Sure;3402238:
If that is what you got from my post, I didn’t express myself well. I’ll try again.
- The theology of the TLM., emphasizes the **Sacrifice of Calvary **
& the fact that the Mass is primarily a renewal of this Sacrifice. It recognizes the fact that God demands this Sacrifice because of the sins of mankind.
The Novus Ordo emphasizes the Last Supper, the Banquet, the gathering together of people & is similar to the services of Protestants. It de-emphasizes both Christ’s ultimate Sacrifice & the sinfulness of mankind that put Him on the Cross.
In fact, mention of the Sacrifice of Calvary has been removed, as well as any sacrificial tone, and only the notions of praise & thanksgiving retained. The Sacrifice has become a “communal meal”. Even the altar, which was turned toward Jerusalem reminding us of the sacrifice of Christ to God, was replaced by a table in order to stress the new notion that the Mass is mainly a banquet, and not a sacrifice. This is reminiscent of Martin Luther, who declared that “The Mass is not a sacrifice but a Thanksgiving to God & a communion with all believers”.
It’s as if modern man cannot accept a God Who
demands a Sacrifice for sin. They cannot seem to accept the fact that He is merciful, AND He is also just & we could not spend eternity in the presence of His goodness…had Jesus not been nailed to the cross to “pay our way”.
- The “priesthood of the faithful” that is found within the O.N. seems to deny the fact that Christ gave the power to forgive sins, gave the keys of the kingdom to a select FEW & their successors. He gave the power to transform the bread & wine into His Body & Blood to a select FEW at the Last Supper. He carefully chose the men he wanted to be the foundation of His Church. Only 12 men…not all of those who believed in Him.
The blending of the clergy & laity is VERY obvious in the N. O.
In fact, the General Instruction on the Novus Ordo states that the “people of God” celebrate the rite with the “priest-presider.” This denial of the difference between the priest and the faithful is what the Protestant leaders taught when they declared that the celebration of the “Lord’s supper” is realized jointly by the priest and the people. The fact is a Mass is valid even when held with without a congregation, though this fact has been “hushed up” since Vat. II.
I could go on…the changing of the words “for many” to “for all”, etc.,etc. but this post is too long as it is.
Thank you, Sure…for expressing interest in my thoughts.
I don’t agree with this at all. When I first started attending Mass (while I was still evangelical Protestant), it was quite obvious to me and my husband that we were attending a sacrifice. We didn’t get the impression of a “communal meal” at all.
Even now, after four years of being Catholic, we are moved to tears during Mass when we realize that we are present at the Holy Sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
I’m at work right now and can’t off the top of my head recall the specifics in the NO liturgy where the term “sacrifice” is referred to, but I know that the priests in our parish and in our diocese talk about “sacrifice” during the NO Mass.
Although the Protestant liturgical celebrations are similiar to the Mass, there is no way that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass can be compared to most Protestant “worship services.” No way.