The Ordinary and Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite as Mutual Enrichment

Abstract

The liturgy of the Church is a living reality due to its nature. It is first of all manifestation of the salutary Mystery in the sacramental way, and also the including of Christians into this reality by means of the world of gestures and symbols. Over the centuries the form of expression has been changing, however, it remained faithful to the essence of the celebration. The Church community has kept watch over it, especially over the Church’s solemn and ordinary teaching. Also Benedict XVI’s Motu proprio Summorum Pontificum and the connected documents are part of all this heritage. They legally establish two forms of the Roman Rite: the Ordinary form, using Paul VI’s Missal, and the Extraordinary form, celebrated according to the Missal of 1962. They also give detailed regulations. This contributes to mutual enrichment, owing to a better knowledge of one’s own history and Tradition, and also to a certain kind of variety in the way of the expressing of the same faith.