Midnight Mass at St. Mary’s Norwalk

It was the custom in cathedral, collegiate, and greater parishes throughout Spain, France, England, and much of Europe, to have the acolytes in tunicle for great feasts throughout the year. This custom has the force of centuries of tradition, which is a far greater authority than any chancery department, though in point of fact there has never been a ruling lauding or condemning the practice. Moreover, both seen here are instituted acolytes.
To speak candidly, it is the mentality that would look at photos of such a glorious occasion such as this, and immediately think “abuse,” that got us into the liturgical mess of the last 50 years to begin with. It was that rigidity that the previous generation was rebelling against. If the liturgy is going to be renewed, the era of the armchair liturgist needs to come to an end, and the freedom of the Tradition and the patrimony of the Church needs to begin.