“And Paul VI wept”. More fascinating notes about the Pope and the liturgical reform.

Fr. Z, “And Paul VI wept”. More fascinating notes about the Pope and the liturgical reform. (Fr. Z's Blog, April 19, 2018):

Today, Sandro Magistero offers some information about Paul VI’s true attitude about the liturgical reform sparked by “experts” such as Annibale Bugnini well before the Council, during the Liturgical Movement, and carried out through and after the Council by the same.

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Some hard truths about the "1965 Missal" on the 50th anniversary of Paul VI's first Italian Mass

March 7th marked the 50th anniversary of the first "Mass in Italian" ever celebrated, an event considered sufficiently significant to be celebrated by Pope Francis with a special commemorative Mass in the same venue. Read the rest of this substantial discussion to get the "low-down" on the significance of the so-called "1965 Missal" -- which is neither the last issue of the "Tridentine" Missal (1962) nor the first official inauguration of new (Novus Ordo) Missal of Paul VI (1969), but rather an "interim draft," if you will.

See also:

• Augustinus, "The Mass of 1965: back to the future? Why it is not an option" (RC, February 27, 2014).
• Jeff Ostrowski, "A Dream Come True: 1965 Missal Online!" (Corpus Christi Watershed, November 15, 2013).
• Fr. Z, "Bugninicare! Universal-Spiritual-Care Reform for the Catholic Church (Socialized Worship)" (Fr. Z's Blog, Dec. 4, 2013).

Coming soon: 50th anniversary celebration of Paul VI's Mass by Pope Francis

Editor, N.P.C., "Pope Francis to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Paul VI’s Use of the Vernacular" (Pray Tell, February 2, 2015):

It was announced in the most recent edition of L’Osservatore Romano that Pope Francis will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first celebration of the liturgy in the vernacular by Paul VI. On March 7 at 6:00 PM, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass at the church of All Saints on the via Appia Nuova. This was the same parish where Paul VI celebrated in the vernacular for the first time.

No doubt this announcement will have some up in arms, but for many in the Church this is yet another chance to celebrate the successful reforms [???] of Vatican II.

It will be interesting to see what he says during his homily. Pope Francis has been careful not to tread into the stormy seas of the liturgical wars of yesteryear. Rather than tell us his thoughts on how liturgy should be celebrated, he has shown us. This Mass, however, will provide him with a chance to talk directly about the liturgical reforms of Vatican II. We will see if he takes the bait.

[Hat tip to J.V.]

"Paul VI: A Pope of Contradictions"

Peter Kwasniewski, "Paul VI: A Pope of Contradictions" (New Liturgical Movement, December 10, 2013), offers a thoughtful synopsis of the legacy of Pope Paul VI.

A reader, addressing the related subject of why Catholic leaders seem so (unnecessarily) beholden to the judgement of the secular world, writes:

The big thing is this: people want so much the faith to seem utterly reasonable to non-believers. The challenge of rationalism apparently intimidates like nobody's business. And Popes are afraid to do anything but apologize or hedge...

Hence, these assumption, while not approved, still functionally reign despite official pronouncements insinuating otherwise:

SURELY God would not condemn people to Hell
SURELY Adam and Eve were not real people
SURELY God wants to save every soul not matter what
SURELY Scripture is conditioned linguistically so much so we have to be very careful
SURELY Homosexuality is an orientation and not a sin
SURELY Latin is totally non-accessible today
SURELY you can't expect priests not to marry
SURELY woman have to have the same opportunities as men

[Hat tip to G.N.]

Fr. Luigi Villa's Paolo VI beato? now in English

A reader just sent me the following bit about the recent translation of a traditionalist Italian book. Here's the background: Alice von Hildebrand gave an interview to Latin Mass magazine in 2001. The interview can be found at "The Church in Crisis -- And Scenarios for a Solution" (Scripture and Catholic Tradition, April 13, 2006). In that interview Von Hildebrand referred to a book by Fr. Luigi Villa, Paolo VI beato? (Brescia: Editrice Civilta, 1998; 2nd ed. 2001). That book is now translated thanks to an Italo-Aussie: Father Luigi Villa, "Paul VI ... beatified?." See also: "Paulo Sesto, Beato? Available in English" (Athanasius Contra Mundum).

[Hat tip to A.S.]

Sluggish & recalcitrant Vatican bureaucracy

Paul VI described the Roman Curia in 1967, the year of his reform, as “a pretentious and sluggish bureaucracy, entirely wrapped in rule and ritual, a breeding ground for ambition and sordid antagonism.”

While there are no signs of such a sweeping reform as Paul VI undertook in the fifth year of his pontificate in the present Curia, there is every evidence that it is as hopelessly inert as ever.

Sandro Magister addresses the issue of Vatican inertia in "Roman Curia: The Reform That Isn't There" (www.chiesa, June 29, 2007) writes:

Appointments made at a snail's pace. Documents that are useless or continually delayed. Offices drifting aimlessly. Why the renewal of the Vatican bureaucracy is not a priority for Benedict XVI.

I'm reminded of the words of the 14th century Jewish merchant, Abraham, about the church in Rome to the Archbishop of Paris after returning from a business trip to Rome in Boccaccio's Decameron: "No earthly business that stupid and corrupt could last fourteen weeks. Your Church has lasted fourteen centuries. It must have God behind it." Miserere Domine.