Here are some FAQ’s (frequently asked questions) regarding the traditional Latin Mass that may help us to understand the recent letter of Pope Benedict which extended wider permission for the celebration of this form of the Mass.
Q. What is the traditional Latin Mass (aka the “Tridentine” Mass)?
Answer: This form of the Mass was originally codified after the Council of Trent (hence the label “Tridentine”) in 1570. It was basically the same form of Mass that had been in use for more than a century. It remained largely unchanged until 1965. After the Second Vatican Council called for a reform of the liturgy, the new rite of Mass that we know today was developed.
Q. What is the difference between the Tridentine Mass and the new rite of Mass?
Answer: While Latin is the original language of both liturgical texts, the older form of Mass was said entirely in Latin while the new missal permits use of the vernacular language; because it called for full, active participation, the use of a local congregation's language became customary.
- With the exception of readings for the feast days of individual saints, the Tridentine Mass has a one-year cycle of Scripture readings. The Vatican II liturgy has a three-year cycle for Sunday readings and a two-year cycle for weekday readings.
- The old penitential "prayers at the foot of the altar," recited by priests and other ministers before Mass, were replaced by the penitential rite within the Mass, recited by the entire congregation.
- In the Tridentine Mass, the first half of the liturgy was called the Mass of the Catechumens and almost always included a reading from one of the New Testament epistles and from one of the four Gospels. The new Liturgy of the Word, in accordance with ancient church tradition, almost always begins with a passage from the Old Testament, then a New Testament reading and a passage from the Gospel.
- The Liturgy of the Eucharist, formerly called the Mass of the Faithful, begins with the preparation of the gifts. The old offertory prayers were revised in the new liturgy to avoid what some people saw as a duplication of the eucharistic prayers.
- Instead of one eucharistic prayer (in the traditional Mass), there are now nine -- four for general Sunday and weekday use, two for Masses focusing on reconciliation and three for Masses with children.
- The new Mass eliminated the recitation at the end of every Mass of what was known as the "last Gospel" the beginning of the Gospel of St. John.
- A priest celebrated the Tridentine Mass facing east, which -- given the layout of most churches -- meant he celebrated with his back to the congregation. Since the promulgation of the Roman Missal, the priest normally faces the congregation.
Answer: Not at all. The Council, in its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, said: "The use of the Latin language is to be preserved". The Council merely gave permission for the limited introduction of the vernacular (or local language) into certain parts of the Mass when celebrated in public.
More questions about the traditional Mass next week.
Do you have a question about the Mass? Please ask by logging into our parish website www.sjboc.org and submitting your question.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Hildebrand
No comments:
Post a Comment