Lisi Sterndorfer

Description of some initial reactions to liturgy reform in 1965:

‘What do people think about the reform of the liturgy? The replies can be grouped into two categories. First, there are those that give evidence of a degree of confusion and therefore of uneasiness. Until now people were comfortable; they could pray the way they wished; all were quite familiar with the way the Mass proceeded. Now on all sides there are new things, changes, surprises: it has even gone so far as to do away with ringing the Sanctus bell. Then there are all those prayers that no one can any longer find; standing to receive communion; the end of the Mass cut off abruptly after the blessing. Everyone makes the responses; there is much moving about; the prayers and the readings are spoken out loud. In short, there is no more peace, things are understood less than before, and so on.
We shall not criticize these remarks because that would require showing how great a lack of understanding about religious rites they manifest. They do not indicate a true devotion or a genuine perception of the import of the Mass. Rather they betray a certain spiritual laziness, the refusal to make the personal effort toward understanding and participation…We should not think that after a while there can be a return to the former, undisturbed devotion or apathy. No, the new way of doing things will have to be different; it will have to prevent and to shake up the passivity of the people present at Mass. Before, it was enough to assist; now, it is necessary to take part. Before, being there was enough; now, attention and activity are required. Before, everyone could doze or perhaps even chatter; now all must listen and pray.’
(Pope Paul VI, General Audience, 17th March, 1965)
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John A Cassani

His analysis is permeated by Pelagianism. No longer can we “assist,” we must “take part.” This looks, to me, like a consequence of the failure to condemn the Jesuit view on justification, which stated that justification was half grace, and half works. The Tradition of the Church is that justification is all grace, and all works. The Mass is a moment of grace, that blesses different people with different roles to play. Some must be active, like priests. Priests need to grow in their ability to pray the Mass. Others are able to contemplate the great Mysteries, and this is a work of God in them, not a result of saying things formerly reserved to the clergy.

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philosopher

@John A Cassani Excellent points on the meaning of liturgy. I think the modernists, in addition to promoting a kind of pelagianism as you said, but they also distorted the nature of participation. When the nurses and surgical techs assist the doctor-surgeon during an operation they are participating in the operation itself. Thus when the faithful assist through inward silent prayer during the mass they are participating in the mass. IMHO, I think was intentional in order to shift the direction of the mass from the Transcendant vertical to a more anthropocentric horizontal plane.

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John A Cassani

@philosopher Makes sense. Modernism contains every heresy, right?

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