The Reform of the Liturgy (1948-1975) [Hardcover]

Annibale Bugnini (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Italian

Product Details

• Hardcover: 976 pages
• Publisher: Liturgical Pr (March 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814615716
• ISBN-13: 978-0814615713
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.8 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,618,556 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An astonishing and revealing history of Vatican II, June 25, 1998

By 

Jeffrey Tucker "Jeffrey Tucker" (Auburn, Alabama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Reform of the Liturgy (1948-1975) (Hardcover)

It is sometimes said that the confusions and experiments that followed the close of the Second Vatican Council were not intended by the architects of the Council itself. Bugnini's personal history of these years puts that myth to rest. He demonstrates an astounding hostility toward Catholic tradition in these pages, and shows that at every turn the Council was working to dismantle the liturgy, doctrine, and spirituality of the ages and replace it with a new and thoroughly modern, if not humanistic, theory of the faith. How this monstrous figure became the most influential figure at a Church Council is the only remaining mystery. In the meantime, this book is an essential read.

15 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The man behind the liturgical reform, December 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Reform of the Liturgy (1948-1975) (Hardcover)

Controversy swirled around the late Annibale Bugnini. As Secretary of the Consilium, the group charged with carrying out the reforms mandated by Vatican II, he was in a position to influence exactly how the reform was carried out. He was rewarded with an archbishop's mitre and made first secretary to the Congregation of Divine Worship. This congregation was later suppressed by Paul VI, and Archbishop Bugnini was exiled and made papal nuncio to Iran.

I do not know whether it will ever be proved conclusively that Bugnini was a freemason. This controversy continues still.

As far as a one-volume history of the reform goes, it is a useful book. Archbishop Bugnini introduces his reader to the persons behind the reform. It should be noted that some of the greatest liturgists of the 20th century, i.e., Joseph Jungmann, SJ, Bernard Botte, OSB, Aime-Georges Martimort, Louis Bouyer, and others all took part in the liturgical reform.

The reason that I have rated it as low as I have is for the fact that it is a self-aggrandising and narcissistic memoir. I do not know the particular demons that the late Archbishop may have been struggling with. However, he does not come off well in the text. While writing frequently in the third person, were one to believe his work, the Consilium and he did nothing wrong and the results were greeted with joy almost unanimously. In the preface by his student Gottardo Pasqualetti, his student speaks of how the Archbishop desired the words: "He served the Church" engraved on his tombstone.

Forty years since Sancrosanctam Concilium, the reforms demanded by Vatican II still have not been implemented fully. The liturgy has deteriorated at an alarming rate. The Catholic traditionalist movement is growing. The late Archbishop Lefebvre has a significant following, as do groups utilising the old Mass in communion with Rome. Many Catholics have sought refuge in either the Eastern Rites, or in some cases, in orthodoxy itself. Has the new liturgy brought forth good fruit? It still remains to be seen.

16 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Never answers the question of "why" of the liturgical reform, November 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Reform of the Liturgy (1948-1975) (Hardcover)

This book tells plenty about the who, how, when and where of the liturgical reform. The all important question of "why" is never answered and that is the great mystery of Vatican II and the succession of popes who feel they must uphold the distorted vision of Bugnini rathering than the decrees of the Council itself.

Living in the Catholic Church of the 21st century, one has the feeling of being on the Titanic during the last hour of its existence with the bishops all screaming at you that everying is great and life is wonderful while you can see with your own eyes the shrieks and crys of those drowning as the great ship plunges into the ocean consuming all aboard.

The number of priests has been cut in half in the last 30 years and those that remain are mostly in their 60s or older. Will we even have the Mass as more priests die?

The new liturgy and spirituality that Bugnini created are almost totally different from that which preceeded him.

Regarding the desire of most bishops to make the Catholic Mass as Protestant as possible, if I wanted to go to a Protestant church, I could walk right across the street from the Catholic church. Why don't we try and practice some diversity here and allow the Mass to retain some Catholic elements with distinction and let the Protestants have a worship service that is not a parody of our current 99% Protestant inspired so-called Catholic Mass?