Tuesday, 30 October 2012
What liturgy used to be like
Fascinating footage from the restoration of Pluscarden Abbey to Catholic worship in 1948. The crowds are impressive, with people sitting precariously on various bits of stonework.
The liturgy looks rather haphazard by today's standards, reminding me of some of the footage of papal liturgies under Blessed John XXIII on YouTube. I suppose that television has had an influence in making MCs faff around less obviously.
It may be that there is also some "mutual enrichment" in that priests who say the usus antiquior Mass do not rush through it in 15 minutes, and High Masses, even with sacred ministers who are not too familiar with the rites, tend to be less obviously shambolic.
It could also be suggested that back in the 1940s people had a greater sense of the objective value of the Liturgy and did not worry so much about what it looked like. I don't think I buy that.
H/T New Liturgical Movement. The video was posted to YouTube by A Wandering Oblate.
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8 comments:
That's one of the most interesting things I've seen online, Father. Thank you. But I for one didn't see anything that merited "shambolic".
"I don't think I buy that.
"
You are correct. I started serving Mass in 1945 and the importance of "serving with dignity" was emphasised
Ah, but the reverence. It makes one weep for what has been lost.
Yes, thank you for this. I love these old videos of Church events esp. Liturgical whether Catholic or Anglican. Never heard the word 'shambolic' but I'll look it up.
http://www.liturgy.dk/default.asp?Action=Menu&Item=285
I think Fr. was referring to the MC. Today he would not be so visible even in OF Mass. Though given that the Mass was held de facto outdoors on a windy day with all those important clergy one could forgive him if he 'faffed around' a bit. Interesting that the Franciscan mentioned at the end, Fr. Colman, founder of the Guild of St. Margaret of Scotland (I think) was a Graymoor Franciscan - a Friar of Our Lady of the Atonement. They began as a congregation within the Episcopalians and then came over the Tiber to us, sisters and all.
Thanks for this little piece of history!
Great video. It did sound like it was narrated by Mr Cholmondley-Warner, but all the more charming for that. Did the laity look any less involved than at any post-conciliar Mass?
Just one question: given the number young people there , did the monks not think to have at least a chorus of 'Shine, Jesus, shine'?
One of the altar boys at this Mass was Mario Conti, future Bishop of Aberdeen and Archbishop of Glasgow.
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