- Nov 26, 2007
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Christ is Risen!
Blessings during this Paschal octave. These 50 days are truly "one great Lord's Day" as St. Athanasius put it.
Currently, I am engaging in an in-depth study of the Scriptures, but I am also researching things liturgical. My current engrossment revolves around liturgical comparisons between ancient Roman liturgies (mostly 7th to 16th centuries) with modern liturgical books (mostly the 1962 and 1970 Missals of St. John XXIII and St. Paul VI, respectively).
My studies are still in their commencement (and to be honest, I have already reviewed many of these things before), yet I have already found much evidence for rejoicing in gratitude to Holy Mother Church.
Essentially, what I have been reminded of in these studies is how the worship we are able experience in newer liturgical books of the Roman Rite mirror so exceptionally what exists in earlier liturgical books. They are not exactly the same mind you, but the general form and even some minute details are, indeed, virtually identical. This reminder and re-realization led me to a sense of exultation and gratitude at being Catholic.
For example, the current Lord's Day Mass foreseen by both the 1962 and 1970 Missals almost exactly follows (again, mostly in basic structure but also in particulars too) not only Roman liturgies from the 11th-16th centuries, but also even early liturgies like those of the 7th century! This is remarkable, because it demonstrates that the basic structure of the Mass has remained essentially unchanged since the antiquity of Pope St. Gregory the Great. See for yourself! Here are three books that describe ancient liturgies which can be found for free on the interwebs:
First, there is an old facsimile of what is known as the "Ordo Romanus Primus" (First Roman Order) which describes the liturgy of the Roman Church in about the end of the 7th century. Additionally, it contains a reconstruction of the Mass likely known to St. Augustine in North Africa in an appendix. What you will find by way of comparison is that the central rites are mirrored in both the ancient and modern Missals. Noticeable differences are present of course, but the core rites and even some exact prayers are the same. This is extremely fortunate, because it means that the Mass we experience (on the books at least) in our local parishes reflects the Mass of our Christian forefathers in Rome during the Patristic period!
Secondly, there is an excellent work called "The Mass of the Roman Rite" by the great liturgist Fr. Josef Jungmann, S.J. It has recently been made freely available by Corpus Christi Watershed, and the text lays out the basic Roman stational services of the 7th century. It also discusses how each part of the Mass (in this case, that found in the 1962 Missal) developed over the centuries, noting the places where very ancient forms survive to this day.
Third, there is the monumental study on the Roman liturgy by the great English liturgist, Fr. Adrian Fortescue (who also wrote a ceremonial still used today in the Extraordinary Form). It establishes how much of the Roman Rite as it was celebrated in the early 20th century reflects some of the most ancient liturgical origins and developments.
These are but three examples. I could also reference Fr. Denis Crouan's excellent comparison of the 11th century Mass in Rome with the 1970 Missal of St. Paul VI, in which he shows how remarkably similar the Vatican II Missal is with the 11th century Roman-Frankish Mass-types. Highly recommended!
But the general point that all of this has instilled in me is how truly blessed we are in the Latin Church to have liturgical forms which have survived the ravages of both history and ecclesial changes. Like our Eastern Catholic brothers and sisters, our Roman Rite is ancient and venerable, even in the most modern recension. As Fr. Adrian Fortescue wrote so powerfully:
"Our Mass goes back, without essential change, to the age when it first developed out of the oldest liturgy of all. It is still redolent of that liturgy, of the days when Caesar ruled the world and thought he could stamp out the faith of Christ, when our fathers met together before dawn and sang a hymn to Christ as to a God. The final result of our enquiry is that, in spite of unsolved problems, in spite of later changes, there is not in Christendom another rite so venerable as ours."
I rejoice in this knowledge, and I thank God for it. We have a Church that is ever ancient and ever new; a conserving and reforming Church. We have a tradition that both carries forward the practices and faith of our fathers, yet also can adapt itself to the signs of the times (yet without losing the connection with the past!). It is, I think, part of the miracle that is the Catholic Church, our Holy Mother.
As we wait for public Masses to resume again in earnest, I hope all of us can grow in understanding and appreciating the precious treasure that is our Mass. May we also be inspired to desire and strive for liturgical excellence in our celebrations, each according to our own state of life.
Popes St. Leo the Great, St. Sergius I, St. Gregory the Great, St. Pius V, St. Pius X, St. John XXIII, St. Paul VI, St. John Paul the Great, pray for us!
