Active participation in Extraordinary form of the Low Mass

[MarieT]

a debate is escalating regarding the "active participation" of the congregation

some priests say its ok for the laity to respond alongside the Server....others say the Church refers to "Active" participation as NOT responding but being in contemplative mode....

looking more into this ~ here are 2 sides of the coin

People should not respond at the Extraordinary Mass (server's duty)

For me, having done both the Dialogue Mass and the Silent Low Mass, it is by far more contemplative having the silent low mass. The Dialogue Mass is jarring with all the people shouting our the latin responses.Fr Carrota

VS

Fr Z says should but not for show

In a nutshell, before the Council, it was strongly encouraged that people make responses, especially at Solemn and Sung Masses. This applied often to Low Masses as well, the so-called dialogue Mass.

Is there a good reason why not to respond? Why not to respond “Et cum spirit tuo“, for example?

It is hard for me to think of one. Fr Z

[KarlB]

I refer back to Dietrich von Hildebrand, as part of his theology of Christian personalism, wrote an essay (i can't recall the name), about the two currents of thought on the Mass.

He described the difference as one the elicits a sense of 'community' versus one whose primary emphasis is that of 'communion'. The latter is very personal and introspective, and one that he highly favoured.

In the Novus Ordo the 'community' side won out. So much so that it resembles the congregational atmosphere of Protestant services.. which was highly influential in its development.

I personally think it sabotages the inspiration, conformation and uplift that i always feel with the 1962 Missal. I frankly more often get a sense of frustration, confusion and exhaustion from the Novus Ordo as it deliberately redirects the motive of the Mass from 'communion' to 'community'.

For over 2000 years the articulated and sequestered liturgy, clearly divided by a railing between the sacristry and the nave.. and reflected in the divided structure of the roles of priest and laity has served the Church splendidly.

I consider the Novus Ordo to have been a failed experiment and attempts to create a successful 'hybrid' will do the same. It seems its going to be one or the other.

[Denise]

Karl, was the book, Trojan Horse in the City of God?

[KarlB]

That's one of the books that i've intended to read but haven't got around to yet Denise.

The essay to which i referred i think was this, that nicely summarizes his views on the motive and form of the Mass, and what has been lost in the Novus Ordo.

The Case for the Latin Mass

[Denise]

Oh okay! Trojan Horse is great.