borrowed from us. The monks used to shave the beard, did not always abstain from flesh-meat, cut their hair short, and wore a Latin form of habit.[1] Most of the priests have short hair and Latin cassocks. In some churches a few Latin prayers were interpolated in the liturgy.[2] The use of a "low" liturgy (like low Mass) can hardly be called latinization, since it is a development in most Eastern rites.[3] That is about all.
I have already noted that there is now a great movement against these latinizations. It began under Leo XIII, as part of his tendency in favour of Eastern rites, with the hope of bringing the schismatics back to reunion. So on April 12, 1881, the Congregation for Eastern Rites published a decree, of which the first article was that "In the monastery of Grottaferrata, all variations of any kind and customs to the contrary being abolished, the Greek rite be observed restored integrally in the divine offices and other sacred functions." So Grottaferrata set about the reform; on the Koimesis of our Lady of that year (August 15) the holy liturgy was celebrated with leavened bread, the proper Byzantine vestments, without elevation after the Consecration, in short, with all desirable correctness.[4] We have seen that they have now made an Ikonostasion in their church.[5] The monks all wear the beard and long hair; their Rasa are quite correct — in short, everything now is scrupulously Byzantine. The movement has spread throughout the Italo-Greek churches. It is now a reproach,
- ↑ At the Council of Florence (1439) the silly Italians made fun of the dress of the Eastern monks (see the letter of Lapo Castelliunculo, quoted in Rodotà, ii, 232-233, note 6).
- ↑ Thus at Grottaferrata before the reform of 1881 they read the epistle and gospel in Latin after they had done so in Greek. Before the Apostolos (epistle) the celebrant said Dominus uobiscum and the Roman collect of the day, in Latin. An elevation after the words of institution was common in most Italo-Greek churches. I believe that all this is now abolished.
- ↑ In 1755 Benedict XIV allowed a shortened form of the liturgy and divine office for the O.S. Bas, for private use only. He expressly excepted the monks of Mezzoiuso, who were always supposed to be rigidly Eastern (see p. 167, n. 1). The Bull is Quem religionis ("Bullarium Ben. XIV," ed. Prati, 1847, iii, pars ii, pp. 273-275). The diocesan clergy tried in vain to share this privilege. Rodotà (ii, 226, note) makes mock of the situation — that the monks had a special privilege to say fewer prayers than the secular clergy. Now all Uniates have shortened private liturgies, and say only part of their office when it is not said in choir.
- ↑ A. Rocchi, "La Badia di Grottaferrata" (Rome, 1904), pp. 74-75.
- ↑ Above, p. 149.
