History of the Liturgy

The Roman Rite, along with the Byzantine & others, can be said to have ‘crystallised’ in the Fourth Century, when the persecutions ceased and the Liturgy could be written down for the first time. Before that, it was actually forbidden to write down the details of the Liturgy and the conduct of the Sacraments (see separate note on the ‘Disciplina Arcani’ – https://sites.google.com/site/catholictopics/scripture-topics/disciplina-arcani). The liturgy had developed naturally from the Jewish worship, with Christian additions: reading or singing of psalms, a short prayer (the Collect), readings from the writings of the Apostles or their successors, probably a sermon, and the re-enactment of the Last Supper, then concluding prayers. If a presbyter/priest [they are actually the same word] had a flair for neat phraseology, a particular prayer of his would be copied by others. Memories were keen, and there was no sense of copyright. With the writing of the first liturgical books, the liturgy became standardised, each major city or Patriarchate setting a standard for the surrounding district. Other parts were added from time to time – e.g. the recitation of the Creed – and by the Ninth Century the text was considered sacrosanct.

There has always been, however, a tension between the love of a stable, traditional form of liturgy and the creative urge. This manifested itself in the composition of hymns, but their use in the Liturgy itself has been very sparing. Nearly all of the Mass is comprised of direct quotations from Scripture – which was also standardised or ‘canonised’ at the end of the Fourth Century.

Another ploy was utilised once the text was considered sacrosanct. Extra lines of text were inserted in between the established words. These were called ‘tropes’ and they varied from place to place within the bounds of the major division. Another habit developed from the singing. The very ancient petition ‘Kyrie eleison’ had the last syllable of ‘Kyrie’ extended in very beautiful melody lines. These were preserved and standardised. Then later, the extra melody was filled out with extra words. To this day, some of the Masses are named after these extra phrases. For example, Mass XI is known as ‘Orbis Factor’ from the additional words ‘Kyrie Orbis Factor…’ (Lord, Maker of the world)…’

During the Middle Ages Western Christendom was little troubled by heresy and schism, and the Church went on its way … some might say it muddled along. But from the late Fourteenth century, innovations began to creep in that were unorthodox regarding the Faith. In these days before printing, there was very little standardisation: monks patiently copied and re-copied the liturgical books from the originals that they had to hand.

Skip ahead to Trent in the Sixteenth Century. Some very wise legislation was enacted. A ‘Default copy’ of the Roman Rite was established. It was substantially the same Missal that was in use at Rome, but a judicious use was made of particular passages fro

m elsewhere in Western Europe: the Offertory prayers, for example, which had been a selection of psalms, were replaced in part by the very apposite prayers still in use today in the pre-1969 Missal. The tropes were abolished, as were the extra words of the Kyrie. Before that, some places had an additional book, the ‘Troper’ collecting the tropes and their assigned melodies for that district. There is a vinyl record of ‘The Saxon Mass’ with the tropes as used in England before the Norman Invasion of the Eleventh Century. The melody of the original text is identical with the Roman Use, and the tropes skilfully interweave.

The reformed Missal of Pius V, in response to the expressed wish of Trent, was now mandated for all parts of the Latin Rite, and the use of the local variations was strictly prohibited. But exceptions were made for Missals that could be shown to have been in use for more than two hundred years – for this was before the corruption had begun. Dioceses and Religious communities that had such Missals were given the free choice to retain their own, or to adopt the refined ‘Tridentine’ Missal. Note in passing how generous this was – far more liberal than many hasty and heartless ‘changes’ imposed by ‘Liberals’…

In addition, every priest was individually authorised to use the Tridentine Missal at any Mass if he chose, and the 1570 Tridentine Missal was established until the End of the World in phrasing which I can only describe as admirable…

<< We resolved accordingly to [restore] the Missal itself to the pristine form and rite of the holy Fathers.... that priests may know what prayers to use, and what rites and ceremonies they are to observe henceforward in the celebration of Masses.

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Now therefore, in order that all everywhere may adopt and observe what has been delivered to them by the Holy Roman Church, Mother and Mistress of the other churches, it shall be unlawful henceforth and forever throughout the Christian world to sing or to read Masses according to any formula other than that of this Missal published by Us;... saving only those in which the practice of saying Mass differently was granted over 200 years ago... Nevertheless, if this Missal which We have seen fit to publish be more agreeable to these last, We hereby permit them to celebrate Mass according to its rite, subject to the consent of their bishop or prelate... All other churches aforesaid are hereby denied the use of other missals, which are to be wholly and entirely rejected; and by this present Constitution, which shall have the force of law in perpetuity, we order and enjoin under pain of Our displeasure that nothing be added to Our newly published Missal, nothing omitted therefrom, and nothing whatsoever altered therein.

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We specifically command each and every patriarch, administrator and all other persons of whatsoever ecclesiastical dignity, be they even Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church or possessed of any other rank or preeminence, and We order them by virtue of holy obedience to sing or to read the Mass according to the rite and manner and norm herein laid down by Us... and not to presume in celebrating Mass to introduce any ceremonies or recite any prayers other than those contained in this Missal.

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Furthermore, by these presents and by virtue of Our Apostolic authority We give and grant in perpetuity [“until the End of the World”] that for the singing or reading of Mass in any church whatsoever, this Missal may be followed absolutely, without any scruple of conscience or fear of incurring any penalty, judgment or censure, and may be freely and lawfully used.

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Nor shall bishops, administrators, canons, chaplains, and other secular priests, or religious of whatsoever Order or by whatsoever title designated, be obliged to celebrate Mass otherwise than enjoined by Us. We likewise order and declare that no one whosoever shall be forced or coerced into altering this Missal and that this present Constitution can never be revoked or modified, but shall for ever remain valid and have the force of law, ...

Accordingly, no one whosoever is permitted to infringe or rashly contravene this notice of Our permission, statute, ordinance, command, direction, grant, indult, declaration, will, decree and prohibition.

[MOF: This list of words is not put in for dramatic effect; if you go through the entire text in order you will encounter, in correct order, a permission, statute, ordinance, command, direction, grant, indult, declaration, will, decree and prohibition.]

Should any person venture to do so, let him understand that he will incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul. >>

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MOF: It remains only to note that, although a radically altered Missal was introduced in 1969, this Decree – ‘Quo Primum’ (1570) – is still in legal effect. It was (probably) licit to add to the number of authorised forms of the liturgy, but not to abolish the existing ones. Catholics will be aware that strenuous efforts were made by the post-Vatican II ‘reformers’ to entirely extinguish the Tridentine Missal, and to lead everybody to believe that it had been legally suppressed, but this was not actually so. And it is making a modest comeback, including among a younger generation, some of whom are attracted to its many beautiful features.

‘Solemn High Mass in a Mediaeval Cathedral – the most beautiful thing this side of Heaven.’