VATICAN: Return of the Latin Mass? "celebrate Latin Mass on a weekly basis in every parish in world"

Inside the Vatican News ^ | May 13, 2003 | Robert Moynihan

[Polycarp]

The Return of the Latin Mass?

Exclusive: The Vatican is preparing to call, in the clearest way since the Second Vatican Council, for an end to liturgical abuses -- and for far wider use of the old Latin Mass

“The do-it-yourself Mass is ended. Go in peace.”

By Robert Moynihan

VATICAN CITY, May 13, 2003 – Forty years after the Second Vatican Council, after four decades of liturgical "experimentation" which has troubled many of the faithful, Rome is about to issue a major disciplinary document, ending years of a generally "laissez faire" attitude toward liturgical experimentation and “do-it-youself” Masses.

The document is now in draft form and is expected to be published between October and Christmas this year.

In a bombshell passage, the document will also encourage far wider use of the “old Mass”, the Tridentine rite Mass, in Latin, throughout the Roman Catholic Church.

The new, stricter guidelines for celebrating the liturgy, and the mandate to celebrate the old Latin Mass more widely, even on a weekly basis, in every parish in the world, will be contained in a document to be published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, headed by Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze.

“We expect the document to be published before Christmas,” Arinze told "Inside the Vatican" in an exclusive interview. “We want to respond to the spiritual hunger and sorrow so many of the faithful have expressed to us because of liturgical celebrations that seemed irreverent and unworthy of true adoration of God. You might sum up our document with words that echo the final words of the Mass: ‘The do-it-yourself Mass is ended. Go in peace.’”

We will be reporting in more detail on this historic document in future issues of "Inside the Vatican."

[ninenot]

600 children in my grade school received Communion EVERY DAY at Mass, from two priests. Took 10+ minutes. Wow. How awful it was.

[Desdemona]

But, most Catholic music is, and has always been, dreadful.

Excuse me? Mozart's Coronation Mass, dreadful? The Exultate Jubilate? Verdi's Requiem? The Pergolesi Stabat Mater?

Or just Veni Creator Spiritus, Pange Lingua Gloriosi - dreadful? A cappella in a church with a vaulted ceiling and no carpet, this is as close to heaven as you get. Well, there is the Ave Verum Corpus - a cappella - Mozart of course. Taken at largo.

[narses]

In my chapel 1,000 receive the Host from two priests in about 15 minutes. All kneel. Do you serve?

[sinkspur]

One word: trination. THe priests would actually put in a day about half as long as the average parent's day.

All three of our priests trinate. And, as you know, they cannot, by Canon law, quadrinate.

Parents don't have to preach. If parents were offered the option of children or preaching, they would ALL choose parenting.

[B Knotts]

Mandating it in every diocese I can understand.

We pretty much have that now, but dioceses, particularly in the West, can be rather large.

Why do you seem so opposed to this? I have never been to a Tridentine Mass (the closest one to me is about 50 miles), but the more I read about it, the more I like the idea.

It could bring some difficulties or inconvenience, but, I mean, aren't we there to worship God, rather than ourselves?

[ninenot]

Ah--Sinky--the IIV. Council DID put in a couple of genuine innovations--one of which was the phrase regarding sacred music. It took the liturgy Nazis about 1 year to "disappear" the term 'sacred music.'

I hold no brief for most of those old hymns. Chant Ordinary parts and a couple of DECENT hymns and a bunch of Chant hymns will be just fine.

A good choir will be splendid. You can sing baritone as the deacons will not be needed at the altar, either.

[sinkspur]

Why do you seem so opposed to this?

I'm not opposed to it.

But, if you offer it as option, there won't be any more Tridentine Masses than there are now.

Most priests won't celebrate it, and there is no overwhelming demand for the Tridentine Mass.

[narses]

Note the rabid fear of this rumored mandate.

[ninenot]

Verdi's Requiem is a bit much for most. But you can sing it at my funeral. I'll pop for the orchestra.

Use a string quartet on the voice lines in the Ave Verum. Just like it was originally scored.

[ninenot]

Yup. And the priests chose preaching. Tough life.

Glad to hear your guys trinate. In Milwaukee, Rembert left the priesthood in such bad shape that many priests will not say ONE Mass on a weekday.

[Desdemona]

Verdi's Requiem is a bit much for most.

yeah, yeah.

Use a string quartet on the voice lines in the Ave Verum. Just like it was originally scored.

Right. I should know better than to mess with Mozart. But largo? Rather than a slow andante (like it's usually sung)?

[Romulus]

Your attempt at being ridiculous is no more ridiculous than doddering seniors attempting to kneel to receive the Eucharist where there is no altar rail.

This ranks with the most disgusting things I've ever seen posted on this forum.

It's not that I'm seeking a quarrel with you, but my conscience can't let me leave unchallenged your mockery of reverence to the Real Presence.

[sinkspur]

It's not that I'm seeking a quarrel with you, but my conscience can't let me leave unchallenged your mockery of reverence to the Real Presence.

Romulus, you hyperventilate at the sight of a homeless person, thinking he's God's gift to us as an object of charity.

Get over yourself, man.

I was not mocking the Real Presence, and you know it. Sheesh!!!!!

[ninenot]

The best way to interpret it is as Mozart wrote it: near his death. I've done it both ways, and like the Largo better.

[sinkspur]

This ranks with the most disgusting things I've ever seen posted on this forum.

You don't read Polycarp's homosexual threads, I see.

[Romulus]

I was not mocking the Real Presence

How Clintonian of you, to deny a crime of which you were neveever accused. I never said you were mocking the Real Presence, of course. I said you were mocking reverence toward the Real Presence.

[sinkspur]

In my chapel 1,000 receive the Host from two priests in about 15 minutes. All kneel. Do you serve?

That's one communicant every 2.5 seconds.

I prefer to receive reverentially (standing) from someone who distributes reverentially.

I've received from priests who distribute the Eucharist like dealers deal blackjack in Las Vegas.

No, thank you.

[sinkspur]

I said you were mocking reverence toward the Real Presence.

I wasn't mocking reverence, either. I was being ridiculous to counter Loyalist's being ridiculous.

Like this entire conversation. Ridiculous.

[ultima ratio]

Doesn't this pope get enough undeserved adulation, despite failures on every front?

[JNB]

One good things about more deacons being ordained, they can be used to distribute communion, and in theory, more EEMs can be dropped.