By Robert D. De Piante, Publisher, The Catholic Voice
TRADITIO Traditional Roman Catholic Internet Site
E-mail List: traditio@traditio.com, Web Page: http://www.traditio.com
Copyright 1997 CV. Reproduction prohibited without authorization.
[From Volume 12, No. 2, of the Catholic Voice. Made available on the TRADITIO Internet site with permission of The Catholic Voice, a
publication of The Society of Traditional Roman Catholics.]
There's something going on out there, and I'm still not sure what it means. Let's look at some of the events of the past few months which demonstrate an increase in the awareness and preference of the
Tridentine Latin Mass:
1. Last fall, Cardinal Ratzinger went to the Benedictine Abbey Ste.
Madeleine in Le Barroux, France, to offer the Tridentine Latin Mass.
Hundreds of visitors were present, filling every corner of the church for the Pontifical High Mass. This was not a private event, but was well-publicized both before and after the Mass. Although the cardinal's celebration of the Tridentine Latin Mass is a rare event, he did not mind being photographed for the occasion.
2. Toward the end of last year, word came to us of a retired bishop opening a house of studies specifically for the Tridentine Latin Mass.
Bishop Salvador L. Lazo, retired bishop of the Philippine diocese of San Fernando, plans to train men for the priesthood according to the
traditional doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church and for the exclusive celebration of the Tridentine Latin Mass. Bishop Lazo has long been a supporter of the traditional cause.
3. Three parishes, or units within parishes in different areas of the United States, have established themselves as traditional with the
offering of the Tridentine Latin Mass and the teaching of traditional doctrine and catechisms.
4. A quick look at information available on the Internet (that's the computer hookup that links together thousands of electronic sources on almost any subject, in our case "The Tridentine Mass") shows there are at least 167 locations listed where the "Indult" Mass is said (as little as once a month, as often as once a week) and 225 listings where there are Tridentine Masses said that are not part of a previously established parish church with the permission of the local bishop. That includes Masses offered by priests of the Society of St. Pius X, independent priests, and those of other organizations.
5. In St. Patrick's Cathedral, in New York City, more than 30 members of the clergy were involved in a procession and in the celebration of the Tridentine Latin Mass said by Cardinal Alfons Stickler, Prefect Emeritus of the Vatican Library. Since the Tridentine Latin Mass does not allow concelebration in everyday circumstances, Cardinal Stickler was the sole celebrant. Newspaper and news service reports estimated the crowd at between 4,000 and 4,500. The principal church of New York City was filled to overflowing, as those in attendance were present at a Mass that had not been offered there in nearly 30 years.
The New York Times quoted people in the audience with a positive
reaction. One said the ceremony was "pretty impressive". Another called the Tridentine Mass a "restoration of our liturgical home". That same person, Christopher A. Ferrara, a 44 year old lawyer from West Caldwell, NJ, also said: "You can't go into someone's home and remove the
furniture and everything else without disorienting everyone, but that is what happened with our liturgical home 30 years ago."
He was, of course, referring to the stripping away of the ceremony
that was our Mass, the changing of the words of Consecration, switching the position of the priest so that he faces the people instead of God in the tabernacle and upon the crucifix, and the multitude of other changes all done in the name of renewal that are summarized in the new religion known as the novus ordo. These changes have raised grave concerns in the hearts of those who wish to remain true to the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. The modern mass cannot be equal in beauty and splendor to the Mass of All Time, the Tridentine Latin Mass, But most of all, the modern service is not equal in validity to the Tridentine Mass, and that, In the sum and substance of it all, is what really counts.
It is interesting to note that so often, writers for secular papers, and yes, even writers for some novus ordo papers, will make their
observations of the Tridentine Mass based on the language and the way the priest faces as if these are the only differences between the two.
They will always refer to the change in liturgical language that took place following the Second Vatican Council, as well as the presence of the table instead of the altar. While both of these changes are quite visible, they mask the multitude of other aberrations which have ripped the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass from the faithful and replaced it with a
"Commemoration of the Supper of the Lord" -- the new ICEL definition of the Mass.
The pomp and splendor of the Latin liturgy is a wonderful reason to attend it, but it is not the only reason why we should favor it. Until we, as faithful Catholics, can get across to the rest of our Catholic friends what has really happened -- i.e., that the Mass has been
destroyed and our Apostolic religion changed to one founded on the
teachings of modernist Innovators -- our cause will not succeed. We will
"ooh" and "ahh" and the glory and majesty of the Latin Liturgy, and even pat ourselves on the back for some temporary victories, but they will not be lasting until all can see the seriousness of the work we have to do.
The New York Times, while reporting on this story, also pointed out that in the 181 dioceses in the United States, a Tridentine Latin Mass is celebrated in a "few parishes" weekly or monthly in each diocese.
But, enough with the story from New York City. Let us return to the original point of this article: with all these encouraging signs we are witnessing, what should we suppose they mean?
Obviously, what these events mean is that more and more people are
beginning to recognize the value and importance of the Tridentine Mass.
Everyday, in every part of the globe, people are remembering the value of the Latin Mass and are expecting to find it. Being turned away from their parish churches, they seek courageous priests and bishops who still offer Holy Mass according to the pre-conciliar rites. They are becoming less and less satisfied to have one or two Masses offered a year in celebration of some anniversary event or on the visitation of a favoring prelate.
The churches they are turning to are often those which are not the
local parish churches. They attend Masses in churches and chapels
offered by priests who are outside the jurisdiction of the local bishop.
Usually these independent churches are at longer distances than their neighborhood parishes. However, this doesn't deter them. Their love for Holy Mass makes any journey worthwhile.
Oddly enough, the traditional churches and chapels are operated by
priests whom the local modernist bishop will label as "disobedient"
and/or "schismatic." Yet, these priests are men who, after long prayer and reflection, have chosen to obey Go d and the vows made to Him at ordination rather than follow his brother priests and bishops into
error. The charge of disobedience does not apply here according to the Scripture principle: "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts of the Apostles 5:29).
Yes, there is a greater awareness of the basic faith that comes to us from the Tridentine Latin Mass. Clergy and faithful alike are finding peace of soul and satisfaction of heart through the traditional Mass, and we can be sure that there are more where they came from. Let us pray that increasing numbers will join us in this cause for the return of the Tridentine Mass and that they will refuse to give it up, even if it means attending this Mass under less than ideal situations. In the end, God will see us through.
