The writer of a comment asked what differences there were between the 1962 version of Holy Week and the 1970-2002 form. The services are, structurally, essentially the same as the 1955-1962 ones with some 'tweaking'; Holy Saturday has though undergone more of a structural change. Briefly, as follows:
Palm Sunday, as we would call it, has changed from 'Second Sunday of the Passion' to 'Passion Sunday'. Red is used for both the blessing of Palms and mass. So one has a Sunday Mass in red without a Gloria - very strange. The blessing of Palms is essentially the same as in 1962 but there is the option to use another collect from the Tridentine rite, Auge fidem. The procession is somewhat shortened with the Pueri antiphons sung in procession interpolated with pss. 23 and 46 (as in 1962 but now sung in the procession). Gloria laus and Ingrediente are sung but none of the other antiphons. On reaching the altar even the Kyrie is missed out. The liturgy gains an OT reading from Isaiah. Christus factus est is sung as a gradual. St. Matthew's Passion (if Year A occurs!) is restored to the full version as in the Tridentine rite. A proper preface is sung. The Passions of St. Mark and St. Luke are sung in Years B and C.
The Passions are no longer sung on Tueday and Wednesday (anciently the Passions were all read during the Triduum but that practice was not restored). Tenebrae in any recognisable form has gone and the Liturgia Horarum gives proper texts for the Office each day.
On Maundy Thursday things are very similar to 1962 but an OT reading is added. The Mandatum takes place after the homily, the Creed is not sung - again as in 1962. The Agnus Dei is sung as in the Tridentine rite the third miserere nobis having been dropped. Adoration, in a 'non-solemn' form may however take place after midnight unlike 1962.
On Good Friday red Eucharstic vestments are used rather than the ministers entering in just albs and stoles. Red was used in many of the medieval rites and the Ambrosian rite. In the medieval rites the red was 'Passiontide' or 'ox-blood' red, a dull crimson shade not the bright red used for feasts of martyrs. The ministers enter the church vested in chauble, dalmatic and tunicle (subdeacons disappearing from 1974). Christus factus est is used as a Gospel acclamation and the Passion according to St. John sung. During the Solemn Orations the prayer for rulers gets moved to later, a prayer for the unity of Christians replaces the prayer for unity of the Church, the prayer for the conversion of the Jews becomes a prayer for the Jews hoping they remain faithful to their convenant(!), and the prayers for the conversion of pagans becomes a prayer for those who do not believe in Christ and for those who do not believe in God. The adoration of the Cross is essentially the same as in 1962 (veiled in red to match the vestments when I saw the service in 1984), Crucem tuam adoremus in no longer sung. The communion service is the same except there is no change of colour of the vestments. Quia tuum is added the Confiteor etc omitted. Of the three prayers from in the 1962 rite only two are said, the wording slightly changed.
On Holy Saturday unveiling takes place before the Vigil and the ministers wear white throughout. A new prayer for blessing the fire is used, the ceremonies of inscribing the Paschal candle have become optional. Seven OT lessons are provided (although they do not all have to be read) rather than the four in 1962. Following the collect after the last OT lesson the altar candles are lit and the Gloria sung. After the Gospel the Litany is sung and a procession to the baptistry made (if in sight of the people) and the font blessed. Baptisms then take place. To be fair there has been a restoration of the ancient Scrutinies throughout Lent culminating in baptisms at the Vigil, its original function - so one has to give a mark for that! There is no fragmenting of the Litany and the mass continues after Vidi aquam.
A friend of Rubricarius at one time was an MC at the Brompton Oratory in London. One year he went to MC a 1962 rite Triduum at Ware (much against Rubicarius' counsel). After the 1962 Triduum this man thought the Oratory Triduum actually far better. He had never had the Grace to see the Tridentine form alas.
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9 comments:
"On Holy Saturday unveiling takes place before the Vigil and the ministers wear white throughout..."
In the Philippines it is still the common practice in the OF Vigil to unveil statues at the Gloria.
During the Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday it is still common to use a violet cloth to veil the cross.
The 2002 editio typica of MR indicates a violet veil, the colour of the veil is not mentioned in MR 1970.
Thank you for all your insights. I appreciate your expertise. Great blog!
Rubricarius, you are obviously commenting on the Latin version of the 1970-2002 version of the Holy Week ceremonies. What about the English version?
2. Does any vernacular version of the liturgy come under the condemnation of the Council of Trent?
Anonymous (19:26) Yes, the typical editions of 1970 & 2002 are in Latin. The post stated it would be a brief comparison. To take into account regional variation combined with the latitude allowed for the with introduction of sung material not in the liturgical books would be the subject of a dissertation and I can think of far more interesting things to write than that.
Does the London Oratory chant all the lessons for the Easter Vigil though?
Having only ever been to the Maunday Thursday and Good Friday once there, I didn't see anything substantially different from the 1962 revisions. I don't know how one would could say that the Oratorian Triduum is actually better from this, other than they may have a better choir. They also allow concelebration on Maunday Thurs and Holy Saturday to boot!
(I'd like to add that in no way am I saying that the 1962 rites are a good thing)
Ottaviani,
I have no idea. As to the view expressed I am merely quoting a former MC and friend of mine, an expert on the rubrics himself, who is now living in Australia.
Rubricarius, do you think that this honeymoon with the 1962 Rite will outlast Ratzinger?
Anonymous,
I hope not but suspect what will happen will be the evolution of 'RiteA' and 'RiteB' with a common, impoverished of course, calendar.
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