Just wanted to share my joy.
Blessings during this Paschal octave. These 50 days are truly "one great Lord's Day" as St. Athanasius put it.
Currently, I am engaging in an in-depth study of the Scriptures, but I am also researching things liturgical. My current engrossment revolves around liturgical comparisons between ancient Roman liturgies (mostly 7th to 16th centuries) with modern liturgical books (mostly the 1962 and 1970 Missals of St. John XXIII and St. Paul VI, respectively).
My studies are still in their commencement (and to be honest, I have already reviewed many of these things before), yet I have already found much evidence for rejoicing in gratitude to Holy Mother Church.
Essentially, what I have been reminded of in these studies is how the worship we are able experience in newer liturgical books of the Roman Rite mirror so exceptionally what exists in earlier liturgical books. They are not exactly the same mind you, but the general form and even some minute details are, indeed, virtually identical. This reminder and re-realization led me to a sense of exultation and gratitude at being Catholic.
For example, the current Lord's Day Mass foreseen by both the 1962 and 1970 Missals almost exactly follows (again, mostly in basic structure but also in particulars too) not only Roman liturgies from the 11th-16th centuries, but also even early liturgies like those of the 7th century! This is remarkable, because it demonstrates that the basic structure of the Mass has remained essentially unchanged since the antiquity of Pope St. Gregory the Great. See for yourself! Here are three books that describe ancient liturgies which can be found for free on the interwebs:
First, there is an old facsimile of what is known as the "Ordo Romanus Primus" (First Roman Order) which describes the liturgy of the Roman Church in about the end of the 7th century. Additionally, it contains a reconstruction of the Mass likely known to St. Augustine in North Africa in an appendix. What you will find by way of comparison is that the central rites are mirrored in both the ancient and modern Missals. Noticeable differences are present of course, but the core rites and even some exact prayers are the same. This is extremely fortunate, because it means that the Mass we experience (on the books at least) in our local parishes reflects the Mass of our Christian forefathers in Rome during the Patristic period!
Secondly, there is an excellent work called "The Mass of the Roman Rite" by the great liturgist Fr. Josef Jungmann, S.J. It has recently been made freely available by Corpus Christi Watershed, and the text lays out the basic Roman stational services of the 7th century. It also discusses how each part of the Mass (in this case, that found in the 1962 Missal) developed over the centuries, noting the places where very ancient forms survive to this day.
Third, there is the monumental study on the Roman liturgy by the great English liturgist, Fr. Adrian Fortescue (who also wrote a ceremonial still used today in the Extraordinary Form). It establishes how much of the Roman Rite as it was celebrated in the early 20th century reflects some of the most ancient liturgical origins and developments.
These are but three examples. I could also reference Fr. Denis Crouan's excellent comparison of the 11th century Mass in Rome with the 1970 Missal of St. Paul VI, in which he shows how remarkably similar the Vatican II Missal is with the 11th century Roman-Frankish Mass-types. Highly recommended!
But the general point that all of this has instilled in me is how truly blessed we are in the Latin Church to have liturgical forms which have survived the ravages of both history and ecclesial changes. Like our Eastern Catholic brothers and sisters, our Roman Rite is ancient and venerable, even in the most modern recension. As Fr. Adrian Fortescue wrote so powerfully:
"Our Mass goes back, without essential change, to the age when it first developed out of the oldest liturgy of all. It is still redolent of that liturgy, of the days when Caesar ruled the world and thought he could stamp out the faith of Christ, when our fathers met together before dawn and sang a hymn to Christ as to a God. The final result of our enquiry is that, in spite of unsolved problems, in spite of later changes, there is not in Christendom another rite so venerable as ours."
I rejoice in this knowledge, and I thank God for it. We have a Church that is ever ancient and ever new; a conserving and reforming Church. We have a tradition that both carries forward the practices and faith of our fathers, yet also can adapt itself to the signs of the times (yet without losing the connection with the past!). It is, I think, part of the miracle that is the Catholic Church, our Holy Mother.
As we wait for public Masses to resume again in earnest, I hope all of us can grow in understanding and appreciating the precious treasure that is our Mass. May we also be inspired to desire and strive for liturgical excellence in our celebrations, each according to our own state of life.
Popes St. Leo the Great, St. Sergius I, St. Gregory the Great, St. Pius V, St. Pius X, St. John XXIII, St. Paul VI, St. John Paul the Great, pray for us!
Just wanted to share my joy.
