Yes. I have question. Other than your interest in reenacting a Mass from 1960, and trying to get every detail correct, what is the real issue here? Non-religious people wearing non-religious garb in the santuary? Non-religious people participating in the Mass?
We are told that people who are not clergy should not confuse the faithful by wearing garments not appropriate to their state in life.
I have no interest in re-enacting a Mass from the 1960’s
I know it is possible for an OF Mass to be offered by a one priest assisted by one altar server. The faithful participate by offering the appropriate responses to the prayers of the priest. The priest does the scripture readings himself. The altar server assists with the presentation of gifts, the lavabo, and all the responses. I go to a daily, early morning Novus Ordo Mass which is offered exactly like this.
I realize that this type of Novus Ordo offering is rare. The reason is because many novelties have been “allowed” to infiltrate into the Novus Ordo since its introduction in 1970. Novelties are extraneous, non-essential features which are not required to validly confect the Blessed Sacrament in Mass. I have no interest in removing one word from the Mass originally promulgated by Pope Paul VI.
I also realize that many novelties have become so assimilated into the hearts of some Catholics that they consider these novelties to be “Catholic”. During the past 40 years, the Novus Ordo Mass has become the de facto proving ground for liturgical novelty. I have no interest in reversing that trend at this time.
On the other hand, there are faithful Catholics who are repulsed by modernist inventions that they feel obstructs the worship and glorification of God in Mass. Many of these folks avoid the current OF as if it were - in itself -
the near occasion of sin.
I started this thread to find out if common ground could be found. In my original list of examples, I offered what I thought would be steps in the right direction. Many have responded that there are at least some of these items that they could easily do without. I think that’s promising.
Make no mistake. I am not suggesting that every existing OF Mass be stripped of all novelty. Novelists have a right to exist and deserve whatever novelty is not specifically prohibited by laws of the Church.
I am suggesting that there may be interest in a more direct approach to the Ordinary Form which would attract a crossover of those who - under the existing state of Catholic liturgical practice - demand one form and reject the other.
Sometimes less is more. Obviously, sometimes not.