Review At Nlm Of New Book On Liturgy

[Perigrina]

Speaking of which, could any of you all recommend a good book on the changes to the Liturgy? (One thats not in opposition to the Council) 

 

Does something like this appeal to you? A Bitter Trial: Evelyn Waugh and John Cardinal Heenan on the Liturgical Changes by Evelyn Waugh (Author), Cardinal John Heenan (Author), Alcuin Reid (Editor) http://www.amazon.com/Bitter-Trial-Cardinal-Liturgical-Changes/dp/158617522X  

 

The Amazon description:

 

English author Evelyn Waugh, most famous for his novel Brideshead Revisited, became a Roman Catholic in 1930. For the last decade of his life, however, Waugh experienced the changes being made to the Church's liturgy to be nothing short of "a bitter trial". In John Cardinal Heenan, Waugh found a sympathetic pastor and somewhat of a kindred spirit.

This volume brings together the personal correspondence between Waugh and Heenan during the 1960s, a trying period for many faithful Catholics. It begins with a 1962 article Waugh wrote for theSpectator followed by a response from then Archbishop Heenan, who at the time was a participant at the Second Vatican Council. These and the other writings included in this book paint a vivid picture of two prominent and loyal English Catholics who lamented the loss of Latin and the rupture of tradition that resulted from Vatican II.

In the light of the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, many Catholics are looking again at the post-conciliar liturgical changes. To this "reform of the reform" of the liturgy now underway in the Roman Catholic Church, both Heenan and Waugh have much to contribute.

 

Alcuin Reed is highly respected, with no hint of schism or irregularity attached to his reputation.

[Perigrina]

Another book is The Bugnini Liturgy and the Reform of the Reform by Laszlo Dobszay http://www.amazon.com/The-Bugnini-Liturgy-Reform/dp/1607437244

 

LÁSZLÓ DOBSZAY, the famed Hungarian musician and liturgist, is the author of this 2003 work that offers a powerful assessment of the 1970 Missal in light of the Second Vatican Council and the preconciliar form. His argument is frank, even bracing, without being polemical: he deals with the grave problems inherent in in the Bugnini reform while not abandoning the need for reform of the preconciliar Mass. The unique contribution here deals with the topic most overlooked: the relationship between the music of the Mass and the liturgical structure itself, a topic on which the defects of the reform are most evident.

[Nihil Obstat]

Speaking of which, could any of you all recommend a good book on the changes to the Liturgy? (One thats not in opposition to the Council) 

The Bugnini Liturgy and Reform of the Reform, and Restoration and Organic Development of the Roman Rite, both by Dr. Laszlo Dobszay. An extremely intelligent man, I would even say genius, and irreproachably faithful to the Church.

Both changed my perspective entirely. I simply cannot overstate how excellent these books are. If I had unlimited funds, I would buy copies for everyone who expresses even a remote interest.

Edited June 21, 2014 by Nihil Obstat

[Nihil Obstat]

Another book is The Bugnini Liturgy and the Reform of the Reform by Laszlo Dobszay http://www.amazon.com/The-Bugnini-Liturgy-Reform/dp/1607437244

 

LÁSZLÓ DOBSZAY, the famed Hungarian musician and liturgist, is the author of this 2003 work that offers a powerful assessment of the 1970 Missal in light of the Second Vatican Council and the preconciliar form. His argument is frank, even bracing, without being polemical: he deals with the grave problems inherent in in the Bugnini reform while not abandoning the need for reform of the preconciliar Mass. The unique contribution here deals with the topic most overlooked: the relationship between the music of the Mass and the liturgical structure itself, a topic on which the defects of the reform are most evident.

This post elevates you to my current favourite regular poster.

[Perigrina]

I note that you phrased this in such a way that I was not competing against Moosey for the title. :)

[Perigrina]

There is another author that I was trying to remember and the name finally came to me this morning and I found this on Wikipedia:

 

Klaus Gamber (1919–1989) is a German Catholic liturgist. Author of Die Reform der römischen Liturgie, which was subsequently translated into English and published as The Reform of the Roman Liturgy: Its Problems and Background, he was one of the principal intellectual critics of the liturgical reforms brought under the papacy of Paul VI. His critical work was praised by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and he is credited for being one of the academic inspirations behind the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, allowing broader use of traditional liturgy.

 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Reform-Roman-Liturgy-Background/dp/0912141050

 

I think this one is more polemical than the Dobszay book.  It is famous for a comment in the preface written by then Cardinal Ratzinger  â€œWhat happened after the Council . . . in the place of ‘liturgy as the fruit of development’ came fabricated liturgy. We abandoned the organic, living process of growth and development over centuries, and replaced it—as in a manufacturing process—with a fabrication, a banal on-the-spot product. "   So, while there is no rejection of Church teaching or structures, this is not a book for people who will have problems with harsh criticism.

