Making the Latin Mass more available

Michael G

Is anyone interested in trying to get the Latin (Tridentine) Mass made more available where they live? I'm lucky enough to have an elderly priest nearby who celebrates it privately so I don't have to struggle with the weekly horror that faces most people, but my situation is exceptional. The new Pope, who seems to be more aware of these things than his predecessor, is sympathetic and there are some bishops and quite a lot of priests who just need encouragement. There is some information on http://www.latinmassireland.org/ about how to urge your bishop to allow the Tridentine Mass. It was never officially banned, but in this country it has been effectively prohibited in most dioceses.

arctic lemur

Why? I thought latin was a dead language!

Michael G

That's one part of a big debate but because Latin is a dead language the meaning of the words can never change. If you think of the Anglican liturgy which was written in 1662 in incredibly beautiful English, many of the words have changed meaning and the phraseology is long out of date.

But it is not just the language of the Latin Mass that is different. It is more God-focused – the heart of the Mass is the offering and sacrifice, the Scrupture readings are not so important and the personality of the priest and other distractions are kept in the backgound. It makes it possible for ordinary people to pray very intensely. Only a saint could do that at the average new Mass.

Excelsior

Surely the problems the Catholic Church faces in Ireland can be summed up in one sentence: They are not embracing Scripture as Church law requires.

What good is a mass where people are not brought into contact with the living word of God?

Michael G

They are doing many things wrong. But I assume from your emphasis on Scripture that you are a Protestant. Catholics certainly need to know their Scripture better. The Epistle and Gospel are read in English even at the Latin Mass and a good priest will preach a sermon about them. But the difference between a Catholic Mass (or at least the Latin Mass) and a Protestant eucharist is that the Mass is centred on Christ's sacrifice whereas a Protestant eucharist is centred on the sharing of the Eucharistic meal. I have the greatest respect for your tradition but my complaint is that my Church is abandoning its own.

4-age

This is would undo all the work of vatican 2.now im not sayin there is no room for latin mass cbut it should be aproached the same as mass in english.

UU

I'd probably understand a Latin mass as from doing Biology in school! Lol!

Although I wonder why the Roman Church didn't do their masses in Aramaic, Jesus' mother tongue as Jesus never spoke Latin - it was the Romans who crucified him who did! Interesting, eh?

Gillo

UU wrote:

I'd probably understand a Latin mass as from doing Biology in school! Lol!

Although I wonder why the Roman Church didn't do their masses in Aramaic, Jesus' mother tongue as Jesus never spoke Latin - it was the Romans who crucified him who did! Interesting, eh?

Thats a very valid point, and kinda throws a spanner in the works for the OP.
Whiel a tridantine mass is well and good, and gets us back to our routes, they prople is that most people Blah Blah Blah slposh Blah splosh splish blah cackle bluh backle dakcle blah, ok you get the idea now, people won't understand what is been said at the mass.

If people don't understand what is been said they will tune out, even to the parts that are preformed in English. The reason why the tridantine mass was dropped in favour of an English (language) mass was to make the experience more accessable to the masses (pardon the pun).

The is a tridantine mass held in the city center every sunday not sure exactly where, but I think it is advertised in the Irish times on a Saturday.

Excelsior

St. Audeon's on Thomas St at 11am if I am not mistaken.

Michael G

Excelsior wrote:

St. Audeon's on Thomas St at 11am if I am not mistaken.

Correct, and it is extremely beautiful. The Society of St Pius X also offer Mass twice on Sundays at St John's on Mounttown Road — see http://www.ireland.sspx.net/ for details. There are also Traditional Masses in other parts of the country — the SSPX site has details and so has the Latin Mass Society of Ireland at http://www.latinmassireland.org/.

But on a point of clarification: there are members of the Society of St Pius X who want the Traditional Mass reinstated as the only permitted rite, apart from those offered by the Eastern Catholic Churches. But many other members, and their leaders, and most traditional Catholics are just looking for parity of esteem — both rites to be recognised, and more freedom for priests to offer the Traditional rite.

arctic lemur

Excelsior wrote:

St. Audeon's on Thomas St at 11am if I am not mistaken.

I read today that this church is moving the latin mass to another church in favour of Polish mass as the poles are expanding church numbers, there are some 3,000 Polish catholics in Dublin.

Michael G

artic lemur wrote:

I read today that this church is moving the latin mass to another church in favour of Polish mass as the poles are expanding church numbers, there are some 3,000 Polish catholics in Dublin.

I hadn't heard that. It's a pity because it is a lovely church and the sanctuary hasn't been vandalised. I hope they find another suitable church. This Mass began in a very beautiful little church on the quay called St Michael and John's. Do you know where they are moving to?

However it's good news about the Poles.

lowdenclear

Thanks for the link in the first post. There's no indult Masses in my area, in the north, so it's good to see whereabouts they ARE running. I'd love to go to one to check them out.

Michael G

New Traditional Mass site based in Wexford: www.faithapostolate.ie