Wednesday Liturgy: Follow-up: Mixing the Forms

ROME, MARCH 1, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.

In the wake of our comments on mixing the two forms of the Roman rite (see Feb. 15), an Oregon reader observed: "This is what you said in the answer with regard to mixing the two rites: 'In the extraordinary form, when the celebrant decides to use the pall, the norms offer some guidance as to when to place and remove it, without imposing any obligation.' To the best of my knowledge, the pall is not something the celebrant may decide to use or not. Another point: I don't know if it is quite right to compare the use of the maniple to face-painting. The former has a long history and face-painting does not."

Regarding the first point, I have to issue a mea culpa. This erroneous phrase escaped several editorial revisions. I was referring to the point that the old form can throw light on some norms that are not explained in detail in the new form. The expression should have read something like: "in the ordinary form, when the celebrant decides to use the pall, the norms of the extraordinary form offer some guidance ...."

Regarding the second point, I deliberately used an exaggerated comparison to underline a point of interpretation of the law. There was no intention of casting ridicule upon the use of the maniple (which is still mandatory in the extraordinary form).

Another reader, from Wichita, Kansas, asked: "In a diocese in the northern part of the U.S. a priest adds the extraordinary form rubrics to the ordinary form of the Mass. When I questioned him about it, he said that his office of worship from his diocese has given him permission to add the rubrics because he said Pope Benedict said that the extraordinary form of the Mass should influence the ordinary form. Here are some things he is doing: consecrating the host on the corporal, blessing himself with the paten, placing the paten under the corporal, placing the sacramentary on the right side of the altar, blessing himself during the Sanctus, etc. It is my understanding liturgical rubrics are universal law and cannot be added or changed except by a Vatican office or the Pope. It is also my understanding that one of the documents of Vatican II states that no one on his own authority may add or change anything in liturgy. Does a bishop or his office of worship have the authority to permit a mixing of the rites?"

The short answer is no, neither the bishop nor his liturgy office may authorize such mixing of rites.

I believe that the primary meaning of Pope Benedict's desire -- that the extraordinary form influence the ordinary -- is in inculcating an enhanced sense of reverence and decorum into the ordinary form.

Some aspects, usually associated with the extraordinary form, have always been permitted in the ordinary form. For example, it has always been possible to celebrate facing east, to use Latin, to use the style of chasuble typically worn before the reform, and so on.

We have already mentioned above the use of the older form as a guide in doubtful situations. As well as this, several other elements from the older form, such as some of the priest's private prayers, may still be used by the celebrant in a private capacity.

I do not believe, however, that any element can be introduced which would contradict the ordinary form's clear rubrics or even render them ungainly. For example, the missal mandates the use of the paten upon which the host is placed immediately after the consecration and which is elevated along with the chalice at the final doxology ("Through him, with him "). For this reason it is not correct to consecrate in the manner of the extraordinary form.

Likewise, as mentioned in the original article, I believe that each form should be taken as it is, and gestures proper to one (such as blessing oneself during the Sanctus) should not be introduced into the other simply because nothing is said against it.