What is the best argument to promote the TLM?

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I’m sorry to have misquoted or misunderstood you (seems to be a lot of that going on today). However, I do hold to this idea that in an age of narcissism and rebelliousness that a secondary liturgy was created in order to protect the original.
Your interpretaton wasn’t a misquote. It just showed I needed to clarify a bit. That’s OK!

Let us agree that the TLM was not a good vehicle for improvisation. Maybe the NO wasn’t either, but it had some room for profit and some room for loss.
 
Would you say a valid Mass celebrated in a “den of thieves” is equally pleasing to God as a valid Mass celebrated in a Church?
What a bizarre scenario. It is the interior condition of the soul that is of main importance to those involved; I doubt, therefore, that a “den of thieves” would seriously have the interior disposition to celebrate the liturgy as a form of worship pleasing to God or for the good of their own souls. For the same reason that one should not receive the Eucharist while in a unworthy state, a “den of thieves” would (I personally believe) find themselves in the same predicament.

All things being equal, I do not believe that God has a preference of one form of the liturgy over another. To say that He does is to apply human characteristics to Him.
 
I don’t know what this has to do with the difference between the OF and the EF. The thefts that happen in the bank and in the street are different, but exterior appearance of safety hardly means that a crime can’t take place. If anything, the banker has the opportunity to steal far more than the one who is not in a position of trust.

Another very imperfect analogy, but just to say that while the violations will differ, there is no Mass that is secure from any violations. The distinction God made between Cain and Abel was not the difference between what a farmer has to offer and what a shepherd has to offer. The difference God judged was in the heart.
I don’t understand the first paragraph - I used “den of thieves” to refer to an evil / non-holy place.

It has nothing to do with the difference between the OF and the EF. Timothysis made a point of including “valid” in his response. My point is that validity isn’t end all. We shouldn’t merely settle for what is valid, but rather what is most efficacious, pleasing to God, etc.
 
What a bizarre scenario. It is the interior condition of the soul that is of main importance to those involved; I doubt, therefore, that a “den of thieves” would seriously have the interior disposition to celebrate the liturgy as a form of worship pleasing to God or for the good of their own souls. For the same reason that one should not receive the Eucharist while in a unworthy state, a “den of thieves” would (I personally believe) find themselves in the same predicament.

All things being equal, I do not believe that God has a preference of one form of the liturgy over another. To say that He does is to apply human characteristics to Him.
My point is that validity isn’t the be all or end all when it comes to the liturgy. I think its safe to say that a valid Mass celebrated amidst a strip club isn’t as pleasing or meritorious as one celebrated in a Church. The surrounding prayers, rubrics, setting of the Mass matter.

Yes its bizarre, but I am just trying to use an extreme argument to make a point.

EDIT: What has led you to believe that God doesn’t have a preference for the form of liturgy? That seems a little relativistic.
 
My point is that validity isn’t the be all or end all when it comes to the liturgy. I think its safe to say that a valid Mass celebrated amidst a strip club isn’t as pleasing or meritorious as one celebrated in a Church. The surrounding prayers, rubrics, setting of the Mass matter.

Yes its bizarre, but I am just trying to use an extreme argument to make a point.

EDIT: What has led you to believe that God doesn’t have a preference for the form of liturgy? That seems a little off.
In that case, if a participant was in a state of grace, with perfect contrition for their sins and a true desire of God’s love and mercy then I guess I would say, yes, it is just as pleasing to God since His desire is to see that none of His children are lost. (Please keep in mind that I say this simply by accepting the extremities of your argument…Mass should always be celebrated in a reverent, proper place within the proper context and settings.)
What has led you to believe that God doesn’t have a preference for the form of liturgy? That seems a little off.
Then I must ask, what do you have to show that God does, indeed, prefer the Roman Rite (as an example) over any of the other rites in the history of the Catholic faith?
 
Then I must ask, what do you have to show that God does, indeed, prefer the Roman Rite (as an example) over any of the other rites in the history of the Catholic faith?
Fair enough. I was thinking in a more general sense. For example, Catholic rites preferred over some random form.
 
Fair enough. I was thinking in a more general sense. For example, Catholic rites preferred over some random form.
In this case, I would certainly agree with you. Catholic rites are part of the Church of Christ.
 
that argument represents antiquarianism
Yes and antiquarianism was condemned by Pius XII.

Not to mention undermining the inspiration of the Mass had on helping build Western civilization altogether.
 
The distinction God made between Cain and Abel was not the difference between what a farmer has to offer and what a shepherd has to offer.
The difference isn’t between a farmer and a shepherd but the fact that they are both able to offer the same sacrifice and also in the best way they can. Once a time-tested method of pleasing God is found, why look for shortcuts and dumb-downs?
 
Yes and antiquarianism was condemned by Pius XII.

Not to mention undermining the inspiration of the Mass had on helping build Western civilization altogether.
You know I keep hearing this. SInce antiquarianism is in general the love of anything old, it is scarcely sinful. If so, shopping for antiques would be sinful. I keep wanting to find what this means, but am having a hard time finding source documents (not traditional site opinions).

After all, do not traditionalists want to go back to the older liturgy? This is a good thing. I would bet that if we search out the purpose of this we might find that it has something to do with loving the older liturgy soley for the sake that it is older. If that is the case, I do not know that the accusation would apply to many. Maybe the Neocatechumenical Way.
 
What a bizarre scenario. It is the interior condition of the soul that is of main importance to those involved; I doubt, therefore, that a “den of thieves” would seriously have the interior disposition to celebrate the liturgy as a form of worship pleasing to God or for the good of their own souls. For the same reason that one should not receive the Eucharist while in a unworthy state, a “den of thieves” would (I personally believe) find themselves in the same predicament.

