Three little maids from school are we...
I know he doesn't have much time for me but I hold Mr Di Pippo of the New Liturgical Movement in some esteem for his liturgical scholarship. His articles on the changes to the rites of Holy Week are well worth reading, as was his article on aliturgical days in the Roman Rite (even if it did conclude rather lamely with allusions to Uniates in Rome). Anyway, you'll notice that there is very little commentary on the photos he has uploaded about Palm Sunday
here. Nor do you see him in any of them. But he won't say what he really thinks! Why? If the NLM is supposed to be in the cause of liturgical renewal (which is implied by the title), surely frankness and blunt honesty are called for?
''It does not add to the dignity of a rite that a crowd of useless boys stand about the sanctuary doing nothing. Nor is it in accordance with the tradition of the Roman rite to add useless ornamental attendance.'' (Adrian Fortescue, The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described, 1943).
Knowing that this post will not be challenged, I have no qualms about producing two of the dismal photos here. Awful, gratuitously awful...
What a pity nobody attending Santissima TrinitĂ dei Pellegrini in Rome has a camera as I am sure NLM would love to publish photographs of celebrations there. I understand they would be very pleasing to many eyes.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't help noticing the mix and match, pick 'n' mix going on everywhere. One of them has a celebrant (!) striking the door of the church with the veiled processional cross. It's almost like a competition to see who can be the most aliturgical on one of the finest days in the Roman Rite!
DeleteYes, it would be interesting to see some photos from Santissima Trinita de Pellegrina but it seems that for fear of commentary here and in other, less liturgical, places they won't upload them. Pity.
It's not unheard of for the celebrant to knock at the door; Fr. Guéranger mentions it.
DeleteWhat I do not understand is the trepidation toward the Old Rites from priests who know better. To wit: the ICRSS, whom I mentioned earlier, used the pre-55 Rites year-round exclusively until they were given (which I am sure means forced to accept) Pontifical Status under Ecclesia Dei, at which time they were told to cease and desist and use the '62 books. They apparently also included some bits about custom in their constitutions, which they use to justify certain Old Rite practices, all while they await hopeful eventual explicit permission to use the Old Rites. Meanwhile, well-known parishes under the FSSP such as the above mentioned, etc. use the Old Rite under the nose of Ecclesia Dei and seem to be getting along fine, as well as many a diocesan priest. At the present though, the ICRSS uses a bizarre mix n' match throughout the year: San Giovanni communista and proper last Gospels; Tenebrae in the morning and the correct Passion and Gospel Rites during Holy Week; and so on and so forth.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a seminarian with the ICRSS (before Summorum Pontificum) we used the pre-1955 rites for Holy Week; however, the following changes were made: Communion was distributed to the faithful on Good Friday, the Paschal Vigil only had the four readings, and the Vigil began around 8 or 9 pm so we did Lauds at the end instead of Vespers. This was at their German house.
DeleteInteresting. It does not surprise me that they did things at the "corrected times," and of course not distributing Communion is what would really upset some eager laymen. The ICRSS priests with whom I have spoke have nothing nice to say about the '62 Missal but are intransigently in favor of the "corrected" times of the Pian Holy Week.
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