Dom Alcuin Reid in Oxford

Earlier this evening I went to a public talk given at the Catholic Chaplaincy by Dom Alcuin Reid on the subject of The Roman Rite: Where are we? Where are we going?

This being held in the Chaplaincy was in itself something of note - it is something that would not have happened a decade or so ago. The event was well attended, with, it must be said most of the usual suspects there, plus others whom I had not realised were so keenly interested in such matters.

In his talk Dom Alcuin gave an overview of what has happened in the last half century, illustrating it with a description of the differences in liturgical modus operandi then as well as now in Oxford, and then turning to a wider overview of trends, or indeed the lack thereof, across the Church. This was a talk to hear rather than note and so I cannot give readers an adequate summary of his impressive conspexus

It was, as I said to him, good to see Dom Alcuin back in Oxford - I was quite flattered that he remembered me from previous visits - and I hope we shall have the opportunity to hear him here  again in the future.


 

The Sign of Peace

Fr Hunwicke had an interesting post the other day about the position of the Sign of Peace in the Mass and the dating of that useage in the Roman Rite which can be read at  Where should the PAX come?

Quite apart from the intrinsic liturgical and historical interest of what he says in that particular piece it is also good to have Fr John back on line and helping one to think about what goes on at the altar in the light of the Church's history and tradition.

Septuagesima

Fr Hunwicke has once again been knocking some liturgical nails on the head with his post STILL WAITING FOR VATICAN II where he deals with the disappearance from the modern Roman rite of the Septuagesima season.

It's removal is one more example of that "false archaeology" which sought to restore the liturgy to what certain experts thought it had once been.

I think I can understand ( but not share) their desire to signify the seasonal change to Lent by removing the transitional phase of Septuagesima - purple vestements, no Alleluia or Gloria - which looked rather like the Lenten observance, so as to emphasise the importance of Lent itself. Nonetheless Septuagesima and the two following Sundays were a genuine, and ancient, part of the liturgical heritage of the Church - dare I call it patrimony? There is something wrong in principle in destroying something ancient so as to recover something perceived as more ancient, particularly when the two can coexist, and have done for centuries.

Not only was it part of the continuing tradition of the Church in the West, but it is similar to what is, I understand, the phased introduction of Lent in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. In any case Lent was marked off by other disciplines of fasting as well as the liturgical fast of no music and, of course, and they were bound to appear on this blog sooner or later, the folded chasuble and the broad stole.

The Lenten folded chasuble and the broad stole

Image: New Liturgical Movement

As Fr Hunwicke points out the Church still has enough cause to seek Divine assistance by a season of penitential prayer for its practical needs before the more intense period of personal penitence and preparation that is Lent.