In the very personal letter he wrote to the bishops to accompany his Motu Proprio, "Summorum Pontificum," Benedict XVI expressed the hope that "the two Forms of the usage of the Roman Rite can be mutually enriching." He also said that "it behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church's faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place."I have already called attention to the fact that the Pope has been celebrating Mass, both in Saint Peter's and during the course of his journey in the United States, with a crucifix placed on the altar, between him and the assembly, thereby creating a spiritual "ad orientem" posture of prayer.Some, on various blogs, have even suggested that the Holy Father, at his Masses, has taken to pray sotto voce during the Offertory, the prayers of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. If this be the case, it may be one concrete way of furthering the "mutual enrichment" he seeks.The two times I have participated in the Eucharist in the Extraordinary Form, I have regretted that the Eucharistic Prayer was not prayed audibly. Though I know others do not agree, I find it makes more sense that all should hear what the priest is praying in our name. Perhaps, at some point, the practice of the Ordinary Form may, in this regard, enrich the traditional Latin Mass.On the other hand, I find the Offertory Prayers of the Extraordinary Form much richer than the pared-down versions of the Ordinary Form.So I have taken to pray silently, after the "Lavabo," the lovely prayer which in the Extraordinary Form is prayed before the invitation to the assembly "Orate Fratres." It begins, "Suscipe, Sancta Trinitas," and it more explicitly extends, beyond the assembled congregation, the communion of those united in prayer and worship:

Receive, O Holy Trinity, this offering which we offer you in memory of the passion, resurrection, and ascension of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of Saint John the Baptist, of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the Saints. May it bring honor to them and salvation to us. And may they intercede in heaven for us who keep their memory on earth. We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Related:Amy Welborn has a most interesting post occasioned by her finding a 1960 book by the American pioneer of the liturgical renewal, H.A. Reinhold, "Bringing the Mass to the People." The little book indicates what liturgically-minded pastors were anticipating by way of liturgical reform prior to the Council. Among the insightful comments following Amy's May 1st post are two by people well-known to dotCom: Peter Nixon and Fred Bauerschmidt.