The New Missal - Continuation (theology notes)

I indicated that I would write alternatively regarding psychology and theology and perhaps also my books. So, without further ado here goes. Catholicism - We have an interrupted tradition, the importance of recognizing, symbols, places etc….which do change and it is interesting to see, meaning it continues to evolve. The older Roman Missal fulfillment is in the new. We are moving forward, not stalling. Whenever we look at reform in Roman Catholicism, it is to go back. RC and PC - the apostolic way of life - called to use again and again. When we find ourselves again we look backward and move forward. Meal and sacrifice - back to Christ. Meal and sacrifice needs to be held together. The evolution of the mass - mediates between culture and norms over and over again through time. Every mass mediates. In the celebration of the mass, using and transforming them we are overcoming. There is a constant exchange with the old and new. Early Christians find themselves separated from Judaism. It is not a pleasant separation. It is very different at the same time there is separate execution persecution from the Roman Empire. How do you proclaim the gospel to the Greeks? What happens to the celebration of the mass? The earliest record we have of the structure of the mass: Justin Martyr (150 A.D.). We make sufficient time to read the writings of the people etc…Basically this is the mass as we know it. Where is this worship taking place? In a typical Roman style house. This was a division of rooms which is contrary to communal, then a building structured for all. This causes a change in the singing, the aesthetics. There is fuller sound and therefore a fuller voice. There is an instrument now. As you see there are new possibilities which allows developments in how the community is created. Now a huge shift happens with Constantine. We now need a very large space - the jump from smaller to bigger. Now Christianity needs Catechism. There is no formation. Before this liturgy emphasized individually. Now with more people there is a need to be taught. They are not only participants but also students. The presider now needs to be in a position to be seen. - a basilica - new ritual forms need to be integrated; how to bring people together in a unified stance. The Alter is apart so people can observe and relate. There are costumes now - the roles have to be readily available. Colour becomes important. The cost is a separation from the presider and community. There is a need for more eg…specialized books for the specialized groups. There is an introduction of choirs. It feels like the choir envelopes us. A single voice feels the space and low growls. It brings us in. It creates an aura of mystery. There are developments and costs. The movement from lexorandi to rule of worship to lex credendi to rule of faith. The rule of faith is going to set rules of worship. It has to revise to make it clearer. Up to that time there was no theological pause. There is going to be a new focus on Jesus Divinity. On one hand the liturgy is where God is taking place. But what gets lost is a bit of Jesus as a person. For the first time there is an official way. This takes place in the Middle Ages. Rome, North Africa and Europe. Latin is always more political. Western liturgy of genius of this world. The liturgy is connected with this life. While the E, more eschatology of liturgy. After this Greek is abandoned. Celebrates are in Latin. Rome makes decision initially - opens up new possibility - Latin poetic. Prayers becomes much less diabolical. There is a whole range of richness in celebrating the here and now. It does not always work in other languages so we are going to see another change. In the North it will be accepted. Liturgy becomes slower and more contemplative. There are structural changes to the Northern climate. Lighting is also different. The use of windows channel lights into the space and in a particular time of the day, the light becomes a rich warm light from the reflection. The architecture is transforming the basilican form. Folk art is being incorporated. Eg. Adam and Eve in the garden. As a result the Roman site is very messagized and Germanized. This is a rural experience. Now it is cosmological almost magical. Now you will have text about the universe and nature because it is not urban. The downsize of North European culture- it has a very cosmic dent. The holy is the source of the world. Part of the cost is the notion of taboo. You need specialists to deal with the holy. The cost is a focus on the body and blood in themselves. The chant changes again. It is contemplative. A sense of a beauty of the text is having significance. It is more complex. It is all about text. The cost - marks who will hear this everyday, more than the rest of the people. People are in a bigger place. The people in Northern Europe feel the presence of themselves. To be continued with …………..The Roman rite has always progressed in essentially the same form…………