Friday, November 3, 2006
Wider use of Latin Mass would benefit the Church
The following is a letter which was published in on 10/31/2006 in the 'Everybody's Column' of The Buffalo News.
I am a teenage altar server at one of the local churches
celebrating the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass with the bishop's permission. I'm very
familiar with all three churches in Western New York using the 1962 liturgical
books, as well as the traditionalist movement in general. I would like to make a
few corrections and observations in response to the Oct. 12 News article, "To
heal rift, pope to allow wider use of Latin Mass."The so-called Tridentine Mass existed long before the Council
of Trent when the missal was codified. Because this rite is an immemorial church
custom, no priest can be forbidden to celebrate it, despite what "authorities"
may say otherwise.Secondly, the older tourist quoted was mistaken. Latin is a
dead language, but far from isolating, it attracts large numbers of youth who
flock to churches where it is still used. Many children, young adults and large
families attend these services in our area. I personally prefer the older
sacramental forms, among other reasons, because of minimal use of the vernacular
or vulgar tongue.If the pope did allow wider use of the Latin Mass, it would
only benefit the Church. The "old" Mass is alive and well.Brendan Young,
Kenmore
Labels: News, Traditionalism
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