Why did Pius XII Revise Holy week and Triduum?

[ProVobis]

This is true, but at least in Hungary because lectors (including myself) read the text parallel with the priest (lessons, prayers) in vernacular or at least explained it (like e.g. for the Exsultet and the Litany in Holy Saturday)

Okay, there’s a big difference between “in vernacular” and “explained it.” Where copyright laws apply, it is my understanding that only that which is in the public domain (such as Church’s Latin texts), or for which royalty fees are paid, are allowed to be used in the liturgy as is given your bishop’s approval as well. Explanations or paraphrasing of those texts generally do not follow those same requirements.

 

[puzzleannie]

It’s true that the timings were restored, but that is only one aspect. It neither explains nor justifies the axe that was taken to the rites themselves.

I am asking which “rites” had the axe taken to them, by whom

 

[utah_rose]

I am asking which “rites” had the axe taken to them, by whom

I love the Holy Saturday Vigil, but I wish it would go back to the old way. Why? Because it starts so darn late! A 3 hour service beginning at 9 o’clock is difficult for seniors like me who don’t like driving that late at night. I wish there was an optional service that began a little earlier. Seems before Vatican !! this was held early in the evening or afternoon, but my memory is really bad.

As far as the first poster complaining about the Mass. you can still attend at TLM in most places. In fact, we are considering doing that on Easter Sunday if it is held.

Also, and I know I should stop griping, our service is bi-lingual so it is even longer than the three hours.

I wish the Bishops would realize that if the time was changed just a bit perhaps more parishioners would attend. Since Easter is so late this year, I do know part of the problem is the day is longer. It would be also nice if Easter was fixed on say the first Sunday of April instead of this rotation each year. The service is so beautiful I hate to miss it.

 

[NPC]

I love the Holy Saturday Vigil, but I wish it would go back to the old way. Why? Because it starts so darn late! A 3 hour service beginning at 9 o’clock is difficult for seniors like me who don’t like driving that late at night. I wish there was an optional service that began a little earlier. Seems before Vatican !! this was held early in the evening or afternoon, but my memory is really bad.

Up until Pope Pius XII’s changes the Easter Vigil was indeed earlier in the day - but that is the point he makes in the General Decree I quoted earlier: celebrating the Easter Vigil, the most joyful point of the year, in the middle of the day on Holy Saturday, which is supposed to be a day of deep mourning, caused a liturgical disharmony.

While I understand that it is not easy for some people to get to a celebration of the Easter Vigil, I think Pope Pius’ reasoning and the current situation is the most appropriate. There have been two occasions where I have directed music (in different churches) at celebrations of the Easter Vigil which were held in daylight (this, of course, is an illicit practice). The ceremony simply didn’t make sense - even the lines of the Exultet which speak of the light of the Easter candle dispelling the darkness of the night lost all meaning.

 

[utah_rose]

Before the reform the churches during the Holy Week were empty. The reform filled the churches for all three days of the Triduum. The Liturgy started again to express visibly our faith in details. This fact (the filled up churches) was the main argument for the necessity of the liturgical reform.

Our parish Church was NEVER empty during Holy Week. I am old enough to remember that. Good Friday was a sacred day to us with Stations and all. And we were (like lots of Catholic kids during that era) not allowed tv.music, OR speaking between 12 and 3 pm.

Yes, it pretty much ended at Saturday noon, but there were also Lenten Missions, retreats, all during Lent which most parishes have abandoned.

 

[laszlo]

Okay, there’s a big difference between “in vernacular” and “explained it.” Where copyright laws apply, it is my understanding that only that which is in the public domain (such as Church’s Latin texts), or for which royalty fees are paid, are allowed to be used in the liturgy as is given your bishop’s approval as well. Explanations or paraphrasing of those texts generally do not follow those same requirements.

In 1955 the ‘copyright’ for the Editio Typica was interpreted on the traditional way: do not reprint without strict control by the Church thet is conforms the original. No one thought that to translate them and read aloud for the people will breach any rights, or requires payment of copyright fee. In Hungary there was a hand missal the Szunyogh (translation of the 1920 Editio Typica) and whatever was new, and not from the Scriptures was ad hoc translated.

Priest and people worked for the glory of God, not for money in Church matters. It was a free word, Mammon did not controlled it.

 

[ProVobis]

Our parish Church was NEVER empty during Holy Week. I am old enough to remember that. Good Friday was a sacred day to us with Stations and all. And we were (like lots of Catholic kids during that era) not allowed tv.music, OR speaking between 12 and 3 pm.

Yes, it pretty much ended at Saturday noon, but there were also Lenten Missions, retreats, all during Lent which most parishes have abandoned.

We got our Easter baskets (with colored eggs, butter, some salt) blessed as well. In fact, that was the highlight of Holy Saturday when I was in grade school.

 

[ProVobis]

In 1955 the ‘copyright’ for the Editio Typica was interpreted on the traditional way: do not reprint without strict control by the Church thet is conforms the original. …

Not just reprinting but their use in the liturgy as well. There are lot of legal ramifications even if money is not involved. But let’s live in the real world. Formal translations, plagarism, and musical scores are very sensitive secular issues. These matters are in courtrooms all the time.

 

[AlexV]

If the Pius XII rubrics had merely changed the time of the ceremony to the evening/night, there would be no issue here.

The rite pre-1951/1955 is quite different from post-1951/1955. The biggest loss is the cut from 12 lessons to 4. But there used to be 4 (very ancient) prayers of blessing of the new fire/incense, etc., and those were cut to 1. The rites during the Exsultet with the candle were cut. And still more was cut.

Arguably, the committee that dreamed up these rubrical changes were aware the service might need shortening if it were celebrated late at night (though the East has no problem with such concerns…it’s a very western problem to have people look at their watches after an hour or so).

But Pius XII’s committee did far more than just change the times. The rites themselves were drastically cut…Palm Sunday more than any day; the Pius XII Palm Sunday is a shadow of its predecessor. The hallmark of the Pian commission’s work was to cut things.

Interestingly, one celebrant who ignored the cuts (at least in part) was John XXIIII. In 1959, he called for the singing of the Vexilla Regis on Good Friday. It had been cut by the Pian committee.

 

[laszlo]

We got our Easter baskets (with colored eggs, butter, some salt) blessed as well. In fact, that was the highlight of Holy Saturday when I was in grade school.

This was in early afternoon of Holy Saturday. (Also in my regular church now) . We had bread and ham, and boiled eggs, some vine.

The traditional Holy Saturday Liturgy (with the 12 readings) started around 9 or 10 so the Mass started before 12.

The Church was packed for the 5PM resurrection procession. It was on the same route (with the Eucharist) like the process for Corpus Christi without the tents; blessing only at the end in the Church.