Return of the Tradentine Mass

Vas_Guy

Who thinks that the old Latin Mass should be restored?

Yesterdays Irish Independent:

Pope Benedict bans rock 'n' roll

THE Pope has called for an end to electric guitars and modern music being played in Church and demanded a return to traditional choirs and Gregorian chants.

However, the use of guitars and tambourines has irked Pope Benedict, who loves classical music.

Harmony

"It is possible to modernise holy music," the Pope said, at a concert conducted by Domenico Bartolucci, the director of music at the Sistine Chapel. "But it should not happen outside the traditional path of Gregorian chants or sacred polyphonic choral music."

His comments prompted the newspaper La Stampa to compare him with Pope Pius X, who denounced faddish classical and baroque compositions and reinstated Gregorian chants.

Benedict XVI's supporters argue that the music played during Mass is a vital part of the communion between worshippers and God and that medieval church music, with the liturgy, creates the correct ambience for perceiving God's mystery.

"It is often forgotten that the liturgy is not a symbol but rather a truth," said Cardinal Ersilio Tonini, the Archbishop of Ravenna.

"He said the use of modern music was a "sign of the vitality of the faith".

The argument about modern or traditional music is part of a wider debate over whether to return to a Latin Mass. If Latin Masses are not reintroduced into common practice, few Catholics will know the words to the Latin Gregorian chants which the Pope advocates.

The Latin Mass was restricted in the Vatican II reforms of the 1960s, on the grounds that they were deterring worshippers from going to Church. However, Msgr Malcolm Ranjith Patabendig, the secretary of the Congregation of Divine Faith, said there is "a need to reinforce the conquests of the past".

He said the traditional Mass of St Pius V had "never been abolished". John Allen, the author of a biography on Pope Benedict, said he thought a "universal indulgence" would be issued to priests allowing them once again to say Mass in Latin whenever they wanted to.

Pope Benedict has also begun to reform the Roman Curia in his image, recently appointing Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone as his new secretary of state, the Vatican's equivalent of prime minister. Cardinal Bertone, 71, was the pope's right hand man at the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith for many years.

mountainyman

If he is just going to let priests say mass in latin (not all mass in latin)what's the problem.


MM

Vas_Guy

mountainyman wrote:

If he is just going to let priests say mass in latin (not all mass in latin)what's the problem.


MM

It could be the first step in a return to the old Mass

layke

Yeah I was shaking my head when I heard it on the radio yesterday.

First thing I thought 'Nice work, lets make the church go back in time'.

Ratzinger is not winning any popularity votes. To me church is absolutely boring, guitars at least would liven it up and make it interesting to younger people.

I'm telling you Pope JP was a legend in his own time. I'm an athiest but everyone loved that man. Personally I have little respect for Ratzinger.

mountainyman

layke wrote:

I'm telling you Pope JP was a legend in his own time. I'm an athiest but everyone loved that man...

Not me buddy; at least no more than was absolutely required. He rejected a politcal role for the church and the chance to put it firmly on the side of the oppressed against their oppressors. I suppose on the grounds that Christ is against no one.
That's bullspit in my opinion. He may BE against no one on his chair * at the right hand of the father; but he WAS against people in the 33 years he manifested himself on earth. Money changers and the rich for example.
Though he also said 'render unto Caesar'.

layke wrote:

Personally I have little respect for Ratzinger.

I don't hold out much hope for his Pontificate.

MM

* Some people think of christ on a golden throne but I prefer to think of him seated on a simple but good quality wooden chair made by himself.

Mrs. MacGyver

Vas_Guy wrote:

It could be the first step in a return to the old Mass

I'd say it will be optional as down to the individal priest to decide what form to celebrate the mass in.

Michael G

Mrs. MacGyver wrote:

I'd say it will be optional as down to the individal priest to decide what form to celebrate the mass in.

Great, if that's what happens. At the moment priests aren't allowed to celebrate the Traditional Mass in public without their bishops' permission. The official line is that it was never banned, but most bishops in Ireland won't allow it because they are still back in 1970 when they had a full head of hair and watched the film of Woodstock with a lot of hairy-legged nuns who had thrown away their habits and decided they were all talented composers of church music which involved guitars and tambourines. The "spirit of Vatican II", as they still call it, was a big part of their Summer of Love. To be charitable (why start now, you may ask), I suppose it is hard to accept that you aren't young any more.