Ottaviani's Intervention?

In the time that followed the promulgation of the Apostolic Constitution Missale Romanum, there were many changes that took place in the everyday life of the Church.  Some may argue that they were more profound than not, but soon after the publication of the Apostolic Constitution, the Missal of Pope Paul VI, the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite took effect.  Almost immeditately, Archbishop Lefebvre took action.  Now, there is debate among a number of people as to whether or not the actions that Lefebvre took were justified; some probably were and some probably weren't.  The end result is the existence of the Society of St. Pius X, a group with a highly irregular status (not excommunicated however).

During 1969, a number of theologians wrote what is formally referred to as the "Short Critical Study on the New Order of Mass", but what many people know as the "Ottaviani Intervention."  The text details Archbishop Ottaviani's concerns regarding the revised Ordo Missae, and what effect the promulgation of such an Ordo would have upon the faithful.  Now, it should be pointed out that the Intervention was published prior to the release of the definitive text, and refers to an experimental text celebrated in Rome in 1967.  It is also evident that the text to which he refers has a few differences with the promulgated text (for example, he mentions a change to the second Memento of the Roman Canon that is not presently there).  Equally contentious is the existence of a future letter from Ottaviani where he apparently expresses much relief and satisfaction with the Holy Father's eventual response to his initial letter.

I'm not going to argue here the motives of Ottaviani in either letter, but simply want to draw a thread here.  I have generally thoroughly believed that in order to best argue one's point, it is necessary to understand your opponent's point.  The Ottaviani Intervention may form the beginnings of the arguments that the Society of St. Pius X has regarding the current texts.  Obviously, the text is afraid of revision of the Missal being too geared towards the appeasement of Protestants, and therefore softening of core Catholic theology.  I will address this point in a future post.  This is largely within the area of the reform of the Offertory prayers, which I have already discussed.  It is important, therefore to ask whether or not Ottaviani's document does bear any weight.  My personal belief is that it is a little alarmist, but that it served the purpose of calling for Rome to consider that there might be opposing views.  How would the Ordo Missae looked without this Intervention?  I personally do not know.  Perhaps there is a great deal that we owe to Ottaviani.  Perhaps, we owe him little.  Regardless, it is important to know that his letter does exist, and know what his concerns were.