Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi: Revisions to the Roman Missal Welcomed by Seventy Percent of Catholics for Good Reason

By Deacon Keith Fournier
12/6/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

How the Church worships is a prophetic witness to the truth of what she professes

For too long "Fr ____" took it upon himself to "wing it" with the canon and the liturgical prayers of the Holy Mass. The Holy Mass does not belong to the celebrating priest, it belongs to Christ the High Priest in whom he stands.

Holy Mass celebrated by the Holy Father

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

CHESAPEAKE, VA (Catholic Online) - In a November 30, 2012 article entitled "Catholics strongly support new Mass translation after first year", Michelle Bauman of the Catholic News Agency reported on a poll concerning Catholics and the recent revisions to the Liturgy, the Holy Mass.

The poll was conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. It was published in September of 2012. It polled the experience of adult Catholics in reaction to the revisions to the third edition of the Roman Missal. These changes were implemented on Nov. 27, 2011.

As a Deacon of the Catholic Church, currently serving a local parish in Chesapeake, Virginia, I understand the immense amount of time and catechesis spent in preparing the faithful for the "changes". As a student of theology, with a particular love for the Liturgy, I read the fear mongering surrounding the revisions. I also eagerly awaited them because I knew the wonderful fruit they would bear.

I know that some priests were well intended in their efforts. I am not opposed to spontaneity in its proper form and proper place. Just not in the canon of the Sacred Liturgy, the Holy Mass. The faithful have a Right to receive the Liturgy as Holy Mother Church has preserved it under the continual inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

As a revert to the Catholic Church who was drawn home to the fullness of Christianity found within the Catholic Church - including the beauty of the Liturgy - I deeply appreciate serving at the Altar as a Deacon. I also respect the holy priesthood. However, I must be honest; the notion that innovation equaled some kind of "anointing" was way too prevalent among some priests.

As one who has spent years studying Catholic theology, I was not only thrilled about the revisions, I welcomed them. I saw them as a kind but motherly act by the Church to set the ship on a straight course and raise the water level of all Catholic worship. The faithful deserve it.

I was also not the least bit surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response evidenced among the faithful in this survey. Seventy percent of Catholics either agreed or strongly agreed that the revisions were a good thing. That's because the revisions were a good thing - a very good thing.

There is a Latin maxim that addresses the centrality of worship in the life, identity and mission of the Church; "Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi". The phrase in Latin literally means the law of prayer ("the way we worship"), and the law of belief ("what we believe").

It is sometimes written as, "lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi", further deepening the implications of this truth. How we worship reflects what we believe and determines how we will live. Worship is the heart of the Christian vocation.

The Catholic Church has long understood that part of her role as mother and teacher is to watch over worship, for the sake of the faithful and in obedience to the God whom she serves. How we worship not only reveals and guards what we believe but guides us in how we live our Christian faith and fulfill our Christian mission in the world.

Liturgical Worship is not an "add on" for a Catholic Christian. It is the foundation of Catholic identity; expressing our highest purpose. Worship reveals what we truly believe and how we view ourselves in relationship to God, one another and the world into which we are sent to carry forward the redemptive mission of Jesus Christ.

How the Church worships is a prophetic witness to the truth of what she professes. Good worship becomes a dynamic means of drawing the entire human community into the fullness of life in Jesus Christ. It attracts - through beauty to Beauty. Worship informs and transforms both the person and the faith community which participates in it. There is reciprocity between worship and life.

I have spent decades in ecumenical work. Perhaps that explains why I find it odd that right when so many of our Christian friends in other confessions and communities are searching for a deeper encounter with the beauty of the Lord in formal liturgical worship, many Catholics so easily succumbed to novelties.

Our fellow Christians everywhere are hungering for sign, symbol and mystery in worship. As many Children of the Protestant Reformation are considering the safe harbor of the Catholic Church in order to experience a connection with the ancient Church, too many Catholics have lost their sense of what it really means ...

