As sacristan at my parish I try to subtly make suggestions in favor of tradition and of solemnity whenever I feel I have a good chance of a favorable response to an idea or a hint. I tread lightly, however, because pushing it just makes one seem like one of the “crazies”. It would, however, be nice not to have to walk on eggshells about traditional vestments, incense, lace, Latin, &c. We’re Catholics. When did we become so embarrassed about the external elements that identify us as such?
I don’t have much luck with the resident clergy, so whenever we have visiting priests, I make a point of laying our their vestments in advance on the vesting table (can’t even do that for the residents), and, of course, I always select traditional-looking vestments. Once I even set out a fiddleback and the priest actually wore it! You could have knocked me over with a feather. He opted not to don the maniple, however. I’m not sure he knew what it was.
My parish council president and I are conspiring to get rid of the acolytes albs and to replace them with cassocks and surplices. Fingers crossed.
There isn’t much I can do, but I do what I can, when the opportunity arises. There are usually little things one can do to dress a bland OF Mass up a bit, if your clergy are willing to yield to your suggestions. And you seem to have a cooperative priest on your hands. My pastor, on the other hand, is hopelessly lost in the 1970s and doesn’t want to be rescued.
If you want some inspiration and ideas on what the OF form of Mass would look like if it were properly gussied-up, pay a visit to your local Episcopal Church. Pick one reputed to be either “broad” to “high” (not “low”). That should give you a few things to consider. The Episcopalians, unlike the Catholics, aren’t ashamed to look, act, and sound Catholic.
