Why is it so easy for the Latin Church to lose its traditions while the Eastern Churches do not?

[ByzCathCantor]

Speaking to this, I found out Old Testament readings were more or less taken out of divine liturgies, or most of the lectionary, some years ago, in both Eastern Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic jurisdictions. Although, I do know an Orthodox friend who said the parish priest, there, decided to retain Old Testament readings in Vespers. I don’t know how it is for your jurisdiction, Phillip. But, I do find this change a little disheartening, in that I won’t get a real feel (in my mind) for the Byzantine lectionary tradition/cycle.

This is hardly a “new development”. Old Testament readings, most especially from the Psalter, are proper to Matins and Vespers in Byzantine tradition. So, to the extent you attend Matins or Vespers, including the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts during Great Lent, you will very much get a feel for the Byzantine lectionary and the rather deliberate use of the Old Testament and Psalms.

The liturgical use of the Psalms

Since early times, Christians used psalms in both private and public prayer. Much of the Christian liturgy is made up of psalm verses or entire psalms. The term psalmody refers to the singing of chanting of Psalms. See the article on Psalmody for a discussion of the different ways thats psalms are chanted in the liturgy.

In the liturgy of the Byzantine Rite, certain psalms are appointed for use at particular services such as Vespers and Matins. Psalm verses are sing in alternation with composed hymns called stichera, and also make up the bulk of the prokeimena and Communion Hymns of the Byzantine Rite. The psalms are psalm verses are often chosen to match with the service being celebrated, the time of day or day of the week, or the subject of a particular feast.

Finally, the entire book of 150 Psalms is sung in the course of the week (and twice a week in the Great Fast) if all the services are celebrated. This continuous psalmody has always formed a principal part of the Divine Praises of the Church.

source: Metropolitan Cantor Institute - Psalms in the Byzantine Liturgy

 

[ProVobis]

There’s a part of me that agrees and a part that disagrees with you here. I agree in the sense that the documents of Vatican II are very clear in stating that Latin ought to be retained as the primary language of the Mass, along with the fact that pride of place ought to be given to Gregorian chant for music at the Mass. But I disagree that Mass in the vernacular is the primary factor in the West’s supposed loss of tradition as opposed to the East’s retention of its own tradition.

The tradition of the East - at least the Byzantine East - has always been Liturgy in the vernacular. Now whether it is some archaic or some colloquial form of the vernacular we could argue ad nausiam, but the tradition has been for the vernacular nonetheless.

Phil, but even Trent didn’t prohibit the vernacular. It merely didn’t want to follow the Reformer’s thinking that everyone should be able to interpret for himself, which is what appears to have happened regardless of trying to keep things in Latin (or Greek or Old Church Slavonic for that matter). I was trained under Polish priests early in my childhood and I can tell you that I have a different understanding of a Polish Mass than an English Mass. I have a serious problem with the all-vernacular, all-the-time liturgy for that reason.

As has been mentioned elsewhere, the languages of the cross were Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Why can’t all Catholic liturgies have at least some elements of each in every liturgy as a reminder to what the Mass/Divine Liturgy is all about?

 

[ByzCathCantor]

Phil, but even Trent didn’t prohibit the vernacular. It merely didn’t want to follow the Reformer’s thinking that everyone should be able to interpret for himself, which is what appears to have happened regardless of trying to keep things in Latin (or Greek or Old Church Slavonic for that matter). I was trained under Polish priests early in my childhood and I can tell you that I have a different understanding of a Polish Mass than an English Mass. I have a serious problem with the all-vernacular, all-the-time liturgy for that reason.

You are blessed to have that experience, especially with a Polish frame of reference. I studied Spanish for many years, and I dare say that my experiences in attending Spanish language Mass have heighten my awareness of the Mass, as well.

Exposure to foreign languages certainly heightens awareness of our own native language, and that is a critical point. However, that comes only with a basic literacy in the reference language, Latin in this case, which is not taught as it used to be.

I have mixed reactions to some of the sentiments expressed about the use of Latin for the Mass. For the reasons to which you have alluded, I think exclusive use of Latin would make the Liturgy unaccessible to many. Yet, the use of both vernacular and Latin could, with some education on the language, add greatly to ones comprehension of the Mass, as suggested. In this way, the push behind more frequent use of Latin can add to Liturgical literacy, if done considerately and with education, and not simply for the sake of tradition alone.

 

[ConstantineTG]

As has been mentioned elsewhere, the languages of the cross were Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Why can’t all Catholic liturgies have at least some elements of each in every liturgy as a reminder to what the Mass/Divine Liturgy is all about?

It has. Amen and Alleluia are Hebrew.

 

[Brendan]

I’m not sure what sort of “dance” has been tolerated within the Roman Rite in Africa, but I strongly believe that reverent, ritualistic dance does have its place in African worship; at the same time,.

Having been to Tanzania on several occasions, the ‘dance’ that is approved in Africa would not really consistute ‘dance’ in the West. It’s a rhythmic shuffling of feet used to keep time and add an element of percussion.

Here is an example that I filmed at a parish dedication Mass in western Tanzania.

Link Here

This is the processional of the choir towards the Church.

 

[lssanjose]

This is hardly a “new development”. Old Testament readings, most especially from the Psalter, are proper to Matins and Vespers in Byzantine tradition. So, to the extent you attend Matins or Vespers, including the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts during Great Lent, you will very much get a feel for the Byzantine lectionary and the rather deliberate use of the Old Testament and Psalms.

Thanks, for this