
None of the other prayers of the Mass reflect any of these themes.
In contrast to this in the EF of Mass it was Quinquagesima Sunday. The Gospel was from Luke (18:31-43). Jesus heals a blind man who says “Son of David, have mercy on me”. So, we have the power and the mercy of God as themes here.
The other prayers of the Mass seem a bit more connected to the Gospel than in the OF.
The Introit - “…deliver me in Thy justice, and save me.”
The Collect - “We beseech Thee, O Lord, graciously hear our prayers and releasing us from the bonds of our sins, guard us from all adversity”
The Gradual - “Thou art the God that alone dost wonders. Thou hast made Thy power known among the nations…”
These prayers show a connection with the Gospel Reading that would be lost if another, changing cycle of readings were imposed.
What I don’t seem to understand is why anyone even wants the Readings for the OF forced into the EF. What makes a cycle of Readings put together hastily in a Swiss hotel room in the '60s so much better than a cycle of Readings that has nourished countless Saints for 1000 years.
And where did this idea come from that everyone must use the same cycle of Readings? Does anyone wish to force their favorite Lectionary on the Eastern Catholics as well, replacing their own ancient cycle or Readings?
If it is just a matter of some sort of Unity among Roman Catholics then what about those parishes offering the Ambrosian Rite of Mass. Should we force them to switch to a 4 week Advent instead of their 6 week season just so they can have the same Readings.
Seriously, I have yet to hear a good argument for forcing everyone to use the new Lectionary. Actually, I haven’t even heard a bad argument for it either. Just a lot of people, most of whom seemingly having little or no interest in the EF of Mass, thinking it is a good idea - just because.
It is very probable that at some point in the future changes will be made to the Liturgical Calendar of the OF, the EF, or both of them in order to bring them into conformity with one another. But, as our own Holy Father has pointed out, the Liturgical Reforms following Vatican II were not organic. They were artificial and didn’t always follow the directives of the Council. It hasn’t even been 6 months yet. What is so wrong with just giving it a little bit of time before we start tinkering around with the Mass again - maybe even allow future changes to happen organically?
James
