The Unread Vision: The Liturgical Movement in the United States of America 1926-1955

by Keith F. Pecklers

The Second Vatican Council changed the practice of liturgy. Conciliar developments, however, did not emerge in a vacuum; they were the result of years of hard work that involved thousands of people across the United States and the world. As a social history of the liturgical movement, The Unread Vision introduces readers to the movement's pioneers and promoters and to the issues that emerged from the movement in the U.S. in the years 1926-1955. The Unread Vision explores the foundational years of the movement and its major themes and discusses how the movement, its goals and principles, was received by the broader community of American Catholics. Chapters include The European " "The Beginnings of a Toward Full and Active Participation in the Liturgy," "The Liturgical Movement and Social Justice," "The Liturgical Movement and Education," and "The Liturgical Movement and the Arts. "Biographies on leading figures of the liturgical movement, as well as histories of related organizations, are also included. Keith F. Pecklers, SJ, is professor of liturgical theology and history at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute, Rome, Italy. He is also the author of "Liturgy from Trent to Vatican II" included in the Handbook of Liturgical Studies published by The Liturgical Press. "

352 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1998

Reviews

[Andrew Marr]

The Liturgical Movement of the early 20th century doesn't seem to get much attention but many aspects of the liturgy as performed in the Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran & many other churches that we take for granted are a result of this movement.

Benedictine monasticism, with its rich and liturgical tradition was and is very much involved with it. Much of the origin can be traced to the German monastic revival of the 19th century when abbeys such as Maria Laach & Beuron revitalized the liturgy as they picked up the pieces left by Napoleon's tour of Europe.

Virgil Michel, a monk of St. John's, Collegeville, MN was so deeply involved in a leadership position that the book is tantamount to a study of the life & thought of Michel, actually among the very best. Like the Liturgical Movement as a whole, he has been mostly unjustly neglected & I appreciate his being brought to light.

Michel was sent to Europe by his abbot, Alcuin Deutsch, himself a contributor to the Liturgical Movement. There, Michel met Lambert Bauduin, a Belgian priest who pioneered many of the principles Michel championed through his inspiration. Back in the USA, with the help of others, such as H.A. Reinhold and Reynold Hillenbrand, he encouraged active lay participation in the liturgy by providing missals with vernacular translations and advocated doing the liturgy in the vernacular. He also enjoined a more focused liturgy that drew attention to the Sacrament on the altar. To education both clergy and laity, he founded the periodical "Orate Frates" which published articles on liturgical principles. Renewing liturgical music, including reviving plainsong, was an important part of the project which is also covered in this book. Bauduin was committed to dealing with the social issues of his day and this concern was also picked up by Michel. Michel was convinced that the liturgy should embody social justice so as to witness to social justice to the broader public. Among other things, this meant that members of all races should receive equal treatment, thus putting Michel well ahead of the curve in civil rights. Economic issues were also important to Michel and he worked closely with Dorothy Day and Catherine de Hueck in envisioning liturgy as a sign and a dynamic of social amelioration.

This book is written clearly and concisely and should be easily readable for anyone interested in the subject.