The Problems With the New Mass: A Brief Overview of the Major Theological Difficulties Inherent in the Novus Ordo Missae

by Rama P. Coomaraswamy

Shortly after the New Mass was officially introduced on April 3, 1969, Cardinals Ottaviani and Bacci wrote a latter to Pope Paul VI in September, 1969, stating that the "New Mass" represented, "both as a whole and in its details, a striking departure from the Catholic theology of the Mass as it was formulated in Session XXIII of the Council of Trent". And along with their letter they presented him with the now famous Short Critical Study of the Novus Ordo Missae, prepared by a group of Roman theologians. As a result, however, no changes were made in the New Mass, and from its first public use, it has been therefore the subject of numerous critical books, articles, and pamphlets.

The Problems With the New Mass is an attempt to summarize in just 86 pages the main objections to the New Mass that have been made during the intervening years since 1969 when it was initiated as the "normative Mass" of the Church, in order thereby to give the reader a brief yet comprehensive overview of the entire subject. The author is quick to stat that these "objections . . . to the New Mass are not based on matters of aesthetics or nostalgia, but . . . on questions of doctrine and religious pedagogy (instruction) . . ." His treatment is scholarly, yet entirely readable; it is frank and remarkably complete. He does not dodge the thorny issues, but treats them openly, and in as kind a manner as possible. No thinking Catholic will want to miss this important book.

Genres: Catholic

86 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1990

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that should be read by all Catholics. The abuses made in the church since Vatican Council II should make anyone question these changes and seek out the truth!

[Kami S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read lots of books on this topic before... Including this one. I just hadn't read it in awhile and I really think it's one of the best! Especially if you want something smaller and easy to read. I'm really interested in reading this author's other works on similar topics.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A TRADITIONALIST POINTS OUT HIS OBJECTIONS TO THE "NEW MASS"

Rama Ponnambalam Coomaraswamy (born 1929) is the third child of the Sri Lankan historian and art philosopher Ananda Coomaraswamy; Rama was a physician who converted to Catholicism at age 22, as well as the other of other books such as 'The Destruction of the Christian Tradition,' 'The Problems with the Other Sacraments: Apart from the New Mass,' 'The Invocation of the Name of Jesus: As Practiced in the Western Church,' etc.

He wrote in the Introduction to this 1990 book, "historical research, both Catholic and Protestant, has shown that the Traditional Mass dates back to at least the fourth century... Since then, until 1962... a total of 26 words have been added to the Traditional Canon... In the course of history some further additions were made---though never any subtractions. As a result, the Council of Trent ordered that 'all such accretions should be removed, and that the Church should firmly establish the use of the Mass as it was in the time of St. Gregory.... This then is the Traditional Mass. This is the 'Mass of All Times.' ... This is the Mass that Paul VI changed because, among other things, it contained 'undesirable features' and 'failed adequately to express the holy things it signified.'" (Pg. 11-12)

He states, "The innovators used two techniques to purge the Mass of Catholic doctrines---omission and emasculation... between 60 and 80 percent of the traditional Mass was deleted... The number of prayers missing is astounding... one should consider the innumerable doctrinal concepts that have been cast into oblivion by these removals---and above all, any reference to the mass being an immolative sacrifice and the need for a true, sacrificing priest to offer it. And this is not to mention the numerous genuflections, Signs of the Cross, blessings, bows to the Tabernacle, kisses of the altar and other actions of the priest which have also been expunged." (Pg. 19-20)

He asserts, "Scripture in the New Mass is followed by a 'homily,' which, in accord with Protestant practice, almost always becomes the center of the New Rite. In the Traditional rite, the priest is liturgically speaking a 'nobody'---his own personality is really counted for nothing. Before all the changes in the Liturgy, one never thought to ask who was saying Mass. But in the Novus Ordo Missae, the personality of the priest becomes all-important; his elocution is significant, and the people often select which service they will attend on the basis of WHO is celebrating... thus, in effect, the New Mass largely divides the Church-worshipping into various camps of belief." (Pg. 32)

He argues, "In changing the form of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the innovators argued that they were bringing it 'into line with Scripture.' Now there is absolutely no reason why this should have been done. Scripture is not a greater source of Revelation than Tradition... It is not from Scripture, but from Tradition that we receive the form (the words) used in confecting the Eucharist! Such indeed must be the case, because the earliest Gospel was written some eight years after Our Lord's death." (Pg. 50)

He asks, "How can a priest perform a Sacrifice to God as both an alter Christus ('another Christ') and an intermediary between man and God, on the one hand, when on the other hand he is facing the 'ontological' congregation?" (Pg. 61)

Traditionalists, conservatives and other advocates of the Latin/Tridentine Mass will appreciate the critique of this book.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent overview of the numerous doctrinal problems with the New Mass; the author proves that it is not simply a matter of a few "bad apples" in the priesthood mangling the celebration of the New Mass but something that if fixed into the nature of the 1969 missal itself.