From a reader…
QUAERITUR:
Our parish priest speaks in a very distinct way. He chants the Novus Ordo from “For on the night he was betrayed he himself took bread, and giving you thanks he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying:”
And he speaks distinctly, no longer chanting
“TAKE THIS”
But then *inaudibly*
ALL OF YOU,
And then quite audibly
“AND EAT OF IT:
FOR THIS IS MY BODY WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.”Servers have said yes, he does say the “all of you” but those in attendance cannot hear it, except perhaps at daily mass in the front row.
I am used to the priest saying things inaudibly in the Mass of the Ages; my hearing is not relevant. In the NO we are expected to participate not just with our prayers but with our voices. [We won’t get into that here.]
But surely it is not the case that if the parishioners in the NO do not hear something actually said then the mass is invalid? The priest hears. The angels hear. Correct?
Surely it is NOT the case that if the parishioners in the Novus Ordo do not hear something then the mass is invalid!
If that were so, then what might the experience of Mass be for the hard of hearing? Valid for some and not for others?
No, your being able to hear has zero to do with the validity of the consecration.
I’m sure that the consecration was valid, but what you describe is weird. It sounds like yet another case of the priest being full of himself and having to impose some selfish personal preference on everyone.
Priests! SHEESH!
Alas, the Novus Ordo is prone to this sort of oddball improvisation.
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It is probably important for the laity to realize that not only does nothing that they do impact the validity of the Mass that their even being there doesn’t impact the worthiness and auspiciousness of the Mass.
It is probably important for priests to realize that they are praying to the Father, with the Son, through the Spirit on behalf of the Church. They are not putting on a show for the congregation.
In my parish one of the priests did the offertory prayers silently. It was great. Added to the reverence.
Until the other day. I hope he wasn’t bullied–“we didn’t hear it so it didn’t happen! WHAAAAAAW!!!”
One wonders if the priest is scrupulous that the given words of institution (“take this, all of you”) may seemingly make the application of canon 915 confusing: “Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.”