Feb 19, 2008

Say what? (About the Latin Mass)

We owe a deep debt of gratitude to Pope St. Pius V (above) for standardizing the Missale Romanum and the Breviary in the late 16th century, even as we realize that that Mass of the Ages (the "Tridentine" Mass) dates back, in many of its elements, more than a thousand years.

The ancient patrimony of this Mass, and its universality for centuries, mean nothing to the shortsighted liberals, though, and to them are even reasons to shun it.

These thoughts came to mind when I read "Ite, Missa Est," an article (click on this post's title) by Valerie Schmalz in the February 17, 2008, issue of the National Catholic Register. This news story is about the Latin Mass catching on at Notre Dame and other Catholic colleges and universities.

One paragraph in the article jumped out because of a quote in it. Here is the paragraph:

"On the East Coast, at Fordham, Jesuit Father Joseph Currie, director of campus ministry, said the university offers the Mass once a month in deference to the Pope and the desire of students who formed a Facebook group to request it. 'We are giving it a chance to catch on,' Father Currie said. 'If it is of God, it will last. If it is not of God, it will go on its way.'"

Now, presumably the "If it is not of God" part of the quote is accurate. But probably Father Currie did not mean that the way it sounds, and probably he wishes he could retract and restate those words. And after all, he is allowing the Latin Mass, as the Holy Father has asked.

By his words he might well mean that permitting the Mass of the Ages on a Catholic campus is "of God" and will "catch on." But still, it would have been nice if he had just left out the confusing "If it is not of God" part.

8 Comments:

Blogger Joe of St. Thérèse said...

Yeah, I read that and was thnking: It's going to catch on, quicker than people realize once people are able to see the rverence and the beauty of the TLM...I knew that something like this had to be of God, I kind of ignored the last part of the sentence.

2:18 PM  
Blogger Kozaburo Non-bu said...

"Mass of all time" - lol

I'm no foe of the Tridentine Mass by any stretch, but you should attend the Liturgy of St. James - the St. James - before you start talking "all time".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liturgy_of_St_James

3:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

For those in the Southern California, Fr. Z's blog "What does the Prayer really say" has a post on the Oblates of The BLessed Virigin Mary cancelled the "Triditine Mass" at St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church in Hawaiian Gardens. This order came from their Rector Major. here is the link http://wdtprs.com/blog/2008/02/omvs-cansel-a-tlm-in-california

5:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

FrZ. has a post on his blog about the "Triditine" Mass being cancelled at St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church in Hawaiian Gardens , California by the superior of the Oblates Of The Blessed Virgin Mary. http://wdtprs.com/blog/2008/02/omvs-cancel-a-tlm-in-california/

7:04 PM  
Blogger Quintero said...

Dear Kozaburo,

Well, I said, "Mass of the Ages"; but I guess that's about the same as "Mass of all time."

But thanks very much for writing about the Liturgy of St. James.

The Wikipedia article about this ancient liturgy sounds accurate.

It's good to know that churches in communion with Rome use that rite.

8:12 PM  
Blogger Quintero said...

Dear Anonymouses 5 p.m. and 7:04 p.m.,

Thanks very much for the links to the post at Fr. Zuhlsdorf's blogspot about the situation at St. Peter Chanel Parish in Hawaiian Gardens.

I'll do a post about the situation if more info. comes along.

8:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am very saddened to be informed that St. Peter Chanel Church is canceling the Latin Mass. I live in the city of Long Beach and St. Peter Chanel was the closest church that offered the latin mass. I am a young adult (21 yrs old) who grew up only knowing the novus ordo mass. Just recently I have had the privilege to experience a latin mass and my interest in it has been growing ever since. Even though I still may not know a lot about the latin mass, I am very eager to learn and understand it more deeply. None of the 13 roman catholic churches in Long Beach have a latin mass! With that many catholic churches in one city alone, one would expect that at least one of the 13 churches would offer such a treasure of the catholic faith. Thank you L.A. Catholic for your blog, it has been one of the tools that has helped me reject my former liberal perspectives and has brought me back to understanding and believing in the TRUE TEACHINGS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH! God bless!

7:53 PM  
Blogger Quintero said...

Dear Anonymous 7:53 p.m.,

Thank you for your kind and heartwarming words. So glad you've found some help here -- Deo gratias, Thanks be to God.

Goodhearted people like you are not only the future of the Church but Her present time, too. Keep on learning. Your prayers, your study and your actions will help everyone as you do God's will.

Thanks again, and God bless!

4:01 PM  

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