This morning for the first time, I attended Mass at the local Anglican Use parish. The whole experience completely renewed my faith as what I got was the most reverent liturgy I've experienced in a Catholic chruch. (Which is a tragic thing to have to admit actually).
The liturgy was basically the old Latin Mass said in a King James style of English. The altar faces away from the people, incense is used and the Eucharist is taken keeling and on the tongue. The hymns were reverent, and although I would prefer chant myself they were still nonetheless a vast improvement over the banality typically found in modern OF hymnals.
I came out with a confirmation of a sentiment I've held for a for a long time. That the quality of the liturgy is directly tied to the quality of belief. I actually felt my faith renewed by the experience, rather than hurt by the typical banality I've long associated with attending Chruch.
Everything I object to regarding modern liturgical practice in Catholicism was addressed in spades. It also does a good job in compromising between two groups. It gives us who prefer formality in our worship a proper liturgical experience whilst keeping things quite accessible by the use of an English anyone with a high school education should have no trouble in following.
I can only hope this style of liturgy grows amongst English speaking Catholics. I feel very fortunate to finally have access to a liturgy where I feel much more at home. For a long time I considered going Eastern Catholic (or just giving up entirely) but when I have access to a liturgy very close to the old Latin Mass said in Shakespearean English, why would I want anything else?
EDIT: A minor cleanup of some awkward phrasing.
The liturgy was basically the old Latin Mass said in a King James style of English. The altar faces away from the people, incense is used and the Eucharist is taken keeling and on the tongue. The hymns were reverent, and although I would prefer chant myself they were still nonetheless a vast improvement over the banality typically found in modern OF hymnals.
I came out with a confirmation of a sentiment I've held for a for a long time. That the quality of the liturgy is directly tied to the quality of belief. I actually felt my faith renewed by the experience, rather than hurt by the typical banality I've long associated with attending Chruch.
Everything I object to regarding modern liturgical practice in Catholicism was addressed in spades. It also does a good job in compromising between two groups. It gives us who prefer formality in our worship a proper liturgical experience whilst keeping things quite accessible by the use of an English anyone with a high school education should have no trouble in following.
I can only hope this style of liturgy grows amongst English speaking Catholics. I feel very fortunate to finally have access to a liturgy where I feel much more at home. For a long time I considered going Eastern Catholic (or just giving up entirely) but when I have access to a liturgy very close to the old Latin Mass said in Shakespearean English, why would I want anything else?
EDIT: A minor cleanup of some awkward phrasing.
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