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This article discusses the Mass as part of the liturgy of the
Roman Catholic Church. For the Mass as a genre of classical music composition, see Mass (music). For mass as a concept in physics,
see Mass.
The Mass, the principal worship service of the Roman Catholic Church, has acquired through its long history
several names, some of which are synecdoches, including Eucharist, Agape, the Lord's
Supper, and Holy Communion. The word "mass" is derived from the closing Latin formula of the mass, Ite, missa est, which can be interpreted as 'Go, it is sent' or
'Go, you are dismissed'.
Sections of the Mass
Although the texts and prayers vary in somewhat complicated patterns (see Breviary), the structure is fixed, and consists of the following sections:
Introductory Rites
In the late 1960s a revised Roman Missal was introduced to replace the
previous Tridentine Missal published in 1570, following the Council of Trent. For four centuries, what is loosely called a Tridentine Mass, that is the Mass celebrated in accordance with the
Tridentine Missal, only underwent minor changes. Among the principal reforms of the new Missal were:
- the option (universally availed of) to use a vernacular translation of the Roman Missal, in place of the traditional
Latin;
- a redesigning of the sanctuary to facilitate the celebration in accordance with the new Missal. This included
- the obligatory moving of the altar from its previous location, up against a reredos (decorative back mounting) so as to allow
the priest to face the congregation when celebrating Mass. Previously (as the above image showed) the celebrant had his
back to the congregation and faced the Tabernacle;
- The option of the removal in some cases of Altar rails which separated
the congregation from the sanctuary where the altar was located;
- The replacement of high pulpits by ambos. Where a pulpit had not existed, an ambo
was installed;
- the replacement of traditional priestly vestments by less decorated more freeflowing vestments based on the form worn in the
early church;
- the optional use of vernacular hymns in place of gregorian chant and Latin hymns;
- the elimination of many Signs of the Cross by the faithful
during Mass
- the introduction of Ministers of the Eucharist to help the celebrant in the distribution of Holy Communion in extraordinary
cases;¹
- the introduction of Ministers of the Word, so that the laity could participate in the Mass through readings other than the
gospel;
- the scrapping of the ban imposed by Pope Pius X on women entering the
sanctuary.
Criticism and Praise for the new Mass
A small minority of catholics continue to campaign for the reinstatement of the Tridentine Mass. While the rules laid down in
the new Missal allow and recommend the celebration of Mass in Latin, the use of the earlier Missal was prohibited for some years
following its successor's introduction. (Today it is allowed, given as a special dispensation.)
Many of the redesigned altars have proved controversial, with public opposition to the removal of altar rails and the reredos.
Cardinal Ratzinger has been a public critic of
the nature of the re-orderings of sanctuaries that had taken place.
Other critics have alleged that the celebration of Mass according to the new Missal (Novus Ordo Missae) is unattractive and unappealing, and lacks the degree of ceremony and ritual that
marked its predecessor. Some conservative critics have claimed that the rapid decline in religious attendance is due to the
allegedly irreverent nature of the modern ceremony. Its defenders argue that without the reform, religious attendance would have
declined even further.
Tridentine Masses being said once again in the Vatican
In the 1990s, a rapid increase in the use of, and tolerance of, the Tridentine Mass appeared within Roman Catholicism.
Permission for its celebration, once rarely given became more easily given. And whereas in the past Tridentine Masses if allowed
at all were restricted to Low Masses and small congregations, a full Pontifical High Mass was celebrated by a visiting cardinal, in front of distinguished invited guests
and Cardinal John O'Connor at the main altar in
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New
York in 1999. In 2001 it was revealed that the
Vatican had once again allowed Tridentine Masses to be celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica (though not on the main altar). In 2002 it
was reported that Pope John Paul II had celebrated Tridentine
Masses in his private chapel in the Apostolic Palace.
See
Footnotes
1 Though Ministers of the Eucharist were intended for use in extraordinary and limited cases, they have been used
widely in the vast majority of churches.
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