Comeback for Latin Mass

Those who are over 50 will no doubt remember the way Mass used to be celebrated in Latin, with the priest's back to the congregation. Then in the Sixties come Vatican II and, among the changes brought about by Pope John XXIII's 'revolution', perhaps the main one concerned the celebration of Mass.

Latin was practically abolished and priests began to face the faithful. These changes were welcomed by the vast majority of Catholics worldwide. But there were exceptions. Perhaps the most notable was French Archbishop Marcel Levebre, who obstinately refused to accept the new rite and was finally excommunicated.

Others, mostly British intellectuals, were less radical and, rather than defy the Church, they appealed to the Pope to make exceptions - a request that was granted to Britain in 1971 and was later extended to the whole world. But these exceptions carried restrictions, which were considerably eased by Pope John Paul II in 1989.

Now it has been reported that, in the coming weeks, Pope Benedict XVI will publish a document that will allow wider use of the old (Tridentine) Mass. According to reports, the Pope wants to broaden the use of the old Latin rite, hoping that the split, which has appeared since the Vatican II 'revolution', will be healed.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, was quoted as saying that the Pope was personally interested in seeing that the document was well received by the Church in the hope that it will bring about the desired reconciliation between the traditionalists and the liberals.

However, The Catholic Herald has reported that Cardinal Cormack Murphy-O'Connor, on behalf of the English and Welsh bishops, has written to the Vatican stating that the planned document "was not needed in England and Wales because adequate provision existed for Catholics who wanted to attend Mass in the Old Rite".

In a reaction, the general manager of the Latin Mass Society expressed surprise at the bishops' statement. While agreeing that in certain UK dioceses the situation had indeed improved, this improvement did not exist in several other dioceses.

The announcement of the impending document by the Pope, who has made it clear from the outset of his Papacy that he intends to revive the mystery and the majesty of the Mass and that he is against certain "abuses" which have developed following the changes brought about by Vatican II, has sparked off a great controversy among UK Catholic traditionalists and the liberals.

The former claim that "there is growing interest in the old Mass, which many worshippers find more beautiful and inspiring". The latter are less than enthusiastic because they associate the former with ultra-conservative groups that oppose the radical reforms ushered in by the Council.

The Pope on the other hand seems determined to achieve a "liturgical reconciliation" in a modern Church riven by factions. He mentioned cases where "congregations were simply celebrating themselves rather than worshipping God".

In its editorial of June 22 The Catholic Herald expressed regret that the UK bishops were against more freedom in the celebration of the Mass. "We live in an age in which most Catholics are more comfortable with hearing most of the Mass in their own language: we see no problem with that and welcome Pope Benedict's suggestion that, at the main Sunday Mass in most parishes the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei should be said in Greek and Latin while the rest is in the vernacular.

"Also, the dignifying celebration of the New Rite in Latin can be appropriate and inspiring. What we must go away from is the notion that the Old Rite... is somehow exotic - a forbidden pleasure enjoyed by people whose preference for it is an indication of general weirdness. This is the unspoken prejudice of many bishops of England and Wales and it is increasingly unjustified."

One hopes that, irrespective of the rite, Catholics who go to hear Mass do so out of conviction, strong in their belief that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, "the fount and apex of the whole Christian life" and that through their participation "they offer the Divine Victim to God and themselves along with it". (Dogmatic Constitution of the Church)