PLEASE NOTE: We fully acknowledge this post is critical of the abuses brought about by the Novus Ordo, all due to its ecumenical (Masonic) influence (surely a topic for a separate post). That said, we here at Chesterton's Jest take a 'both/and' position regarding the Traditional Latin Mass and the New Order of the Mass instead of an 'either/or' position; despite all its problems, It is well within God's power to work His ways and make straight lines with man's misplaced good intentions.
In the wake of the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church underwent a profound liturgical reform that has culminated in the promulgation of the Novus Ordo Mass. While the intention behind this reform was noble—to make the liturgy more accessible and participatory for the faithful—the implementation of the Novus Ordo has had far-reaching consequences that warrant critical examination.
One of the most significant shifts brought about by the Novus Ordo Mass is its ecumenical nature, characterized by a desire for unity and dialogue with other Christian denominations. While this ecumenical spirit is commendable in theory, in practice, it has led to a watering down of Catholic identity and doctrinal clarity in favor of a generic, one-size-fits-all approach to worship. The result is a liturgy that lacks the richness, depth, and reverence of the traditional Latin Mass, leaving to a superficial, spiritually unsatisfied and disengaging form of worship.
Moreover, the ecumenical emphasis of the Novus Ordo Mass has empowered many priests who are poorly formed by modernist trends to exercise 'subjective' pastoral discretion in the celebration of the liturgy. This has led to a proliferation of liturgical abuses and innovations that deviate from the authentic spirit of the Mass. From liturgical dancing to dramatic re-enactments in place of a Homily, these deviations from tradition have eroded the sacredness and solemnity of the Mass, turning it into a banal and uninspiring endeavor.
When the Novus Ordo Mass is celebrated according to its original tenets and without deviations or abuses, it is a valid celebration and in the proper spirit can be an uplifting experience of the Liturgy. Unfortunately, as we have seen over time and now can attest to, this ongoing trend towards modernization has not been good for the Church, and many Bishops and Cardinals as well as the laity are beginning to beauty and mystery within the Traditional Latin Mass.
The prevalence of so much abuse in the Novus Ordo has played into a dangerous mindset- familiarity breeds contempt- where the Mass becomes routine and mundane rather than a source of awe and reverence. When priests prioritize novelty and innovation over fidelity to the Church's liturgical tradition, they risk alienating the faithful and undermining the centrality of the Eucharist in Catholic worship.
This decline in reverence for the Mass has contributed to a steady decline in Mass attendance since the 1960s. Statistically, weekly Mass attendance in the United States has dropped from around 70% in the 1960s to less than 25% in recent years. While there are undoubtedly multiple factors contributing to this decline, including secularization and cultural shifts, the liturgical changes introduced by the Novus Ordo Mass have undoubtedly played a role in driving Catholics away from the pews.
In the face of these challenges, many Catholics have sought refuge in the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM), drawn to its reverence, solemnity, and doctrinal clarity. The TLM offers a stark contrast to the ecumenical and experimental nature of the Novus Ordo Mass, providing a spiritual anchor for those disenchanted with the liturgical changes of the post-Vatican II era. Today, we must reexamine the role of the Mass in the life of the Church and seek to restore reverence, solemnity, and doctrinal clarity to the liturgy for the greater glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful- the Bride of Christ.
Our worship is not a transactional exchange to fulfill our desires, but a sacrificial offering of reverence and adoration to the Divine. It is a recognition that God, in His infinite wisdom and holiness, knows what is best for us and calls us to approach Him with humility and obedience.
When we understand worship in this light, we are called to transcend our own preferences and inclinations, surrendering ourselves completely to the divine will. It is a profound act of humility to set aside our personal desires and submit to the divine order, trusting that God's ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. In this surrender, we find true freedom and fulfillment, for it is in honoring God as He desires that we discover the fullness of our humanity and the purpose for which we were created.
The essence of worship lies not in the satisfaction of our own desires, but in the profound act of acknowledging God's sovereignty and majesty. It is a sacred journey of self-emptying and self-offering, where we lay our hearts and lives before the altar of the Most High, seeking to glorify Him in all that we do. In this divine exchange, we find that our deepest longings are fulfilled, our greatest needs are met, and our souls are nourished by the boundless love and grace of our Heavenly Father.
-Chesterton's Jest