A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off Right
It's Divine Mercy Sunday in the Novus Ordo, Low Sunday in the Extraordinary Form. Whichever form you prefer, I hope you're simply Catholic. By "simply" Catholic I mean one who knows his faith and lives it, both in your interior life and, as a result of your strong interior life, in your thoughts, words and actions. The world needs more of you.
This past week, I had the pleasure of having lunch with a simply Catholic friend who, while preferring the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, understands that going to Mass and receiving communion takes precedence over whichever form of the Mass one can access at any given time. We talked briefly about those who claim they "can't stand" going to Mass in the newer rite - the Novus Ordo - and therefore don't attend Mass during the week because they can't access the Extraordinary Form. This simply Catholic friend couldn't understand how anyone who knows that the Mass - in either form - is a reenactment of Our Lord's suffering and death on the Cross on Calvary, who understands that Holy Communion is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, could allow their discontent with the Novus Ordo override their desire to unite with Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. It just didn't make sense.
I agreed.
My friend and I also agreed on the fundamentally sad reality that many priests today, by their words and actions during Novus Ordo Masses, don't really communicate the reality of Calvary, or the True Presence. We agreed, as well, that while we could manage to participate in Masses "presided over" by such priests, those who were never exposed to the Extraordinary Form, and the real (I was going to say "traditional" but "real" is more accurate) teachings of Holy Mother Church in the deepest sense - including such priests - have been robbed of their birthright. We noted especially those boys and girls who serve under such priests on the altar and frequently, in their casual, almost haphazard behavior, clearly don't understand the profound nature of what's going on in the sanctuary during Mass are an especially tragic case.
If you don't know what I'm talking about count your blessings.
For those of you who do know what I'm talking about, here's something that most Catholics missed - were robbed of? - this past Easter Sunday: the singing of Victimae Paschali Laudes. It is specially inserted before the Gospel during Easter and traditionally sung or recited on Easter Sunday and throughout Easter week. Rarely is the original chant that dates to the 11th century sung in Latin in Novus Ordo Masses. If you missed it, it's not quite at the level of the tragedy of those poor children robbed of their birthright, perhaps never to know what it really means to be Catholic. Nevertheless, we who do know, and try our best to live our Faith, always appreciate being bolstered in our Faith by the exquisite treasury of beautiful liturgy that was once all or ours, and is now mostly restricted to the liturgy in the Extraordinary Form.
No matter, we forge ahead. We know none of us is perfect and we pray for those who have rejected the beauty of the Extraordinary Form in favor of the Novus Ordo whether out of ignorance or malice. We know we are sinners. And, in unison with the Novus Ordo celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday, we pray for continued charity and humility even as we ask forgiveness for those who have turned from the Truth and Beauty of our tradition to the modernist ways that rob so many of their patrimony.
Christ is risen. Alleluia!
This past week, I had the pleasure of having lunch with a simply Catholic friend who, while preferring the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, understands that going to Mass and receiving communion takes precedence over whichever form of the Mass one can access at any given time. We talked briefly about those who claim they "can't stand" going to Mass in the newer rite - the Novus Ordo - and therefore don't attend Mass during the week because they can't access the Extraordinary Form. This simply Catholic friend couldn't understand how anyone who knows that the Mass - in either form - is a reenactment of Our Lord's suffering and death on the Cross on Calvary, who understands that Holy Communion is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, could allow their discontent with the Novus Ordo override their desire to unite with Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. It just didn't make sense.
I agreed.
My friend and I also agreed on the fundamentally sad reality that many priests today, by their words and actions during Novus Ordo Masses, don't really communicate the reality of Calvary, or the True Presence. We agreed, as well, that while we could manage to participate in Masses "presided over" by such priests, those who were never exposed to the Extraordinary Form, and the real (I was going to say "traditional" but "real" is more accurate) teachings of Holy Mother Church in the deepest sense - including such priests - have been robbed of their birthright. We noted especially those boys and girls who serve under such priests on the altar and frequently, in their casual, almost haphazard behavior, clearly don't understand the profound nature of what's going on in the sanctuary during Mass are an especially tragic case.
If you don't know what I'm talking about count your blessings.
For those of you who do know what I'm talking about, here's something that most Catholics missed - were robbed of? - this past Easter Sunday: the singing of Victimae Paschali Laudes. It is specially inserted before the Gospel during Easter and traditionally sung or recited on Easter Sunday and throughout Easter week. Rarely is the original chant that dates to the 11th century sung in Latin in Novus Ordo Masses. If you missed it, it's not quite at the level of the tragedy of those poor children robbed of their birthright, perhaps never to know what it really means to be Catholic. Nevertheless, we who do know, and try our best to live our Faith, always appreciate being bolstered in our Faith by the exquisite treasury of beautiful liturgy that was once all or ours, and is now mostly restricted to the liturgy in the Extraordinary Form.
No matter, we forge ahead. We know none of us is perfect and we pray for those who have rejected the beauty of the Extraordinary Form in favor of the Novus Ordo whether out of ignorance or malice. We know we are sinners. And, in unison with the Novus Ordo celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday, we pray for continued charity and humility even as we ask forgiveness for those who have turned from the Truth and Beauty of our tradition to the modernist ways that rob so many of their patrimony.
Christ is risen. Alleluia!
| VICTIMAE Paschali laudes immolent Christiani. |
CHRISTIANS, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise. |
| Agnus redemit oves: Christus innocens Patri reconciliavit peccatores. |
The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb; and Christ, the undefiled, hath sinners to his Father reconciled. |
| Mors et vita duello conflixere mirando: dux vitae mortuus, regnat vivus. |
Death with life contended: combat strangely ended! Life's own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign. |
| Dic nobis Maria, Quid vidisti in via? |
Tell us, Mary: say what thou didst see upon the way. |
| Sepulcrum Christi viventis, et gloriam vidi resurgentis: |
The tomb the Living did enclose; I saw Christ's glory as He rose! |
| Angelicos testes, sudarium et vestes. |
The angels there attesting; shroud with grave-clothes resting. |
| Surrexit Christus spes mea: praecedet suos in Galilaeam. |
Christ, my hope, has risen: He goes before you into Galilee. |
| Scimus Christum surrexisse a mortuis vere: Tu nobis, victor Rex miserere. Amen. Alleluia. |
That Christ is truly risen from the dead we know. Victorious King, Thy mercy show! Amen. Alleluia. |
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