Do you support the new ruling by the Pope of the Catholic Church regarding the Latin Mass...?

Question

Pope Angers Jews, Liberals With Rite
Conservatives Rejoice as Pontiff Revives Old Latin Mass
By NICOLE WINFIELD,AP
Posted: 2007-07-07 23:16:06
Filed Under: World
VATICAN CITY (July 7) - Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday removed restrictions on celebrating the old Latin Mass, reviving a rite that was all but swept away by the liberalizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

The decision, a victory for traditional, conservative Roman Catholics, came over the objections of liberal-minded Catholics and angered Jews because the Tridentine Mass contains a prayer for their conversion.
Benedict, who stressed that he was not negating Vatican II, issued a document authorizing parish priests to celebrate the Tridentine rite if a "stable group of faithful" requests it. Currently, the local bishop must approve such requests - an obstacle that supporters of the rite say has greatly limited its availability.

"What earlier generations held as sacred remains sacred and great for us, too," Benedict wrote.

The document upset Jews, since the Tridentine rite contains a prayer on Good Friday of Easter Week calling for their conversion. The Anti-Defamation League called the move a "body blow to Catholic-Jewish relations," the Jewish news agency JTA reported.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center urged Benedict to publicly point out that such phrases "are now entirely contrary to the teaching of the church."

In reviving the rite, Benedict was reaching out to the followers of an excommunicated ultratraditionalist, the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who split with the Vatican over Vatican II, particularly the introduction of the New Mass celebrated in the vernacular.

The Vatican excommunicated Lefebvre in 1988 after he consecrated four bishops without Rome's consent. The bishops were excommunicated as well.

Benedict has been eager to reconcile with Lefebvre's group, the Society of St. Pius X, which has demanded freer use of the old Mass as a precondition for normalizing relations. The other precondition is the removal of the excommunication decrees. The Vatican did not address the excommunication issue Saturday and there was no indication if or when it would.

Answer 1

*Is Catholic*

I am absolutely ecstatic about this teaching. The Holy Spirit has spoken through the Pope. Though personally, I am more excited about the supposed document that is to be released on the 10th of July -- the companion piece to 2000's DOMINUS IESUS.

It is good that the 1962 Missal be restored. Hopefully its restoration will help to correct the problems with the failed implementation of the current form of the Mass...a form that does not match what Vatican II desired. Pope Benedict has talked at length about this problem.

There is no 1962 parish nearby, and my Latin is poor, so I doubt that I will be seeing this Mass for many years. But it gives me great hope at the opportunity for working to reform the modern Missal and bring it into line with what Vatican II suggested, instead of being the "flat product of an instant" as Pope Benedict calls it.

As for praying for the conversion of sinners, that is what the Church is called to do by Christ Himself...to pray constantly for the conversion of all mankind. To the Jews belong the patriarch, the prophets, and the promise...if they would be only come to see that what they wait for in hope has occurred. If they only could see their Messiah.

Answer 2

I am Catholic. Therefore, I support the Pope. I adhere to his teaching because he is the Successor of St. Peter and the Vicar of Christ. Anyone who claims to be Catholic but goes against the teachings of the Holy See is simply deluding himself.

Maybe your question is, "Personally, do you like the new ruling...?" In that case, I would have to respond, "Yes". Pope Benedict XVI is speaking up for the rights of all Catholics to have Mass celebrated in the way in which it was celebrated for centuries. No Catholic could ever disagree with that. No Catholic can be anti-Tradition because he would cease to be Catholic by the very fact. Our Catholic identity is rooted in Sacred Tradition which, along with Sacred Scripture, constitute a sole and unique Source of Divine Revelation.

I hope that helps.

Answer 3

There is a timeless beauty in the Latin mass -it is universal which is what catholic means The same whatever you native language.I believe its wider reintroduction can do nothing but help to heal some of the rifts in the church.The Church is timeless as is the Mass.

This does not mean that the mass cannot also be in the native language both are valid .we are all different we can choose(not the same as pick and choose) to attend the mass" which speaks to us"as individuals.

Answer 4

As a Catholic I only wish for one thing on this matter and hope the Holy Father will direct this action as well: Every parish church, shrine or chapel which wants to celebrate the Tridentine Mass must announce that in their weekly bulletin.And the announcement must be in Latin!
Since Jesus and his apostles were all from Galilee, the first mass (the Last Supper) was celebrated in Aramaic. I see no push for the Mass in this century to be celebrated in that language.

Answer 5

I care little what Catholics do, although the Tridentine rite is a bit disturbing.

Vatican II was a powerful change in the church; sounds like Benedict is signaling a potential reversal.

Answer 6

Yes,I strongly support the right as a Roman Catholic to attend the true Mass.

Answer 7

Traditional Catholics' Motto

We are what you once were.
We believe what you once believed.
We worship as you once worshipped.
If you were right then, we are right now.
If we are wrong now, you were wrong then.