I would say all of these are examples of ways that the missal of 1970 decreases humility, contrition, and requests for God’s mercy relative to the missal of 1962.
The next key difference is a decrease in requesting the intercession of the Saints. The Confetior (I Confess…) in 1962 mentions several Saints by name twice
"Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatae Mariae semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptistae, sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et tibi Pater: quia peccavi nimis cogitatione verbo, et opere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Joannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et te Pater, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum Nostrum."
(I confess to Almighty God, to Blessed Mary ever Virgin, to Blessed Michael the Archangel, to Blessed John the Baptist, to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the angels and saints, and to you my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, deed. through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault, and I ask Blessed Mary ever Virgin, Blessed Michael the Archangel, Blessed John the Baptist, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Angels and Saints, and you my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.)
in the missal of 1970, the Blessed Mother is the only Saint named individually.
"Confiteor Deo omnipotens et vobis, fratres, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo, opere et omissione: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, omnes Angelos et Sanctos, et vos, fratres, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum. "
(I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.)
The final offetory prayer in the missal of 1962, which is missing completely in the missal of 1970, also asks for the intercession of Saints by name
"Suscipe sancta Trinitas, hanc oblationem, quam tibi offerimus ob memoriam passionis, resurrectionis, et ascensionis Jesu Christi Domini nostri: et in monorem beatae Mariae semper Virginis, wt beati Joannis Baptistae, et sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli, et istorum, et monium Sanctorum: ut illis proficiat ad honorem, nobis autem ad salutem: et illi pro nobis intercedere dignentur in coelis, quorum memoriam agimus in terris. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. "
(Accept, most Holy Trinity, this offering which we are making to You in remembrance of the passion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, Our Lord; and in honor of blessed Mary, ever Virgin, Blessed John the Baptist, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and of (name of the Saints whose relics are in the Altar) and of all the Saints; that it may add to their honor and aid our salvation; and may they deign to intercede in heaven for us who honor their memory here on earth. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.)
While the Missal of 1970 retains the Roman Canon with a few modifications (aka Eucharistic prayer 1) as an option, it is rarely used; I am using (as I did above) Eucharistic prayer II for the missal of 1970 since it is what is most commonly used (at least in the US). Looking at Eucharistic prayer II, the only time Saints are mentioned is after the commemoration of the dead
"Omnium nostrum, quaesumus, miserere, ut cum beata Dei Genetrice Virgine Maria, beatis Apostolis et omnibus Sanctis, qui tibi a saeculo placuerunt, aeternae vitae mereamur esse consortes, et te laudemus et glorificemus…(Have mercy on us all; make us worthy to share eternal life with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, with the apostles, and with all the saints who have done your will throughout the ages. May we praise you in union with them, and give you glory)";
the only saint mentioned by name in the missal of 1970, again, is the Blessed Mother. Contrast this with the Roman Canon, the only option in the missal of 1962. After the commemoration of the living,
"Communicantes, et memoriam venerantes in primis gloriosae semper Virginis Mariae, Genitricis Dei et Domini nostri Jesu Christi: sed et beati Joseph ejusdem Virginis Sponsi, et beatorum Apostolorum ac Martyrum tuorum, Petri et Pauli, Andreae, Jacobi, Joannis, Thomae, Jacobi, Philippi, Bartholomaei, Matthaei, Simonis, et Thaddaei: Lini, Cleti, Clementis, Xysti, Cornelii, Cypriani, Laurentii, Chrysogoni, Joannis et Pauli, Cosmae et Damiani, et omnium Sanctorum tuorum; quorum meritis precibusque concedas, ut in omnibus protectionis tuae muniamur auxilio. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen."