Edited June 21, 2014 by Perigrina

[mortify ii]

Speaking of which, could any of you all recommend a good book on the changes to the Liturgy? (One thats not in opposition to the Council) 

 

Ottaviani Intervention

[Nihil Obstat]

Banished Heart by Geoffrey Hull is also very good, although parts are quite historically dense, whereas Dobszay tends towards density when it comes to music or Divine Office.

[Perigrina]

Something that happened to me when I started learning about liturgical issues was that it became a distraction to me at Mass.  Instead of worshipping Christ I was thinking about critiquing the liturgy.  That was very wrong.

 

So if anyone reads the books being recommended here, watch out for that reaction in yourself and nip it in the bud if you see it starting.

[CountrySteve21]

Thats happened to me too. Those "rad trad" arguments about the OF MAss being wrong had led me to struggle with my faith awhile back. I'm over it now(Deo Gratias) Long story short, I love the OF now (when celebrated without the nonsense) IT led me to be a  a reform of the reform guy. I just wish the reverance you get at an EF would be the norm at the OF. VAtican II did say Gregorian Chant and Latin would be held the "pride of place" What happened to that?!?

 

Pax

[Perigrina]

Thats happened to me too. Those "rad trad" arguments about the OF MAss being wrong had led me to struggle with my faith awhile back. I'm over it now(Deo Gratias) Long story short, I love the OF now (when celebrated without the nonsense) IT led me to be a  a reform of the reform guy. I just wish the reverance you get at an EF would be the norm at the OF. VAtican II did say Gregorian Chant and Latin would be held the "pride of place" What happened to that?!?

 

Pax

 

It is just so easy to slip into being bitter and negative when thinking about these sorts of things.  I really have to watch myself.

[mortify ii]

We're living in biggest crisis the Church has seen, it's natural to face an internal dilemma when one finds the problems. When I became Catholic in 2005 I was in for a real shock, even at that early stage when I literally knew nothing I still knew something was very wrong. For a time I considered become an Orthodox Christian as that seemed more in line with my own culture and view at the time, but I soon realized they were a dead end. So these are very challenging times, we must face the reality, suffer through the shock, and evolve to be better and stronger Christians. I realize that I am too harsh at times, even though I try to be facetious about certain things. I too must evolve and continue to advance in order to survive in these times. Please pray for me as I will pray for all of you.

[chrysostom]

Something that happened to me when I started learning about liturgical issues was that it became a distraction to me at Mass.  Instead of worshipping Christ I was thinking about critiquing the liturgy.  That was very wrong.

 

So if anyone reads the books being recommended here, watch out for that reaction in yourself and nip it in the bud if you see it starting.

 

In certain cases it is beyond difficult for liturgical issues NOT to become a distraction whether or not you have read any of these books.  I'm not talking about whatever is usually debated or mentioned.  I'm talking about more blatant "liberties" taken by individual priests with the Liturgy that get in your face and just plain disturb you no matter how much you try to concentrate on worshiping Christ.  The "shut up and pray" advice works - up to a point. (I try to shut up and pray, myself!)  But once a priest starts messing around with the OF itself, well...it's difficult and a bit discouraging.  Such is the place where I go to daily Mass when I have mornings off.

 

I know this post isn't really about the OF itself because I'm talking about times when it's violated.  But dissatisfaction or disturbance at violations of the OF is often expressed in the same breath with dissatisfaction or disturbance at the OF text itself, so even though they are quite different I thought it might be helpful to mention.

[Perigrina]

In certain cases it is beyond difficult for liturgical issues NOT to become a distraction whether or not you have read any of these books.  I'm not talking about whatever is usually debated or mentioned.  I'm talking about more blatant "liberties" taken by individual priests with the Liturgy that get in your face and just plain disturb you no matter how much you try to concentrate on worshiping Christ.  The "shut up and pray" advice works - up to a point. (I try to shut up and pray, myself!)  But once a priest starts messing around with the OF itself, well...it's difficult and a bit discouraging.  Such is the place where I go to daily Mass when I have mornings off.

 

I know this post isn't really about the OF itself because I'm talking about times when it's violated.  But dissatisfaction or disturbance at violations of the OF is often expressed in the same breath with dissatisfaction or disturbance at the OF text itself, so even though they are quite different I thought it might be helpful to mention.

 

Yes, I know what you mean.  I was once at an OF Mass at which the priest substituted in the Jewish blessings over bread and wine (in Hebrew) in place of the Offertory prayers.  I was shocked and much too disturbed to think about the Mass.  I don't think that I was responsible for being distracted that time.