Sunday 11 October 2009

Which is better...?

Today I have been thinking somewhat about Mass and Vespers. Mass is the jewel in the crown of the Church's liturgical tradition, the meeting point between Heaven and Earth, but which is better? A Solemn Vespers in the Old Rite with six Pluvialistae, sung beautifully by a professional choir in a beautiful church such as Spanish Place or the Oratory, with the ritual carried out splendidly and reverently by the Servers, or a Low Mass in the New Rite with vulgar vernacular hymns? Am I focused too much on the ''externals'' of liturgy? That might well be a charge brought against me by a narrow-minded Modernist, making excuses for an impoverished and somewhat aliturgical ceremony, but we must remember that ceremonies are not the mere window-dressing of Liturgy. Sacred ceremonies go right to the heart of the Church's mystery, and therefore it might be asked...which is superior Liturgy? Sometimes I think that the many, too many, Masses that are on offer have made the mystery of the Mass seem complacent and commonplace to some, even the most sincere Catholics - perhaps a contributing factor in the grotesque liturgical reforms of the 20th century, and therefore sung Office has been pushed to one side. I would rather have Mass in the morning and sung Vespers in the evening, as of old, at least on Sundays. Do away with evening Masses and bring back sung Office!

2 comments:

  1. Hello, I read your interesting blog sometimes. I was struck by this post. You speak about Holy Mass, sung Vespers, sacred ceremonies and mystery. However, I am wondering why there is no mention of the Holy Trnity or Jesus Christ? Perhaps the Trinitarian and/or Christological Reality helps one better think through the questions you raise?
    Kind Regards.

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  2. Daniel, thanks for your cogent question. Of course, you understand that I am not oblivious to the Trinitarian and Christological dimensions of the Holy Sacrifice - that is essentially what It is all about! But I think that God best reveals Himself through Mystery and veiling rather than the ''bleedin' obvious'' approach of the New Rite. Martin Mosebach has an interesting take on this in his exquisite book, The Heresy of Formlessness.

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