Fr. Z's Blog

Was there a good point made during the sermon you heard at your Mass of Obligation for this Sunday?

Let us know what it was!

For my part, I celebrated Mass, TLM, in Tokyo.  I said a few things in Japanese, but the sermon was in English, with ongoing (not simultaneous) translation.   I spoke about how Paul urged the Romans to patience and to joy.   I spoke about the challenge presented to what was probably a modest family when a bunch of extra guests showed up for the wedding (the Lord and followers).   The lack of wine, the challenge it presented, resulted in the miracle.  The difficulty eventually produced abundance and joy.

This is how we must approach our challenges, with patience and joy.

Specifically, for those present, I suggested that the wine running out symbolized the lack of TLM that the Japanese congregation want so much.  They don’t always have the Mass.   I suggested that they ask Mary to intercede with the Lord to fill their wines jars with beautiful and abundant wine of the TLM.  Also, they should do whatever the Lord tells them: they have to get busy, too.

I was deeply moved by the people I met for the TLM.  These are such good and devout Catholics.   They sang well, making all the responses (as is proper for the Missa Cantata).  They were prayerful.   They wanted Benediction and brought many objects to be blessed.   One earnest man pressed me with a request for Mass for the Poor Souls, which I happily accepted.  Afterwards, a group of men went to a local diner, much as we would have in Rome or New York or elsewhere.  I hope to have some photos and perhaps some video to post.

Pray for this community in Tokyo.  They need the help of good young priests.  Their present priest helper is 90 years old!

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

My question is, what am I required to participate in vocally when attending the Novus Ordo Mass. Where I attend, we are prompted to participate in singing four songs, sometimes five, and they are only songs, not many worship worthy. Then at the Responsorial Psalm we are to participate in either singing or praying a phrase. I remember in the Extraordinary Mass, the only requirements were to adore, pray, and follow the Latin if we desired. Of course I now do pray and sing enthusiastically the Credo, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and Pater Noster. It just seems now I am being ushered continuously through the whole Mass, with private devotion and thanksgiving left for after.

Right now I’m on an airplane typing on my phone. Forgive me if I am slightly telegraphic.

I am glad that you want to fulfill your role as a layman at Mass. As a baptized member of Christ’s mystical Body, when you speak and sing and move liturgically Christ the High Priest speaks, sings and moves in you. Christ the Head acts in the priest, Christ the Body in the congregation.

There is a strong impulse for the praying, liturgical Catholic, to make the responses, to rise, to kneel, when appropriate.

It seems to me that when it comes to hymns, which aren’t really liturgical texts, you can make your choices according to your desire. When it comes to the true texts of the Mass, however, official and assigned by the Church, I think there is more weight applied to the baptized congregant.

Are we obliged to speak and sing? No. But we are obliged to be open to speaking, singing, moving according to the texts and flow of the sacred liturgical action.

I think this applies to both Forms, newer and traditional. Popes of the 20th century thought so too, and tried to forward greater participation by responding, especially in singing. Singing, after all, is what one does when he loves (cf Augustine – “cantare amantis est“). The lover loves silently and still. The lover loves singing and gesturing.

A deficiency in the Novus Ordo, magnified by how it is usually celebrated, is the constant sound, the incessant urging to do something, sing, blah blah. There are more controlling rubrics in the Novus Ordo whereas custom guided people in the traditional form.

The traditional form, in its sung forms, Missa Cantata, Solemn, the whole Church, Head and Body together, should sing. After all, they love their roles and being there and doing what they do in fulfilling religion.

Balance must be sought. This is why, by the way, reclaiming the older, traditional form can help calm down the Novus Ordo. It’ll be around for a while yet.

Have I answered?