Discovering the riches of the extraordinary form
Fr Andrew Wadsworth, chaplain of Harrow School, on introducing the old Mass to schools and parishes
4 July 2008

The recent visit of Cardinal Darìo Castrillon Hoyos to Westminster has further fuelled the debate surrounding the wider implications of Pope Benedict's motu proprio Summorum Pontificum. A year later, I would like to explore some of the practical challenges of this development and offer some suggestions in situations where there has been no recent contact with this form of the liturgy.

Until relatively recently, most Catholics will have considered this issue to concern only those who request the traditional Latin Mass. Furthermore, the consecration of four bishops without papal mandate in 1988 by the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre will generally be considered to be the remote cause of recent developments. The remarks of Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, however, simply reflect the thought of Pope Benedict in underlining that this is not pastoral provision for the disaffected, but a call to all Catholics to be reconnected to a tradition that can shed light on all our liturgical celebration.

My own interest in these issues is eminently practical. When I was ordained in 1990, I caused a stir in electing to celebrate publicly both forms of the Roman Rite on my first full day as a priest. I was probably the first priest in the UK to do so since the changes that followed the Council. This set the tone for a ministry that has involved both liturgical forms (in varying proportions) and has often helped me to consider the internal dynamics of the liturgy as our experience of the Mystery of Christ, continually made sacramentally present in our world. My experience is not unique and a growing number of priests are discovering this liturgical tradition as a source of enrichment for their ministry. Last summer, I directed a course at Merton College, Oxford, for priests wishing to learn to celebrate the older form of the Mass. The response was far beyond expectations and when we return to Merton later this month, there will be over 60 priests from all over Great Britain.

Although I am personally committed to promoting a greater experience of traditional liturgical forms for all Catholics, I am equally convinced that this should not be thrust upon people without careful catechesis and consideration of liturgical sensibilities. Obviously, much of the ordinary form has textual and can have visual connection with past liturgies, but for many, the experience of liturgy has often been one of discontinuity with the past and even destruction and all that this implies. Many also say that a sense of the numinous or reverent adoration is more difficult to create in celebrating the modern rites.

On a practical level, there remain several unanswered questions as to how features of modern parish life such as concelebration, communion under both kinds, readers, Eucharistic ministers and servers of both sexes interact with a liturgy that makes no provision for any of them. Maybe these issues will be clarified with time and further experience of living in a liturgical world where such diversity is actually rooted in the rite.

Apart from the celebration of the extraordinary form, there are a number of initiatives in ordinary form celebrations which show a traditional influence. These include an increase in celebrations facing the altar, more frequent use of Latin and the adoption of the arrangement of the altar with a central crucifix and six large candlesticks. Obviously none of these features require special permission and for those who feel that the usus antiquior is a step too far, they may be a step in the general direction. Furthermore, the motu proprio is not limited to the Mass and celebrations of baptism, reconciliation, anointing of the sick, marriage and Holy Communion outside Mass can all make use of traditional formulas, either in Latin or English.

Recent developments are equally a challenge to those Catholics who have an attachment to the older form of the Latin liturgy. Such people are invited to respond generously to the notion that the two forms of the Roman Rite should be mutually enriching. Examples of this would include the use of some prefaces from the 2002 missal and inclusion of Masses of more recently canonised saints in celebrations using the 1962 missal.

As to parish practice, I would cite three experiences which illustrate ways in which the extraordinary form can be experienced in a context where this is not familiar. Last autumn, a local parish council asked me to arrange a Sung Mass for their parish. I did so for the Feast of All Saints and using parish resources of singers, sacristans and servers. I became aware of the need to help those who would be present towards a prayerful participation in a liturgy which would be unfamiliar to many of them. I prepared a booklet describing what they would sing, say, see, hear and possibly even experience at this form of the Mass. I drew attention to features which differ from Mass as they usually experience it and in accordance with the provisions of Summorum Pontificum, I chose to proclaim the Liturgy of the Word in English rather than in Latin. I was unprepared for the reaction of the 400 people present which was overwhelmingly positive and lasted for weeks afterwards.

More recently, I decided to present this form of the Mass in the school where I work. After much thought, we decided to celebrate Corpus Christi according to the extraordinary form, complete with procession. Schools represent a different experience of the Church to parishes and necessarily require a different approach. The Mass made use of exclusively school resources for music and serving and our catechetical programme concentrated on a presentation of the liturgy, using video clips from YouTube to illustrate points and stimulate discussion. Once again, I was amazed at the response. Parish communities probably need similar initiatives.

My third experience is on a much smaller scale. I have taken the opportunity to celebrate weekday Masses in the extraordinary form when appropriate, often with only a small group of people. Together we have come to discover the riches of a rite that yields up its treasures gradually and rewards any careful attention. We have used the dialogue form of the Mass with everyone making the responses and the Liturgy of the Word has been in English. For me, it is the journey of this smaller group that has been most significant and the greatest source of reflection for me personally. I commend the experience to you.

arw@harrowschool.org.uk