Various Degrees of Merit in Liturgical Rites?

[Geremia]

Can a liturgical rite or form be more or less meritorious than another?

From Fr. Ripperger’s Latin Mass Magazine article entitled “The Merit of the Mass”:

Gihr argues that it is possible that one ritual may be more meritorious than another:The Church not only offers the Sacrifice, but she moreover unites with its offering various prayers and ceremonies. The sacrificial rites are carried out in the name of the Church and, therefore, powerfully move God to impart His favors and extend His bounty to the living and the dead. By reason of the variety of the formulas of the Mass, the impetratory efficacy of the Sacrifice can be increased in an accidental way, and the efficacy be directed in a special manner to different objects. – The sacrificial fruit to be obtained by petition, through the mediation of the Church, is neither as to kind nor degree previously determined and limited. Therefore, the Church herself in her prayers is accustomed so to express her intentions and desires, that it can be known what benefits she wishes to obtain by the Mass and to whom she wills to apply them. Hence special prayers are more useful and more beneficial than general ones. Not only the degree of holiness of the Church, but also the nature of the prayers of the Mass and even of its whole rite exerts accordingly an influence upon the measure and nature of the fruits of the Sacrifice. – From what has been said there follow several interesting consequences. Among others, that, on the part of the Church, a High Mass solemnly celebrated has greater value and efficacy than merely a low Mass; – and also with regard to the Church’s impetratory power a Votive or a Requiem Mass for a special intention is more valuable and efficacious than a Mass harmonizing with the Office of the day. At a Solemn High Mass the external display is richer and more brilliant than at a low Mass; for at a solemn celebration the Church, in order to elevate the dignity of the Sacrifice, manifests greater pomp, and God is more glorified thereby.*
*Gihr, The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, p. 144. Gihr, in support of what he has said here, notes the authors Quarti and Pasqualigo. Hence, it is not merely Gihr’s opinion.

St. Thomas clarifies in q. 71 a. 9Supplementum ad 5:

In the office of the Mass there is not only a sacrifice but also prayers. …] As regards the sacrifice offered the Mass profits equally the departed, no matter in whose honor it be said: and this is the principal thing done in the Mass. But as regards the prayers, that Mass is most profitable in which the prayers are appointed for this purpose. Nevertheless, this defect may be supplied by the greater devotion, either of the one who says Mass, or of the one who orders the Mass to be said, or again, by the intercession of the saint whose suffrage is besought in the Mass.

Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut & merry Christmas

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Can a liturgical rite or form be more or less meritorious than another?

No.

 

[silicasandra]

They can emphasize different things, that may or may not be of spiritual benefit to an individual at a certain point in time, but they are not “rankable.”

 

[runningdude]

Can a liturgical rite or form be more or less meritorious than another?

Gihr argues that it is possible that one ritual may be more meritorious than another:…

The way I interpret your question, I think you’re confused about the meaning of the term “liturgical rite”. This passage here speaks of a “solemn high mass” having greater “efficacy” than a “mere low mass”. However, the high mass and low mass are simply different ways of celebrating the Tridentine order of the Latin rite.

I would hesitantly agree Gihr that the added rituals and solemnities would contribute to “God [being] more glorified”, however, this would be true within any rite. I would even say that celebrating the ordinary form of the Latin rite would increase its “efficacy” in a similar manner. I say hesitantly here though, as I am not sure of the exact meaning of “efficacy”, though take it to mean that the additional prayers produce additional good in the world.

My thought here is that any rite or form/use of a rite is perfectly equal. There are options within each form or rite that can increase its “efficacy”, but non that are inherently greater or lesser than another.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

It is my understanding that any mass has infinite merit. While mathematics has a hierarchy of infinities, which I never explored to any depth, I don’t think they apply to liturgies. So one cannot be more infinite value than another.