Dialogue Mass

A Dialogue Mass (in Latin, Missa dialogata; also Missa recitata) is a Low Mass, in which the people recited some parts of the Latin text of the Tridentine Mass.

History

An important intermediate development in the twentieth century liturgical reform culminating with the vernacular Mass as authorized by Vatican Council II which changed the ethos of Roman Catholic worship which until then had been characterised by quiet and stillness on the part of the congregation and henceforth by sound and movement. This desire for “active participation” in the form of Dialogue Mass rapidly led from congregations struggling to recite the Latin responses in unison during the years of its popularity in the 1950s to the quasi-universal adoption of the vernacular which culminated in the new Mass of Pope Paul VI promulgated in 1969. Since that time silent participation at Low Mass, which was the norm for at least one thousand years (circa 900 -1900), has disappeared throughout the Church and now only survives amongst certain Catholics who continue to celebrate the Tridentine Mass.

Previously, before the introduction of Dialogue Mass, except at Sung Masses, the people had little active participation in the Mass other than interior disposition. This was intended to emphasise the fact that Catholics gathered together to witness and participate in an action (i.e. the sacramental renewal of the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary) rather than merely participate in common prayer which was a hallmark of the Protestant Reform of the 16th century. The introduction of bilingual hand Missals (Latin-vernacular) occurred first in Germany only as late as the 19th century in defiance of Church law which required the liturgical texts to be reproduced exclusively in Latin. Later given authorization, they allowed the laity to quietly follow the Mass ("Pray the Mass") rather than the traditional practice of saying private prayers as the priest celebrated. The subsequent step was the people actually saying the Latin responses of the Mass called the Dialogue Mass.

In November 1922, the Holy See's Sacred Congregation of the Council (now called the Congregation for Bishops) gave approval to the practice whereby "at least in religious houses and institutions for youth, all people assisting at the Mass make the responses at the same time with the acolytes", a practice that it declared praiseworthy in view of the evident desire expressed in papal documents "to instil into the souls of the faithful a truly Christian and collective spirit, and prepare them for active participation."[1]

The practice was already established without authorisation in avant garde circles in Belgium and in Germany, even before the First World War.[2]

Further approval was granted by the Sacred Congregation of Rites (corresponding to today's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments) on 30 November 1935, and on 3 September 1958.

Nevertheless, Dialogue Mass was never made obligatory until the introduction of the vernacular in the 1960s and for a time there were conflicting statements about the practice emanating from the Vatican e.g. a Decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites of August 4, 1922, shortly after the incipient Dialogue Mass was raising questions in certain quarters. The Decree was in reply to the question "May the congregation, assisting at the Sacrifice make the responses in unison, instead of the server?" Reply: The norm is: Things that in themselves are licit are not always expedient. Owing to the difficulties which may easily arise, as in this case, especially on account of the disturbances which the priests who celebrate and the people who assist may experience, to the disadvantage of the sacred Action and of the rubrics. Hence it is expedient to retain the common usage, as we haveseveral times replied in similar cases.

In view of this ambivalence, Dialogue Mass never became prevalent in English-speaking countries, and current celebrations of Tridentine Mass in these countries are in practice rarely structured as a Dialogue Mass. In other countries, however, such as France, and Germany, the Dialogue Mass met with a greater acceptance as the Church hierarchies of these countries in the 1940s and 50’s tended to be more progressive than the generally traditionally- minded bishops in English speaking lands as became evident during the Second Vatican Council. Quite a number of Tridentine Masses currently celebrated in these countries use the Dialogue Mass form

Forms of Dialogue Mass

A minimum form of Dialogue Mass was, as indicated in the November 1922 document referred to above, for the people to join with the servers in reciting the responses in the Ordinary of the Mass that fell to the servers.

In addition, the people could be allowed to recite those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass that are sung by all at a Missa Cantata: Gloria, Creed, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei.

They were also allowed to recite with the priest the triple "Domine non sum dignus" that he said as part of the rite of Communion of the faithful.

Rarely, the people also recited the Introit, Offertory and Communion Antiphons, which were sung by the choir at Solemn or High Mass.

The form, if any, to be used in a particular diocese was left to the discretion of the bishop.

References

1. http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/PartEssay/Index/100/SubIndex/0/ContentIndex/11/Start/8 2. http://www.sankt_augustinus.de/kirche/glossar/index.php?bstb=g

See also

• Deutsche Singmesse
• French Organ Mass