1 | 2 Next Page

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 4 of 4 Comments

Jim Moriarty
5 months ago
" Literal translations of latin do not communicate clear meaning to the English speaking person. I listen carefully to the prayers, most of the time I do not understand the prayer. The Traditional Latin Mass has essentially remained unchanged for the past 1500 years. A man living at the time of Pope St. Gregory would feel quite at home at the Old Mass today. But the same man would feel like a stranger at the New Mass. "

This crazy constant change ( "As one liberal liturgist one put it, "the new Mass is a continual liturgical workshop." In the liturgy is in flux") is the exact reason my wife and I got out of the Novus Ordo Church and went over to the Traditional Latin Mass in 1997. We attend the SSPX in Detroit and have never looked back. How I DON'T miss clown masses, polka masses, "Cheesehead Masses" (in Milwaukee) and similar insane liturgies. As you proceed through the Church watching the parishes close, vocations drop to nearly zero, and you are sued out of existence due to sex scandals, please turn the lights out when you close the door for the last time. We will continue to grow and prosper with the building of our new Seminary in Virginia since the one in Winona, MN. is bursting at the seams. God bless you and I sure hope you wake up soon to what is going on, so you don't loose the Faith.
Tom McGuire
5 months ago
In Japan I experienced the Japanese Tea ceremony. The communication of welcome hospitality in that ceremony takes place without words. Each gesture communicates the meaning of welcome. Catholic liturgy could use some lessons from the Japanese Tea Ceremony.

I taught English writing as a second language for many years. From my professional point of view, the revision of the English translation of prayers in the liturgy is far from perfect. Literal translations of latin do not communicate clear meaning to the English speaking person. I listen carefully to the prayers, most of the time I do not understand the prayer.

I travel a lot and participate in the Eucharistic liturgy in many different Catholic churches. During the past year my over all impression is that participation is less than it was before the changes. I have yet to be in a Church where the participation of the faithful was enthusiastic and spirit filled.
michael
5 months ago
Although the English translations are much better, it has further relegated Latin to the "trash bin" of liturgical history in the New Rite. In fact, the new translated missal for the Novus Ordo has no Latin form of Mass in the appendix as did the last NO missal. In addition, I would strongly suggest that they be no more changes in the New Mass for decades to come. The problem with new translations, even better ones, is that it portrays the Mass as always being in flux. As one liberal liturgist one put it, "the new Mass is a continual liturgical workshop." In the liturgy is in flux, which many people perceive as true, than the Faith is in flux, if you refer to that phrase lex orandi, lex credendi. Enough of paper, disposable, missalettes. The liturgy, although truly the active worship of God, is still static, even unchanging, reflecting the immutable God and the unchanging liturgy above. The Traditional Latin Mass has essentially remained unchanged for the past 1500 years. A man living at the time of Pope St. Gregory would feel quite at home at the Old Mass today. But the same man would feel like a stranger at the New Mass.
abey
5 months ago
When to Democracy is to take"'Census" off the people on any issue, to the Christian Catholic it is to take the "sense" of God called to understand his will for mankind. Like in the O.T at the time of Prophet Samuel when God offered to be their God, Israel rejected, swapping to make Kings unto themselves & disaster struck from the very first King & it is the same disaster than man faces today, the disaster through evil, if the ways of Obama & his democrats are any indication, the harbingers of the rule are proof enough. However it is stated nothing takes place without the Knowledge of God & unto this should the Catholic recognize that God by his wisdom started a Covenant with Abraham & with the coming of Christ, the Covenant was extended unto the Gentiles as the New Covenant out of which arose the Catholic Church which is to know that the Church did not emerge out of itself & to this "the Eucharist" is that Covenant to his own words,"This is the blood of "THE COVENANT"-- which again reflects that offering unto The seed of Abraham at the time of Prophet Samuel "I will be your God & you my people" an open offer historically said & the Church works on this basis & understanding & any other way is to fall into the Error of the Gnostics, the very enemy or the iniquity against life, the foe prostrating as a friend, Biblically said as "Wolf in sheep's clothing".

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment