A little light humour

This morning, a random thought came to mind, inspired by Martin Mosebach's The Heresy of formlessness. When Monsignor Annibale Bugnini (for those of you who don't know, he is responsible for the liturgical 'reforms' of Vatican II and trying to extinguish the old rite) dies, he is met by his guardian angel to take him before the Most Just Judge. En route, the angel says to Bugnini "You certainly know how to amuse us", to which he replies "How do you mean?". "Well", says the angel, "we have been celebrating the divine liturgy for a while now. Did you really think you could make your own up?".

News of the old rite

There is a rather concise and readable article in the US Spectator by Thomas J. Craughwell about the Holy Father's reported talks with French Bishops over allowing greater celebration of the traditional Roman rite. He points out (quite correctly) that: "He (Pope Benedict) is not going to abolish the New Mass.". If a Catholic to whom you are talking to begins to panic, then politely point out that the lifting of restrictions on the old rite does not herald a replacement of the Novus Ordo. Not by a longshot. I have met a number of such Catholics whom will avoid even a Novus Ordo Mass in Latin like the plague, and if you are to mention your interest, they often cry "Why go back to all that?" (I am not intentionally being polemical, this has happened to me). It seems that many opponents of the traditional Mass are afraid that it will replace the Novus Ordo Missae. Not in this papacy-the Holy Father may (and hopefully) end the restrictions on the traditional Rite, and pursue a 'reform of the reform', but he is very unlikely to ban the post-conciliar Ordo.
My one complaint with Craughwell's article is when he states "the traditional Mass with its traditional theology". The Catholic Church has altered the liturgy, but it cannot add or subtract from the sacred Deposit of Faith, and so the theology which formed the traditional rite should theoretically be the same as that which forms all rites of the Church. Otherwise, this is an admirably succinct and intelligent presentation of the changes to the liturgy-ideal reading for those whom are new to the situation.

Vintage prayers

Here's something unexpected! The Cornell Society has posted a fascinating post about an Ecclesiologist whom safeguards precious statues from post-conciliar iconoclasts. But wait a moment, it gets better yet! They came across prayer cards for the Second Vatican Council-who would have thought of this?