We Were Warned
Crisis, what crisis?
Interesting article from Time magazine, November 9, 1962. Here's some of it; (Emphasis and comments mine)
Religion: Crisis of Immutability
Everything has been ordained by tradition and now you want to change it all, complained Vatican Prefect of Sacred Ceremonies Archbishop Enrico Dante. The prelates of the Second Vatican Council were indeed talking of change, and change in the basic area of the church's public worship.
Reforming the liturgy means in essence revising the solemn, tradition-laden Mass that has stood basically unchanged for 400 years (Actually, it's more like 1,500 years. Trent made very few and minor changes. The Mass has essentially been the same since it was promulgated by Pope St. Gregory the Great). The structure of ritual is so elaborately linked that any change is likely to become a crucial change (understatement of the millennium). If Latin were dropped, for example, it might be natural also to drop plain chant, which is awkward in most other languages. "In the last four centuries," says Jesuit Liturgist Hermann Schmidt, "the ideal has become immutability. Certainly God is immutable; but we are men, and we cannot always express ourselves the same. This is a crisis of immutability."
At the heart of the crisis is Latin, the language of the Mass and the language of the council. In exquisite Latin, some prelates have been arguing for the introduction of the vernacular, while others—such as Cardinal Mclntyre of Los Angeles—have in halting Latin painfully defended the ancient language (Note: Liturgical Latin was never meant for conversation). The arguments of those who favor keeping Latin stress unity, tradition, and the great precision that it provides. Said militant Latinist Francis Cardinal Spellman: "No matter where you go on the face of the earth, the Latin Mass is a sign of Catholic unity." Other supporters argue, according to the official summary, that "because of its concrete phraseology of legal terms, Latin is particularly suited for theology and dogma."
Gee, you mean those against the vernacular were right all along? Don't believe me, just look at the state of The Church. The word "implosion" leaps to mind.
Crisis, what crisis?
Interesting article from Time magazine, November 9, 1962. Here's some of it; (Emphasis and comments mine)
Everything has been ordained by tradition and now you want to change it all, complained Vatican Prefect of Sacred Ceremonies Archbishop Enrico Dante. The prelates of the Second Vatican Council were indeed talking of change, and change in the basic area of the church's public worship.
Reforming the liturgy means in essence revising the solemn, tradition-laden Mass that has stood basically unchanged for 400 years (Actually, it's more like 1,500 years. Trent made very few and minor changes. The Mass has essentially been the same since it was promulgated by Pope St. Gregory the Great). The structure of ritual is so elaborately linked that any change is likely to become a crucial change (understatement of the millennium). If Latin were dropped, for example, it might be natural also to drop plain chant, which is awkward in most other languages. "In the last four centuries," says Jesuit Liturgist Hermann Schmidt, "the ideal has become immutability. Certainly God is immutable; but we are men, and we cannot always express ourselves the same. This is a crisis of immutability."
At the heart of the crisis is Latin, the language of the Mass and the language of the council. In exquisite Latin, some prelates have been arguing for the introduction of the vernacular, while others—such as Cardinal Mclntyre of Los Angeles—have in halting Latin painfully defended the ancient language (Note: Liturgical Latin was never meant for conversation). The arguments of those who favor keeping Latin stress unity, tradition, and the great precision that it provides. Said militant Latinist Francis Cardinal Spellman: "No matter where you go on the face of the earth, the Latin Mass is a sign of Catholic unity." Other supporters argue, according to the official summary, that "because of its concrete phraseology of legal terms, Latin is particularly suited for theology and dogma."
posted by Kevin Whiteman at
12:08 AM
3 Comments:
"Implosion" is the perfect word!!
Seriously, if it wasn't for the Eucharist I'd leave the Catholic Church. Without looking back.
But then... It's not the Catholic Church that is messed up. It's the Feminism and Liberalism that is running rampant within it that is to blame.
(Note: Liturgical Latin was never meant for conversation).
This is true. Yet, the language of instruction in the seminaries of Rome at one time (immediately before V2) was Latin. My own archbishop (Santa Fe) studied in Rome and has confirmed this.
Latin is particularly suited for theology and dogma."
If only because Latin is not commonly spoken. Hence, its vocabulary is stable in meaning.
But it's all about diversity Cavey ;)...Sarcasm off.
I long for the day where the indult of the vernacular, just like CIH will be revoked.
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