The Reform of the Roman Liturgy: Its Problems and Background

By Klaus Gamber

Book Overview

The Reform of the Roman Liturgy Msgr. Klaus Gamber The Reform of the Roman Liturgy by Msgr. Klaus Gamber. Thirteen years ago when Pope Benedict was still ‘Cardinal Ratzinger’ he wrote the following in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0912141050
• ISBN13: 9780912141053
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Una Voce Press &The Foundation for Catholic Reform
• Length: 198 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Easy for a novice to read.

Typically theological works on the Liturgy are dry and hard to read. Msgr. Gamber's work is not the case...it is extremely easy to read and informative for the layman. Although many of the ideas in this book are repetitive due to the fact that this is actually a compilation of essays, it is a good read. In fact, I would say this should be required reading for any modern seminarian or catechist. It lays the groundwork for how the Liturgy (both in east and west) developed and why the Traditional Latin Mass is actually more historical than the Novus Ordo's supposed "return" to the "early" way of the Apostles. Again, I think any seminarian or student of theology should have to read this book as a part of any study of the Liturgy. I was also surprised that this book is not filled with any vitriol that is in some other "traditionalist" publications. Rather, it is always respectful, reverent, and yet still is able to call a spade, a spade. For those that have not yet embraced the Traditional Latin Mass, this is an excellent read to at least get an understanding of this treasure of the Church. Read the book!

Brave, loyal, critical traditionalism

The news that this book has been brought back into print by Roman Catholic Books is very good news indeed, for it is a seminal work which has done much to expose the extent of discontinuity in the post-conciliar reform. It stands alongside Archbishop Bugnini's own book, The Reform of the Liturgy, as essential reading - though Gamber is certainly the more accessible of the two. Gamber's book is in fact two books. The first examines the overall work of the changes made to the liturgy in the 1960's. He sees the question of whether or not the changes were an organic development as crucial. His conclusions speak for themselves: "Obviously, the reformers wanted a completely new liturgy, a liturgy that differed from the traditional one in spirit as well as in form; and in no way a liturgy that represented what the Council Fathers had envisioned, i.e., a liturgy that would meet the pastoral needs of the faithful" (p. 100). Gamber is clear and unequivocal: a large mistake has been made with regard to the liturgy, unprecedented in the Church's history. However, it would be wrong to align Gamber with traditionalists who draw a line at 1962, 1955, or even earlier, beyond which all change is anathema. Gamber is a critical liturgical historian, as shown by his precise and detailed discussion of the question of which way the liturgy should be celebrated, which comprises the second book in this volume. (A more recent and comprehensive treatment of facing east, including a critical evaluation of Gamber's contribution, is to be found in Fr U.M. Lang's Turning Towards the Lord.) Gamber's concerns are historical, doctrinal and pastoral. He readily accepts the appropriateness of vernacular readings, and even of the pruning of some of the later accretions to the Traditional Roman Rite (Psalm 42 from the prayers at the foot of the altar, the Offertory prayers, the last Gospel). These prudential decisions can be argued about, as they were at Trent. But he staunchly defends traditions integral to the Roman Rite throughout its history, e.g., facing eastwards and the Roman Canon, and deprecates "the cold breath of realism [that] now pervades our worship" (p.13). Gamber speaks frankly of the destruction of the Roman Rite after the Council, the last example of which can be found in the Ordo Missae promulgated in 1965 as the reform called for by the Council. Significantly, Archbishop Bugnini dismissed this 1965 reform as insufficient because its alterations were merely "peripheral", insisting that "radical" changes were what was needed. It is Gamber's brave, loyal `critical traditionalism' that gives such importance to his writing. His theses are well documented, and his research is impressive. One hopes more of his writings will be made available in translation. After reading Gamber (and also Bugnini) it is difficult if not impossible to maintain an uncritical acceptance of the new liturgy, even when it is celebrated devoutly and with the right intention. When we reca

The Future of the Roman Church

Monsignor Gamber gives a scholarly treatise on a most important issue for the Roman Catholic Church (The Liturgy) and does so with reference to the Church's tradition, and without the electrical charge found in so many discussions of this topic. It is straightforward and factual, relying on numerous citations to buttress his opinion that there has indeed been a rupture from the traditional Liturgy, and that it does not bode well for the Church. In fact, it has thrown the orthodoxy and discipline of the Church into turmoil, and if we are to recover from it, we must look again to tradition. He points out that those who claim that the current Mass is more like the Mass celebrated in ancient times are not correct in their assertions, and he makes reference to many historical documents to prove it. I think that those who are tradition-minded will welcome this very well-written book, and those whose bent is toward modernity will consider it reactionary and regressive. It it difficult to argue against the logic that the author presents in favor of continuity with the past, which is absent from the Novus Ordo. He gives us substantial reasons why the Liturgy was, in the past, exactly what it was, and why our departure from it is a different form of worship. Further, he gives us reasons why the Church should get back on the same "track" it has been "riding on" for nearly two thousand years. Pope Benedict XVI has written and spoken in favor of this work, and recently has said much about the use of Gregorian Chant, which is really more compatabile with the traditional Latin Mass than with the Novus Ordo. In my opinion, the Church will move toward reinstating the Latin Tridentine Mass, but the process will be slow, and may not be completed for several generations. Therefore I do not hope to see it in my lifetime, but perhaps my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will. Monsignor's book has been unofficially referred to as "The Reform of the Reform", an apt description. The history of the Roman Liturgy is in itself worth reading if you are interested in this history - one can learn much about what actually did happen in the Church with respect to its worship.

A balanced look at the reforms in the mass

This is a really good book. Fr Gamber gives a fair and balanced look at the changes in the mass. He makes some very good points that really get you thinking. He gives an especially strong and convincing defense of saying the mass "ad orientem", facing the altar (and tabernacle, if it's up front like it's SUPPOSED to be) rather than the people.

Excellent analysis of reasons behind the crisis of liturgy

Monsignor Gamber earns really all the praising words written about him and his work. One can easily see his experience in this subject which is and has been a very delicate one in the postconciliar Church.Gamber shows clearly what went wrong in the liturgical renewal of pope Paul VI: the forced use of a new liturgy, lectionary and calendar planned and published without much respect for the tradition of about 1600 years of natural development of the liturgy; the turning of the altar without any real historical or scientific support etc.Monsignor Gamber's book is a necessity for all those who want to have adequate information about the liturgical tradition of the Catholic Church and for those who say there is nothing strange in the way the liturgy - especially the Holy Mass - is celebrated today.