SAINT MARY OF THE SNOW REVISED
photo via Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
TODAY 5th August, is the Feast ( III CLASS) of the Dedication of the Church of St.Mary of the Snow in the Calendar of the Traditional Latin Mass which was THE Mass for nearly 1,700 years in the Latin Church. Since the Second Vatican Council, the date was preserved in the new calendar , but the Feast was re-named "The Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, and it was made an Optional Memorial .
"The Basilica of Our Lady of the Snow,called also St .Mary Major, was built on the Esquiline hill at Rome by St. Liberius, Pope from 352 to 366 .Popular tradition relates that the site was traced out by a miraculous fall of snow on this date , which is that of the church's Dedication". (Daily Missal)
That was not all that changed in the transition after the Second Vatican Council. In the Mass of the day, before the Council, we had the INTROIT prayer :
"Hail holy parent,that didst bring forth the King Who ruleth Heaven and earth for ever and ever (Psalm) My heart hath uttered a good word.I speak of my works to the King. Glory be to the Father. Hail holy parent..."
The Collect of the Traditional Latin Mass read as follows:
"Grant to us Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body: and through the intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin may be delivered from present sorrow and possess eternal joy.Through Our Lord.."
In the Post Conciliar Novus Ordo Mass the approach is rather different :
"Pardon the faults of your servants , we pray, O Lord, that we who cannot please you by our own deeds, may be saved through the intercession of The Mother of Your Son and Our Lord. Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever."
The Traditional Latin Mass then presents the Epistle which on this Feast is taken from the Book of Wisdom. In the chosen passage Wisdom Herself ( here a figure of the Blessed Virgin) speaks of herself, her origin, her dwelling, her dignity and her fruits.
"from the beginning , and before the world, was I created, and unto the world to come I shall not case to be, and in the holy dwelling place I have ministered before Him.And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested , and my power was in Jerusalem.And I took root in an honorable people, and in the portion of my God His inheritance, and mine abode is in the full assembly of saints."
The Traditional Liturgy goes on via the Gradual :
"Blessed and venerable art thou, O Virgin Mary: who without loss of purity wert found to be the Mother of Our Savior. Virgin Mother of God, He Whom the whole world cannot hold, enclosed Himself in thy womb, and became man."
The Post Conciliar Novus Ordo presents the Responsorial Psalm relying on the Book of Judith 13:18-19.R. 15:9
Responsorial Psalm
R. "You are the highest honour of our race!
1. May you be blessed my daughter, by God Most High,
beyond all women on earth,
and may the Lord God be blessed,
the Creator of Heaven and Earth.R.
2. The trust you have shown,
shall not pass from the memories of men,
but shall ever remind them,
of the power of God. R "
The Traditioonal Latin Mass goes on to greet the Gospel:
"Alleluia,alleluia. After His birth a Virgin entire thou didst remain: O Mother of God, intercede for us.Alleluia"
The Post Conciliar Novus Ordo liturgy gives us :
"Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are they who hear the word of God,
and keep it.
Alleluia!"
Both Liturgies use the Gospel of Luke 11 27-28.
The Traditional Latin Mass reads:
"At that time, as Jesus was speaking to the multitudes, a certain woman from the crowd , lifting up her voice , said to Him blessed is the womb that bore Thee and the paps that gave Thee suck." But He said : "Yea rather blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it."
The Post-Conciliar Novus Ordo reads:
"As Jesus was speaking a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said,"Happy the womb that bore You and the breasts you sucked!" But He replied "Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
The Gospel of the Lord."
The Traditional Latin Mass presents us with the SECRET prayer (" SECRET" has also the sense of Private in Latin) :
"By Thy gracious mercy O Lord, and the intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may this offering be of avail to us for welfare and peace now and for evermore. Through Our Lord."
The Traditional Latin Mass uses a particular Preface for the Feast whereas the Post- Conciliar Novus Ordo presents two Prefaces for use as chosen. As usual, the Prefaces in both Masses are exemplary.
SUMMARY
Saint Mary of the Snow was the first church in the West dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. Hence the later title of Saint Mary Major. The great church as we see it today is a remarkably successful blending of additions in a variety of styles over the many intervening centuries.
The changes in this particular liturgy since the Council, have little to do with the Council documents or decisions themselves. They seem to represent the effects of the Bugnini faction to over simplify the wording, to de-emphasise in a very cautious way devotion to the Blessed Virgin and the ancient origins of the church.The preservation of the date of the celebration is not only an unavoidable recognition of the date of the event but also of the inviolability in the life of the faithful, of respect and honor for the Mother of God. The III Class ranking is the lowest under the revisions approved by Pope Saint John XXIII. We can be grateful for the preservation of the Traditional texts, with their greater solemnity and greater recognition of the true nature of the relationship between God and man and the intercessory status of the Blessed Virgin.
Saint Mary Major is one of the Four major basilicas in Rome : Saint John the Lateran (the Cathedral of Rome), Saint Peter's Basilica, Saint Paul Outside the Walls (when I was a child it used to be "Without" the Walls which caused me some slight amusement.) And least of all Saint Mary Major. The celebration of their separate Dedications is a steady reminder of our indestructible and essential links to the early Church and the See of Saint Peter.
No comments:
Post a Comment