Deforming the Clergy

[Michie]

Does the Novus Ordo Mass by its nature alter the nature of the priest from one who performs a sacrifice to one who is in charge of a ceremony?

It happened again a while ago. The Mass was honoring a former member of the parish who had just professed final vows. Visiting clergy were present. After the procession, when all were assembled on the altar, the pastor made the sign of the cross, looked at the packed house, gave a big smile, and said, “Yep, just another ordinary Mass at St. ‘X’.” A laughter of good will broke out. He introduced the visiting priests; and each, in turn, received a round of applause.

Whatever solemnity there may have been received a huge blow.

This is not another rant of how priests are deforming the Mass by their impromptu remarks. Rather, I am raising the question of whether the Mass, specifically the Novus Ordo Mass by its nature, may be deforming our priests. This is true even when it is celebrated reverently and on special occasions. In fact, it seems the more special the occasion, the more egregious the transgression.

Continued below.

Deforming the Clergy

Does the Novus Ordo Mass by its nature alter the nature of the priest from one who performs a sacrifice to one who is in charge of a ceremony?

crisismagazine.com

 

[chevyontheriver]

Does the Novus Ordo Mass by its nature alter the nature of the priest from one who performs a sacrifice to one who is in charge of a ceremony?

It happened again a while ago. The Mass was honoring a former member of the parish who had just professed final vows. Visiting clergy were present. After the procession, when all were assembled on the altar, the pastor made the sign of the cross, looked at the packed house, gave a big smile, and said, “Yep, just another ordinary Mass at St. ‘X’.” A laughter of good will broke out. He introduced the visiting priests; and each, in turn, received a round of applause.

Whatever solemnity there may have been received a huge blow.

This is not another rant of how priests are deforming the Mass by their impromptu remarks. Rather, I am raising the question of whether the Mass, specifically the Novus Ordo Mass by its nature, may be deforming our priests. This is true even when it is celebrated reverently and on special occasions. In fact, it seems the more special the occasion, the more egregious the transgression.

Continued below.

Deforming the Clergy

Does the Novus Ordo Mass by its nature alter the nature of the priest from one who performs a sacrifice to one who is in charge of a ceremony?

crisismagazine.com

I think the flaw here, and it is a real flaw, is in the priest facing the people. They become his audience. He becomes their actor. Turn that priest around like the GIRM expects of the priest. That can be done in the novus ordo at any time. Facing the people for the whole liturgy is not required by liturgical law. The Vatican can oppose turning the priests around but short of changing the GIRM they cannot ban it.

For the record, I am in favor of an English version of the TLM, translated by competent translators, as an improvement over the novus ordo. I’d like a vetus ordo in English, keeping things like the Sanctus and Pater Noster in Latin. The novus ordo never was just about vernacular masses. It was a discontinuity in many other ways. I’d like us to finally try to implement Vatican II liturgically instead of the liturgical failure we got.