Last week something that I've never witnessed before happened: the Holy Father changed the Extraordinary Form of the Roman liturgy.  He changed one of the intercessory prayers for Good Friday, the one which prays for the conversion of the Jews.  I am not going to get into all the semantics (no pun intended) or issues that could be raised having to do with this decision - I think that has been well discussed on the NLM blog. 

What I do want to make a comment on is how remarkable it is that this was announced by the Pope on February 5th and is to be implemented this Good Friday, March 21st.  That is only about a month and a half between pronouncement and reality. 

This change applies only to the extraordinary form.  What if a similar change were to implemented in the ordinary form (the "novus ordo")? 

I suspect it would be tied up in red tape for a while, maybe years.  It certainly would take longer than a month and a half from decree to reality.  The reason is that the new prayer would have to be officially translated into every vernacular language -- and carefully, considering the touchy text involved.  

It makes an interesting, practical argument for the restoration of Latin to its rightful place in the ordinary form of the Roman rite.  A common language would mean changes could more easily be implemented.  And with Pope Benedict XVI at the helm of the bark that is the Church, this could be a very good thing.