(in our parish, it was back-to-front, with people standing in the rear first)

That's how it started with us, never encountered it anywhere else that I recall.
Maybe because we always had tons of standees. Still did last time I was in my hometown, packed houses.
I lived in the Boston area for a while in the '90s, parish-hopped, and don't ever remember seeing it.
But perhaps all othe memories are blocked by the indelible one of churchful after churchful of people all belting out, "ɔ făthə!"

(Save the Liturgy, Save the World)

The point of my comment on row-by-row is that, for some reason, it's commonly only discussed as some sort of post-Vatican2 plot to encourage unworthy reception of the Blessed Sacrament, and that if we did away with it, we'd make life much easier for people not to receive when they ought not to receive. It's not a plot, and I certainly regularly witness people (and at times am one of them) not receiving.

Now, there are some commonsense thing to keep in mind if you're not receiving: unless you are petite, you might well need to exit the row and return to it - having communion row-by-row is typically *EASIER* for this, because it's predictable, as opposed to what happens when people go up pell-mell. If you're not readily mobile, try to anticipate this when you choose your seating.

Et cet.

http://www.chantcafe.com/2015/09/polyphonypolyglot-many-voicesmany.html

JulieColl, this is why I kind of gave up on this forum.

FWIW, as they say.

I was expecting really tiring stuff about the music. I heartily concurred with some comments made about the music in 2008, much of it provided by the same people as today. Now, it's different: I have gotten to know one man, and he is really lovely, so his lapses in taste I overlook. Here, where everyone advocates beauty, I find really nastiness.

Kenneth

Check this for ALL the liturgical participation aids:

http://www.usccb.org/about/leadership/holy-see/francis/papal-visit-2015/papal-visit-2015-iturgical-texts.cfm

I found this thread very interesting being from Ireland and living in Ireland. Firstly, because I have heard of Rush Limbaugh. Secondly because this thread would never ever happen here - because a conservative of any stripe whatsoever would never get airtime of any sort on our media, which is mostly funded by the tax payer. Before you get all tied up about your commentators, or infotainers or whatever you are calling him, perhaps you might consider that America has a diversity of political/ media commentary which most of us Europeans could only envy. It is odd to hear you apparently disparaging freedom of comment - try living somewhere with a lot less of it.
Thanks to Juli for the pointing to St John Paul's documents.

Missing from the USCCB site (as of now) is the worship aid for the Sunday Philadelphia Papal Mass on the Parkway, which can be accessed here:

http://www.worldmeeting2015.org/papal-mass/

Julie -- the piece Dr. Nestor wrote for communion was unfortunately cut during the Mass. You might have heard his Christus vincit sung when the Holy Father arrived on campus and entered the Basilica.

Highlights for me -- Christus vincit, the Litany, and the Zumaya Albricias Mortales.

For those who are interested, I've posted a report/reflection on the Mass over at PrayTell.

Effectiveness......

If one Mass is as valid as another, then the Mass, said properly, was effective in contributing to our salvation.

If the question is one of subjective reception of graces, this depends on the preparation of the individual.

If the question is one of visible participation...... that's a different kettle of eels.

Many thanks for that, Heitor -
It is ironic that very many (not all, by any means, but quite many) Protestants even value highly some greater or lesser degree of Latin musical treasures in their worship whilst most modern Catholics are either ambivalent or violently opposed to the same. Anglicans, as is well known, have no qualms at all about having their choirs sing Latin music, and even incorporate it into their liturgy. To a lesser degree high church Lutherans and Methodists do the same, as do many Presbyterians, Disciples of Christ, and quite a few others. It really beggars belief that large numbers of Catholics, in and out of holy orders of all ranks, oppose bitterly any vestige of our Latin heritage. To blame for this, of course, are the kinds of 'teachers' we allow to teach in our schools, the qualities of 'professors' we allow in our universities, and the sort of instruction and formation that is given (imposed) upon our seminarians, and, finally, the quality of persons whom we ordain. Protestants very often consider Latin a badge of honour, whilst Catholics very often very childishly and with a foolish, deplorable, adolescent, immaturity, scorn it to oblivion and even spread the evil lie that Vatican II 'threw it out'. People who spread lies are liars, be they lay or clerk. People who suppress our culture are tyrants, whether prelates, priests, or people. As I have said before elsewhere, authority to forbid or impede what has been explicitly commended and commanded by pope and council does not exist. The power and position to do so exists, but not the authority - not to any person of any rank.

Plenty to quibble with, but also much to be proud of, especially when you compare this to the 2008 Nats Park Mass. The Christus Vincit was magnificent (though, drowned out by the cheering crowd as the Holy Father arrived). The Veni Creator sung in Latin, alternating chant and polyphony. Gloria VIII in the same manner. Litany of the Saints, chanted in Latin. Some solid congregation-friendly hymns (All Creatures, Holy God).

The Basilica made for a dignified backdrop. Probably the nicest outdoor Mass setup I've ever seen, outside St. Peter's square.

If one Mass is as valid as another, then the Mass, said properly, was effective in contributing to our salvation.
If the question is one of subjective reception of graces, this depends on the preparation of the individual.

I hesitated over the word "effectiveness" precisely because sacrament effect what they signify ex opere operato, but it was the best I could do at the time. I suppose I could have (should?) have said "fruitfulness."

But when when we're talking about liturgy, I don't think it is unreasonable to think that the "visible participation" of the faithful is relevant to the preparation of the individual. Otherwise the Pope could have just mailed us all consecrated hosts.