I'm shocked you didn't mention me by name, Gerard.
Quote:1) an average parish priest
Like a parochial vicar or "associate pastor", right? It really sucks to be these guys. At best, I could probably start with celebrating the Novus Ordo Mass according to the rubrics on day 1, and declining to use EMHC's or Communion in the hand. The really obvious stuff, you know. Just explain that that's how you learned it in seminary, and you were always really diligent about following the books. Slowly introduce the choir to traditional Latin music. No one can honestly object to good taste when presented effectively. I can find ways to make them look like troglodytes and feel bad about themselves for objecting.
I could probably later offer the Tridentine Mass on a "casual" basis, such as random low Masses on weekdays or Saturday evening vigils, that sort of thing.
Quote:2) a pastor of the parish
All of the above. Plus, I'd start training my staff in how to serve and chant at sung Mass in the old form. I would not actually offer the sung Mass until a full 6 months of training was performed. In the meantime, this newfound discipline and
romanitas would spill over to the current Novus Ordo Masses. After the 5 months, I'd debut with a Tridentine sung Mass on one of the later timeslots for Sunday, and continue with that every week, even if there's low attendance. If there are any interested deacons, then it would be solemn Mass.
As pastor, I'd have the authority to make a lot of necessary changes to employment and assigning of volunteer work. First thing on this front would be to try to get 3 deacons on the roster and enter them into fully paid positions. They, not laymen or laywomen, would be responsible for religious education, training of acolytes, and be at least involved in the music program and all charitable parish activities.
I would publicly pray at least the major hours of the Office, even if no one is around. I would do all I could to see that Vespers becomes an important service on the schedule, and then Lauds too, as a service to precede the principal Mass of the day.
For the music program, since I have some experience in this, I'd take it over directly. I'd still have a professional music director on staff, but since he probably won't know much of Gregorian chant, I'd take direction on this while he focuses on playing the organ.
Prospective altar servers would all be required to first learn how to sing in choir before taking up the duties of acolytes. If you think you're too cool to sing, you're not cool enough to minister on God's altar. The sacred chant will take the utmost priority in my "regime".
Quote:3) an auxiliary bishop
I'm not really sure what the scope of these people's activities are. I always had the impression they exist solely to go around confirming people.
Quote:4) the local ordinary bishop or archbishop
I'll quote from a post I wrote almost a month ago.
Myself Wrote:f I were a bishop, this is what I'd do to promote the traditional Mass without being ousted:
1.) First of all, celebrate the traditional pontifical Mass in the cathedral every Sunday, of course. I was about to say "after Terce" in the full traditional manner, but maybe it'd be more pastorally sensible to precede Mass with Lauds.
2.) Establish a college of canons devoted strictly to celebrating the old Mass and chanting all of the hours of the Office at the cathedral. I'll start with 24 priests invited from other dioceses who've been ostracized or put to pasture by their bishops. Membership in the college will also be mandatory for any priests going into retirement. There will be no relaxing at the old folks' home for them. Who knows, the cathedral might be transformed into an abbey, or something like it.
3.) Summon every single priest in the diocese for a quick face-to-face interview. Any priest who celebrates the traditional Mass or is willing to will likely get assigned as pastor of a parish (with historic churches given prime consideration), if they're not already. If they're unfit for leadership but are still traditionally minded, they'll join my college of canons.
4.) Administer the sacrament of Confirmation exclusively in the traditional rite in all the parishes. This is probably the best way to get the old rites exposure at the parish level. Since most local priests and servers won't be able to follow along, I'll just have a traveling staff of chaplains to serve the rites, and bring my own vestments and vessels.
5.) Take direct control over the diaconal formation program and teach the candidates myself. Unfortunately, I don't think priests can be relied on to restore the traditional liturgy on a wide scale for another generation or two, simply because they're so entrenched by the old guard, so to speak. Fair enough. I'd just use deacons as my instruments, then. All currently-serving deacons would also need to undergo refreshment courses (re-education, really) in order to continue ministry.
6.) And, of course, restore the minor orders. In truth, I probably couldn't do this on my own initiative as a bishop, save for inviting a traditional priestly society to establish a seminary in my diocese. In exchange for ordaining their priests, perhaps I could ordain some men in minor orders for my own use.
So, with the six steps outlined above, there isn't really any sort of heavy-handed leadership involved. The approach is simply this: "here's what I have to offer you, and here's what your lousy Novus Ordo priests are doing. What do you prefer?" In time, the people as a whole will choose tradition, and their clergy will be forced to follow suit if they still want to get paid.
Questions?