The book presents the history of taking shape of the ceremonial of the Holy Mass from the beginnings of Christianity up to the present day. The author focuses especially on the Roman Rite, which is observed in the Western Church (currently the majority of the Catholic Church). He writes about the Jewish roots of the Catholic ritual; about the general structure already present in the first centuries; about the Roman Canon; and about the introduction of elements of the Frankish rite during the Carolingian era. He compares the Eastern and Western traditions before the schism of 1054. He discusses how the rite was modified by Protestants and how it was codified by the Council of Trent (which began in 1545). From that point onward, the Missal of St. Pius V remained in force, with only very minor changes, until the Second Vatican Council, which intended an “updating” (aggiornamento) of the Church also in the sphere of liturgy.
However, the greatest changes were not found in the conciliar documents, but in the new Order of Mass developed by Fr. Annibale Bugnini’s post-conciliar liturgical commission, as well as in the practical implementation of this new missal. What changes are meant here? For example: the conciliar documents called for the preservation of Latin in the liturgy and for a broader use of vernacular languages — today, however, Masses celebrated even partly in Latin belong to a decided minority. The liturgical commission introduced three additional Eucharistic Prayers as alternatives to the Roman Canon, whereas in practice the second is almost always used, and the Canon itself usually only on Holy Thursday (though in the old Mass it was said silently). The new missal introduced the possibility of celebrating “facing the people” (versus populi), without abolishing the older orientation ad orientem (the priest together with the faithful facing the altar, on the same side of it) — yet almost everyone celebrates versus populi. Other changes include, for example: less silence, less kneeling, fewer repetitions, simplification, more biblical readings and a different arrangement of them, as well as the introduction of the Prayer of the Faithful and the sign of peace.
The period surrounding the Council was also a time of liturgical experiments, which by the will of Pope Paul VI were supposed to end with the publication of the new missal — unfortunately, not everyone obeyed. On the other hand, some faithful and priests desired the Mass celebrated in the old way, to which that Pope usually did not grant permission. This began to change during the pontificate of John Paul II, and even broader access to the Missal of Pius V (“the Tridentine Mass”) was granted by Benedict XVI.
Reading the book encouraged me to attend such a Mass — it was definitely worthwhile, and I have participated in it several times. I appreciate its prayerful silence, the opportunity to practice Latin, and its somewhat different beauty, as well as the experience of encountering the way people prayed, for example, in the sixteenth century (with only slight changes). One can attend such a liturgy, for example, at the church of the Redemptorist Fathers dedicated to St. Clement Mary Hofbauer on Karolkowa Street in Warsaw, every Sunday at 2:00 PM. Since September, it has also been celebrated in Wyszków — every third Sunday of the month at 3:00 PM in the Sanctuary of the Holy Family. I really recommend it. The book itself can be downloaded free of charge at:
https://christianitas.org/site_media/content/Historia_mszy_1.pdf
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