My Father's Anniversary

Compline this evening very lovely; even Himself is starting to recognize and hum along with bits of the Salve Regina, (oh, that Methodist boy...)

It is understandable, in retrospect, that despite being very involved in Church, very active in the parish, throughout childhood, (both as an individual and as part of a large family,) I didn't even notice this going on.

I only vaguely remembered that from the time I became aware of its constituent parts, the Mass seemed to be in a constant state of flux, and I do remember in the months following my father's death, hearing various priest and musician friends of my parents saying that the "new Mass" would have killed him.

Our Dear Sons and Daughters:

We ask you to turn your minds once more to the liturgical innovation of the new rite of the Mass. This new rite will be introduced into our celebration of the holy Sacrifice starting from Sunday next which is the first of Advent, November 30 [in Italy].

A new rite of the Mass: a change in a venerable tradition that has gone on for centuries. This is something that affects our hereditary religious patrimony, which seemed to enjoy the privilege of being untouchable and settled. It seemed to bring the prayer of our forefathers and our saints to our lips and to give us the comfort of feeling faithful to our spiritual past, which we kept alive to pass it on to the generations ahead.

It is at such a moment as this that we get a better understanding of the value of historical tradition and the communion of the saints.

Ya think?