Like you I grew up in the wake of Vatican II's changes, and never experienced the pre-conciliar mass, nor have I experienced a time in which there wasn't a certain degree of turbulence in the relation of the Church to its own liturgy.
As I've commented on several of your other posts, I viewed the nascent V2 mass as a puerile thing - it appealed to me as an adolescent, but as a returning Catholic the richer liturgy and traditions of the Church were much more attractive. Pope Benedict XVI's insights about the synchronic and diachronic nature of the mass (Spirit of the Liturgy, I believe) called me to recognize not only the temporal communion of the faithful present in the mass but the same communion across time, which, of course, implies a continuity with the forms of worship of both past and future. This led me to praying the rosary in latin, a brief engagement with some questionable radtrads prior to Benedicts motu proprio, and (later) lots of angry opinions about Pope Francis.
When I took my turn toward traditionalism, and became uptight about the validity of the novus ordo and all the handholding and clapping and aping the priest's gestures, my mother became rightly critical of my ignorant perspective on this, and tried to relate her experience. It didn't help her that my father (a Notre Dame grad) had fonder memories. Which now, as I write this, makes me wonder if there isn't something more masculine about the Tridentine mass and something more feminine about the Novus Ordo. Wasn't there some whole "age of aquarius" thing back in the day?
In any case, the triumphalism of the Spirit of Vatican 2 types will probably always cause a visceral reaction for me - wondering how they could have thrown away their patrimony and embraced such banality. As I am wont to say - tradition may be the dead faith of the living and the living faith of the dead, but progressivism is the death of the living faith and the faith of the living dead. But, bon mot aside, it can be hoped that the post-conciliar church has managed to avoid schism and that the interplay between the trads and the proggies represents a healthy interaction that is natural in people who deeply care about the Church and liturgy. The alternative of apathy seems to be much more in the spirit of the age, and much more deadly.
A fascinating project and I’m very glad I stumbled upon it. I am way too young to have stories to contribute, but as a young man who’s grew up on the lackluster side and has had his reckoning with the far reaches of the other side, I’m interested to read on as you publish more.
I have no idea if it’ll ever be helpful or not, but I have an ongoing photographic project exploring these changes and tension and the desires of many with strong feelings about V2. A version of it was published in NatGeo, and I’m continuing to work on it today.
I’m very glad Mark Brumley shared your article on the former “Bird app” and placed your thoughtful writing in my line of sight once again.
I’m just two years older than you. My father died when I was just three, yet I still have memories of the family going to a 5:30 a.m. Mass (I’m the youngest of seven).
I was catechized in that wretched period post-Vatican II, and I can’t really blame the nuns for my lack of catechesis. I know they tried, but things were simply moving too fast for them (and me) to keep up. I have virtually no real recollection of the Latin Mass; my earliest memories are of dumb and insipid banners and slogans - “Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life!”
Going to parochial school, back then we went to Mass every morning before school started. I remember being nervous before my first confession and my first communion, which is how I know those Dominican Sisters tried to catechize. Why would I be nervous if it didn’t really mean anything?
I’ll stop now, but did want to say thanks Amy, for continuing to practice your craft and share your gift with your readers.
Like you I grew up in the wake of Vatican II's changes, and never experienced the pre-conciliar mass, nor have I experienced a time in which there wasn't a certain degree of turbulence in the relation of the Church to its own liturgy.
As I've commented on several of your other posts, I viewed the nascent V2 mass as a puerile thing - it appealed to me as an adolescent, but as a returning Catholic the richer liturgy and traditions of the Church were much more attractive. Pope Benedict XVI's insights about the synchronic and diachronic nature of the mass (Spirit of the Liturgy, I believe) called me to recognize not only the temporal communion of the faithful present in the mass but the same communion across time, which, of course, implies a continuity with the forms of worship of both past and future. This led me to praying the rosary in latin, a brief engagement with some questionable radtrads prior to Benedicts motu proprio, and (later) lots of angry opinions about Pope Francis.
When I took my turn toward traditionalism, and became uptight about the validity of the novus ordo and all the handholding and clapping and aping the priest's gestures, my mother became rightly critical of my ignorant perspective on this, and tried to relate her experience. It didn't help her that my father (a Notre Dame grad) had fonder memories. Which now, as I write this, makes me wonder if there isn't something more masculine about the Tridentine mass and something more feminine about the Novus Ordo. Wasn't there some whole "age of aquarius" thing back in the day?
In any case, the triumphalism of the Spirit of Vatican 2 types will probably always cause a visceral reaction for me - wondering how they could have thrown away their patrimony and embraced such banality. As I am wont to say - tradition may be the dead faith of the living and the living faith of the dead, but progressivism is the death of the living faith and the faith of the living dead. But, bon mot aside, it can be hoped that the post-conciliar church has managed to avoid schism and that the interplay between the trads and the proggies represents a healthy interaction that is natural in people who deeply care about the Church and liturgy. The alternative of apathy seems to be much more in the spirit of the age, and much more deadly.
A fascinating project and I’m very glad I stumbled upon it. I am way too young to have stories to contribute, but as a young man who’s grew up on the lackluster side and has had his reckoning with the far reaches of the other side, I’m interested to read on as you publish more.
I have no idea if it’ll ever be helpful or not, but I have an ongoing photographic project exploring these changes and tension and the desires of many with strong feelings about V2. A version of it was published in NatGeo, and I’m continuing to work on it today.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/traditional-catholicism-photography?loggedin=true&rnd=1698335270025
I’m very glad Mark Brumley shared your article on the former “Bird app” and placed your thoughtful writing in my line of sight once again.
I’m just two years older than you. My father died when I was just three, yet I still have memories of the family going to a 5:30 a.m. Mass (I’m the youngest of seven).
I was catechized in that wretched period post-Vatican II, and I can’t really blame the nuns for my lack of catechesis. I know they tried, but things were simply moving too fast for them (and me) to keep up. I have virtually no real recollection of the Latin Mass; my earliest memories are of dumb and insipid banners and slogans - “Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life!”
Going to parochial school, back then we went to Mass every morning before school started. I remember being nervous before my first confession and my first communion, which is how I know those Dominican Sisters tried to catechize. Why would I be nervous if it didn’t really mean anything?
I’ll stop now, but did want to say thanks Amy, for continuing to practice your craft and share your gift with your readers.