All things being equal, I do not believe that God has a preference of one form of the liturgy over another. To say that He does is to apply human characteristics to Him.
How would your statement even make sense then if we know God prefers the Catholic Church (the one He started) over other denominations?
 
I’d guess the TLM has evolved to efface the participants. The language and actions emphasis the unworthiness of the particpants and the sacrificial nature of the rite: an operation at an altar to propitiate a deity.

The same thing happens in the Orthodox rites, doesn’t it? The priest consecrates and the laity are well to the rear. Leave your fascinating character in the narthex.

Seems to me that the TLM offers protection against ‘superstar’ priests or laity. It’s also quiet. That’s such a rarity in any public place in the West. I find it very soothing. It also cues those present that Something Important Is Happening.

But …

Sad/funny thing at a recent Easter mass I went to. I think it was Holy Thursday. Our Mass ran into the time when the congregation for the next N.O. were streaming into the church. The noise level from them was quite something. Even worse, one or two people started chatting away three pews from where the priest, in golden vestments, was officiating 'round about the consecration, I think.

One of our number had to tell one person to shush. They just didn’t have a clue. Crazy, in a way.
 
The difference isn’t between a farmer and a shepherd but the fact that they are both able to offer the same sacrifice and also in the best way they can. Once a time-tested method of pleasing God is found, why look for shortcuts and dumb-downs?
If that is your argument to promote the TLM, good luck.
 
I don’t understand the first paragraph - I used “den of thieves” to refer to an evil / non-holy place.

It has nothing to do with the difference between the OF and the EF. Timothysis made a point of including “valid” in his response. My point is that validity isn’t end all. We shouldn’t merely settle for what is valid, but rather what is most efficacious, pleasing to God, etc.
I didn’t catch the point you were going after.
 
Ah yes, lets de-evolve the Mass right back to the Last Supper. More authentic. If we try to duplicate what Jesus might have done, the Mass will be holier. 2000 years of development? Dump it. Those old geezers who added to it and loved it dearly? We’re more educated than them.

Back to the catacombs! With dancing girls!

[note: saracasm].
 
If that is your argument to promote the TLM, good luck.
Is “good luck” the best you can do to counter? You don’t deny the basically untested aspects of the new rite but just hope it hangs in there for another 40 years?

Personally I hope the OF sticks around as I go to it myself, though I do prefer the more developed EF.
 
If that is your argument to promote the TLM, good luck.
How about this:cfnews.org/kramer.htm

"Canon 27 of the New Code of Canon Law explains that custom is the best interpreter of the laws. So when we look at liturgical law in the spirit of canonical tradition, that is to say, authentically understand the law as it was meant to be understood, then it must be understood according to that tradition that has established the ecclesiastical and liturgical customs. This is how important custom is in determining the sense, the meaning, of law.

Among the ancient Fathers we have St. John Chrysostom, who says it in one line: “Is it tradition? Ask no more.”

Among the medieval Doctors we find not too many pronouncements, but what we find is unanimously taught by such as St. Peter Damien and others who insist that you must not change the landmarks. What has been handed down is not to be altered. So much so that even if the Pope should make a change in the universal customs of the Church, he should not be followed. A book dealing specifically with custom, a theological treatise written by the great Pope Innocent III, says if the Pope makes changes in the universal customs of the Church, he is not to be followed.

…]

And then it goes even further. Cardinal Torquemada was named by Pope Eugenius IV to be the official theologian of the Council of Florence, which upheld the principle that custom governs the liturgy. Cardinal Torquemada explains in quoting Pope Innocent III — in that book I just mentioned, that if the Pope should attempt to change the customs of the Church, especially the liturgical Rites, if he were to attempt to change the Church’s liturgical ceremonies, he would commit an act of schism.

A century later, the great Suarez, who was named by Pope Paul V as the most pious and excellent Doctor, explained that “if the Pope were to attempt to change the liturgy, he would fall in schism.” This is the pontifically approved teaching of the two greatest theologians of their respective centuries. It was acknowledged that what they were teaching indeed is an expression of the mind of the successors of Peter in their Magisterium.

…]

The Council decreed that “due care must be taken to preserve the substance of the liturgical Rites”. — Sacrosanctum Concilium, 23. Then the reform was carried out and implemented and the head of the concilium (which was the body constituted by Pope Paul VI to revise the liturgy), Monsignor Bugnini, declares that it is truly a new creation; and his right-hand man, Father Gelineau, says the Roman Rite has been destroyed. It no longer exists."
 
the OF is not a protestantization; it is a paring down of a lot of things that were tacked on over the centuries, and additions to the readings. We can all agree it was abrupt in its changes, not organically changed, and that it is going to see further work.
“And as we go through them one by one, we see that the changes made in the liturgy reflect exactly those changes undertaken by the Protestant Reformers in the 16th Century. Does it not seem to be more than coincidence that all the changes made in the liturgy were precisely those made by the Protestant Reformers? And whatever was found to be offensive to the Protestants, whatever was most dear to traditional Catholic Eucharistic doctrine and the doctrine of the Holy Mass, was either toned down or removed altogether from the liturgy, so that one of the Protestant observers at Vatican II, who helped and gave advice in making the new liturgy, said that “Evangelical Protestants with all tranquility may use this new Rite of Mass.” The “new foundation” of Eucharistic theology is clearly Protestant.”

Father Paul Kramer

cfnews.org/kramer.htm
 
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