I read so much about how emasculated the Novus Ordo mass is, how theologically bereft, how protestant it has become. And yet, here I am, with virtually no access to the TLM, stuck with the Novus Ordo if I want to receive the Eucharist. As I found myself getting every more despairing and negative …
I read so much about how emasculated the Novus Ordo mass is, how theologically bereft, how protestant it has become. And yet, here I am, with virtually no access to the TLM, stuck with the Novus Ordo if I want to receive the Eucharist. As I found myself getting every more despairing and negative I had to come to terms with the fact that the Lord has placed me in this time and place with this bishop, these priests, and this mass.
Three years ago I attended my first mass in what is now my parish church. My wife and I had decided, after decades of practicing non-christian meditation, that we would give christianity a try. The liberal churches were too woke, the evangelical rock bands and big screens didn’t seem to have much to do with spirituality, the mainstream protestant churches were even more woke. So we gave in and went to mass. The Polish priest with an innate flare for ritual held up the host at the consecration—and kept it raised for what seemed like a heavenly eternity—and I became Catholic at that moment. The following year I came formally into the Church and have never looked back.
I learned a lot about the Church—the richness, truth, beauty, and power of the tradition and the ever worsening problems in the institution. At the same time, our parish experienced a series of losses: both of our reverent, orthodox Polish priests were transferred, the long-time music director retired, Latin was banned from the liturgy (previously the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei were in Latin with Gregorian chant), the statue of St. Michael was removed from the church (two years later the pedestal is still empty), the St. Michael prayer was now said after the priest had left (leaving us without a leader), incense is hardly ever used, no kneelers are allowed for communion, the number of altar boys is limited—it’s as if there is a fear of devotional symbols and sacramentals. If there were a TLM within striking distance, that’s where I’d be.
But here I am. So I have had to surrender to the Novus Ordo mass and its place in my devotional life. Regardless of how mangled the calendar has become or how many challenging passages have been eliminated I have had to realize that the readings and the psalms are truly and fully scripture; the prayers, whether inspired or banal are true prayers; the music aspires to heaven even if it falls short; the faithful are worshipping the Lord in the best way they can, their intentions are worthy; and the Eucharist is the real presence of the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ Our Lord.
I pray that some day the climate will change and the TLM will be not only permitted, but allowed back into parish churches and even encouraged. Until then I must be grateful that I still have access to the sacraments and put forth the effort to understand them in their traditional fullness.
I should add that if I were just checking out our parish today for the first time, I would not likely have entered the church, given how bland the liturgy has become. On the other hand, it's still better than the formerly rainbow-masked pastor at the very large and popular Methodist church down the street.....
A defensive defense of the Novus Ordo mass
I read so much about how emasculated the Novus Ordo mass is, how theologically bereft, how protestant it has become. And yet, here I am, with virtually no access to the TLM, stuck with the Novus Ordo if I want to receive the Eucharist. As I found myself getting every more despairing and negative I had to come to terms with the fact that the Lord has placed me in this time and place with this bishop, these priests, and this mass.
Three years ago I attended my first mass in what is now my parish church. My wife and I had decided, after decades of practicing non-christian meditation, that we would give christianity a try. The liberal churches were too woke, the evangelical rock bands and big screens didn’t seem to have much to do with spirituality, the mainstream protestant churches were even more woke. So we gave in and went to mass. The Polish priest with an innate flare for ritual held up the host at the consecration—and kept it raised for what seemed like a heavenly eternity—and I became Catholic at that moment. The following year I came formally into the Church and have never looked back.
I learned a lot about the Church—the richness, truth, beauty, and power of the tradition and the ever worsening problems in the institution. At the same time, our parish experienced a series of losses: both of our reverent, orthodox Polish priests were transferred, the long-time music director retired, Latin was banned from the liturgy (previously the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei were in Latin with Gregorian chant), the statue of St. Michael was removed from the church (two years later the pedestal is still empty), the St. Michael prayer was now said after the priest had left (leaving us without a leader), incense is hardly ever used, no kneelers are allowed for communion, the number of altar boys is limited—it’s as if there is a fear of devotional symbols and sacramentals. If there were a TLM within striking distance, that’s where I’d be.
But here I am. So I have had to surrender to the Novus Ordo mass and its place in my devotional life. Regardless of how mangled the calendar has become or how many challenging passages have been eliminated I have had to realize that the readings and the psalms are truly and fully scripture; the prayers, whether inspired or banal are true prayers; the music aspires to heaven even if it falls short; the faithful are worshipping the Lord in the best way they can, their intentions are worthy; and the Eucharist is the real presence of the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ Our Lord.
I pray that some day the climate will change and the TLM will be not only permitted, but allowed back into parish churches and even encouraged. Until then I must be grateful that I still have access to the sacraments and put forth the effort to understand them in their traditional fullness.
I should add that if I were just checking out our parish today for the first time, I would not likely have entered the church, given how bland the liturgy has become. On the other hand, it's still better than the formerly rainbow-masked pastor at the very large and popular Methodist church down the street.....