Centuries ago, Martin Luther said that taking away the mass would signal the end of the church. His foresight is best captured in a controversy pitting the traditional catholic mass and the new one. Introduction of this new version has split Catholics into conservatives and modernists. This concern has received attention over the years with contesting views hinged on formation and personal inclination.
The Vatican II appears to be a point of reference with its injection of modernism. The argument against modernism suggests that the call for ecumenism has led to false faith. It is an attempt to restore or maintain the tradition of a church that has survived centuries following the same format.
The desire to modernize the liturgy is not monopolized by the current generation. History has it that St. Athanasius was faced with the same quest in the fourth century. His letter to the faithful helped to stop a wave that sort to change the status. He encouraged Catholics to remain faithful to tradition and resist the urge to adopt practices that would cripple the body of Christ.
The old order, referred to as Trindentine, is supported since it had taken centuries to curve. Dismantling it by the stroke of a papal declaration would be erroneous. Conservatives are alive to the fact that the faithful owe the pope blind obedience. His Extraordinary Magisterium allows him to institute such changes, but they must not be at the expense of its essence or form.
The entry of a new version did not mean that the old one was to be abandoned. The pope formed a commission that was to advise him on the best way forward. The difference can be felt in the order of mass and arrangement at the altar. These differences make the two versions distinct.
Before the Eucharistic celebration begins, the priest would perform the rite of consecrating water for sprinkling to the faithful. It was mixed with salt and a defined psalm sung as the priest sprinkled the water on the congregants. There was a different dress code for the main celebrant from that of co-celebrants.
The priest placed the chalice on the credence table upon reaching the altar. This was performed with the back on congregants. This position is also adopted by altar servers, deacons and co-celebrants. It is considered a major departure since with the current version, the priest and his team faces the congregants. A set antiphon is recited before the sign of the cross.
Vatican II allowed the communion to be received using hands. This is a major departure from tradition where priests placed the communion on the tongue. Only the priest was allowed to administer it and the receiver knelt while receiving the communion. The tabernacle has also been moved from the center of many churches to the side.
It is uncertain if the new version has saved the church or led to its fall. An example is the decline in vocations as the number of nuns, brothers and priests reduce. Conservatives argue that there was no crisis that necessitated the change. Statistics indicate a dangerous decline in congregations as well as vocations. The debate now is whether things would improve if the traditional version is reintroduced.
The Vatican II appears to be a point of reference with its injection of modernism. The argument against modernism suggests that the call for ecumenism has led to false faith. It is an attempt to restore or maintain the tradition of a church that has survived centuries following the same format.
The desire to modernize the liturgy is not monopolized by the current generation. History has it that St. Athanasius was faced with the same quest in the fourth century. His letter to the faithful helped to stop a wave that sort to change the status. He encouraged Catholics to remain faithful to tradition and resist the urge to adopt practices that would cripple the body of Christ.
The old order, referred to as Trindentine, is supported since it had taken centuries to curve. Dismantling it by the stroke of a papal declaration would be erroneous. Conservatives are alive to the fact that the faithful owe the pope blind obedience. His Extraordinary Magisterium allows him to institute such changes, but they must not be at the expense of its essence or form.
The entry of a new version did not mean that the old one was to be abandoned. The pope formed a commission that was to advise him on the best way forward. The difference can be felt in the order of mass and arrangement at the altar. These differences make the two versions distinct.
Before the Eucharistic celebration begins, the priest would perform the rite of consecrating water for sprinkling to the faithful. It was mixed with salt and a defined psalm sung as the priest sprinkled the water on the congregants. There was a different dress code for the main celebrant from that of co-celebrants.
The priest placed the chalice on the credence table upon reaching the altar. This was performed with the back on congregants. This position is also adopted by altar servers, deacons and co-celebrants. It is considered a major departure since with the current version, the priest and his team faces the congregants. A set antiphon is recited before the sign of the cross.
Vatican II allowed the communion to be received using hands. This is a major departure from tradition where priests placed the communion on the tongue. Only the priest was allowed to administer it and the receiver knelt while receiving the communion. The tabernacle has also been moved from the center of many churches to the side.
It is uncertain if the new version has saved the church or led to its fall. An example is the decline in vocations as the number of nuns, brothers and priests reduce. Conservatives argue that there was no crisis that necessitated the change. Statistics indicate a dangerous decline in congregations as well as vocations. The debate now is whether things would improve if the traditional version is reintroduced.
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