Patricius (he the lover of Hobbits and Middle Earth) loves to pull our legs from time to time and to spin us a few googlies just to see our blood pressure rise and then sink again as we realise it is "Just Patricius".
This is no bad thing. We "Orthos" (rather than "Traddies") do get a bit hog tied with our own minimus mundi and, often, can see no further than the Pre 1962 Missal in front of us.
His latest post, entitled "Latin or English?" poses the question of the vernacular over the Latin. And y'know what? I disagree with him. No surprise there perhaps but may come as something of a surprise (to Patricius as well as others) is that I believe that, in many respects, Latin is not as vital as the essence of what is being communicated. And, of equal importance, the phraseology that is used.
I do believe that the 1962 or Pre 1962 Mass is just as beautiful in English as it is in Latin. What is more, what orthodox or traditional Catholics yearn for is a return to the moral clarity and doctrinal certainty that we used to enjoy. The Latin Mass is only the tip of a very large iceberg. It just happens to be the mast that we have nailed our colours to since Vatican II....we also want much more besides!
But, there is one small flaw with the vernacular Mass. That is, not everyone speaks English...astonishing I know, but true. That means that quite a large part of our "universality" goes out the window faster than a magic circler can say "boaz". It also means that you become totally lost and mystified at the Mass you are attending if it is in a non English speaking country. A couple of years ago I missed my connection for Turkey at Schiphol Airport; it was a Sunday and I had a 14 hour wait for the next flight so I went into Amsterdam and found a church. Mass had already started (I knew it was going to be a Novus Ordo but I thought it would give me a chance to pray and observe) and it was in Dutch (just single Dutch, that is confusing enough).
Of course, being The Netherlands, the main altar had been abandoned and the priest conducted proceedings using a green baize folding card table. All took place on this table, including the Consecration - but, never mind, I am drifting off the point. The point being that I had no idea what stage we were at and had some difficulty throughout the rest of the Mass. This is not a one off, it's happened to me in many countries worldwide, partly, admittedly, because in the NO (as it then was) it appears that a priest or his Extraordinary Ministers or any Joe soap can get onto the sanctuary and do all sorts of semi liturgical prance abouts. There is no set format or, certainly not one that is adhered to.
Whoops, it's that westerly breeze again! To sum up. I love the Latin Mass but could live with it (an orthodox translation) in English if need be.
What I cannot live with is my fellow Catholics believing that the only reason I have swum against the current for the past 22 years is because I desire the return of the Latin Mass only!
I also would like a return to spirituality, recognition of the Holy Father as Christ's Vicar on Earth, re-instatement of plainchant with the folk group elements consigned to wherever it is they deserve and a bit of peace and quiet before and after Mass.
But, perhaps I will only find all of those things in Lothlorien.
More than ever I feel the need of having Thee close to me. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong. Corinthians 12:7-10
Showing posts with label English. Show all posts
Showing posts with label English. Show all posts
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
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