(In the unity of holy fellowship we observe the memory, first of all, of the glorious and ever Virgin Mary, Mother of our Lord and God Jesus Christ. Next we observe the memory of Blessed Joseph, Spouse of the same Virgin, and of Your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus; of Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and all Your Saints. By their merits and prayers grant that we may be always fortified by the help of Your protection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)
After the commemoration of the dead, the Canon continues
"Nobis quoque peccatoribus famulis tuis, de multitudine miserationum tuarum sperantibus, partem aliquam, et societatem donare digneris, cum tuis sanctis Apostolis et Martyribus, cum Joanne, Stephano, Matthia, Barnaba, Ignatio, Alexandro, Marcellino, Petro, Felicitate, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucia, Agnete, Caecilia, Anastasis, et omnibus Sanctis tuis, intra quorum nos consortium, non aestimator meritim sed veniae, quaesumus, largitor admitte. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. "
(To us sinners also, Your servants, trusting in the greatness of Your mercy, deign to grant some part and fellowship with Your Holy Apostles and Martyrs with John Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia, and all Your Saints. Into their company we implore You to admit us, not weighing our merits, but freely granting us pardon. Through Christ our Lord.)
A myriad of saints are mentioned by name. After the Pater Noster (Our Father), the Missal of 1962 continues with
"Libera nos, quaesumus, Domine, ab omnibus malis, praeteritis, praesentibus, et futuris, et intercedente beata et gloriosa semper Virgine Dei Genitrice Maria, cum beatis Apostolis tuis Petro et Paulo, atque Andrea, et omnibus Sanctis, da propitius pacem in diebus nostris, ut ope misericordiae tuae adjuti, et a peccato simus semper liberi, et ab omni perturbatione securi. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum. Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus. Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen. "
(Deliver us, we beg You, Lord, from every evil, past, present, and to come; and by the intercession of the blessed and glorious ever-Virgin, Mother of God, Mary, and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, of Andrew, and all Saints. Grant of Your goodness, peace in our days, that aided by the riches of Your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all disturbance. Through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.)
the Missal of 1970 replaces this with,
"Libera nos, quaesumus, Domine, ab omnibus malis, da propitius pacem in diebus nostris, ut, ope misericordiae tuae adiuti, et a peccato simus semper liberi et ab omni perturbatione securi: exspectantes beatam spem et adventum Salvatoris nostri Iesu Christi."
(Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.).
I would also contend that the horizontal (communal meal) aspect was increased at the expense of the vertical (or sacrificial) aspect. That would probably require a whole other post, though (and I have procrastinated on getting this one out long enough). However, feel free to discuss that in the comments.
As I said earlier, "repetition is the mother of learning". While the Missal of 1970 retained the triplet nature of the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God…), the repetition of Saints in the Confetior (I Confess…) was eliminated, it reduced the Kyrie (Lord have mercy…) to three couplets rather than three triplets, and the Domine non sum dignus (Lord, I am not worthy…) was reduced to being said once before Communion from being said three times before the priest’s Communion and three times before the people’s Communion. Repeating these things reinforces them. Notice the things that are reinforced by repetition in the Missal of 1962 are the same things I was discussing earlier: need for the Lord’s mercy, humility, and contrition as well as the intercession of the Saints.
Finally, as was mentioned in a comment on a previous post, "you don’t get what you don’t ask for". In the Missal of 1962, we ask for the Lord’s mercy, humility, contrition; we ask for the intercession of the Saints; the Sacrifice is emphasized. In the Missal of 1970, none of these things are asked for to the extent they are in the Missal of 1962. I contend they are all good things; how can we expect the Missal of 1970 to be as efficacious as the Missal of 1962? Yes, it is a valid Mass, but why eat roast beef when you can have steak? Sure, roast beef still provides the nutrients and still satisfies, but not the same way. (The irony of the analogy.)
I could write an entire post on the roots of why the Missal of 1962 is so much better, but I will just say that it had a millenium and a half of organic development and leave it at that. It has grown like a flower rather than a collage. Again, people can hash that out in the comments.
Finally, if you would like to attend a Mass celebrated according to the Missal of 1962 with the permission of the Ordinary (Bishop) and are in the greater Pittsburgh area, St. Bonafice has low Mass at 8am and high Mass at 11am Sundays as well as low Mass at 7pm on First Friday and 9am First Saturday as well as high Mass at 7pm on Holy Days of Obligation. If you do not live near Pittsburgh, please check for the Mass nearest you.
Let the comments begin….
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