Advice : Restoration of The Latin Mass

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willie_duggan

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I am looking to get some advice from Traditionalists with regard to the restoration of the Latin Mass (TLM) in their parish church.

Through various meetings of parishioners a group of us have discerned the desire among several dozen parishioners to attend TLM weekly in our parish.
However, since the late 1960’s, TLM has not been performed in any church in our parish or in neighbouring parishes.

What I am seeking is advice on what is the best way to attempt to restore TLM from folk here.

Have any of you sought and obtained the restoration of TLM in your parish?
How did you go about getting TLM restored?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Get a committee together and make a realistic proposal to your Bishop.

When would the Masses take place? What set-up would be required? How many people have said they will attend? Who would be the priest? Who would be the Altar Servers and Sacristans? Do you have a budget? How will you raise money for the furnishings, hosts, vessels, and vestments you would need? What about missals, lectionaries, and sacramentaries - who’s going to pay for those? What stipend would you pay the priest who is saying Latin Mass for you, and where will he live? Who will pay his living expenses?

These are the questions your Bishop will want to know the answers to.
 
Thank you.

Just to give some details.

We have approximately 50 parishioners who have expressed the sincere wish to attend weekly TLM.
We believe that there are parishioners in neighbouring parishes who would also wish to attend.
Through informals meetings and discussion we have discerned the wish to see a restoration of TLM.

In our parish church the pre Vatican II altar is still located at the Apse of our Church.
The pulpit is still in situ also.
However the altar railings are no longer there.

The points that you raise are thought provoking.
We have discussed, for example, the issue of whether or not the local clergy would be capable of performing TLM. The majority of our parish clergy were formed post V-2 so a practical consideration is whether or not they are capable of performing TLM.

You’ve given me plenty of topics to consider and I thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
 
In addition to what jmcrae has said you also require a stable group to want the TLM. Unfortunately, the motu proprio issued on this matter does not define “stable group” either in terms of percentage of the parishioners or in actual numbers so it could be easy (I’m not saying it would happen) for the parish priest and/or bishop to say no because they consider the group wanting it as being too small.
 
And while you are at it, you might try contacting those other parishes to see if there are people there who would commit to attending on a regular basis. It sounds from your note, as if your group is about 24 or so. It might help if your group is 2 to 3 or more times bigger. There is also issues of heat, light and other utilities (as well as security) to include in the consideration; as well as schedule conflicts with existing Mass times.
 
thistle said:
In addition to what jmcrae has said you also require a stable group to want the TLM. Unfortunately, the motu proprio issued on this matter does not define “stable group” either in terms of percentage of the parishioners or in actual numbers so it could be easy (I’m not saying it would happen) for the parish priest and/or bishop to say no because they consider the group wanting it as being too small.
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Thank you.

Where I live the closest locations to attend TLM is 40 miles away - which means an 80 mile round trip each week if I, and others from this area, which to attend weekly.

However in that location 40 miles away, the order of the Institute of Christ the King celebrate TLM weekly.
That order purchased a former Jesuit church outright. institute-christ-king.ie/

We had considered the possibility of approaching that religious order to assist in our attempt to restore TLM in our part of the country.
 
otjm said:
And while you are at it, you might try contacting those other parishes to see if there are people there who would commit to attending on a regular basis. It sounds from your note, as if your group is about 24 or so. It might help if your group is 2 to 3 or more times bigger. There is also issues of heat, light and other utilities (as well as security) to include in the consideration; as well as schedule conflicts with existing Mass times.
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Thanks for your reply.

I can assure you that we have 49 sincere and dedicated parishioners who wish to see TLM restored.

At a guess there would be a level of interest from neighbouring parishes also.
I cannot put a number to the level of interest in those neighbouring parishes, but we’re attempting to document that level of interest.
 
I would also add two pieces of advice. As a superior, if you came to me, I would be tempted to deny you.

Advice #1

Be careful with the language you use. If you came to me and said that you want one of my priests to celebrate the Ef to “restore” the Latin Mass, I would deny you flatly. It’s very offensive.

Also a priest does not perform a mass. Make sure that you say celebrate or preside, not perform. That would give me the impression that you’re not well educated in liturgy and this may be just a whim.

Advice #2

Jettison anyone in your group who is part of the SSPX or any other group in conflict with the Holy See. The UE is very clear that bishops are not to grant the EF to those who are in solidarity with groups that are in conflict with the Holy See. Some bishops and some religious speriors are sticklers for the law and others are more relaxed. I’m a stickler. I would ask upfront if you have any SSPX supporters. If you said “yes” I would prolitely say that you cannot have one of my priests. Since you don’t know if the other person is or is not a stickler, always play it safe. Once it’s up and running, if those who are SSPX supporters want to abandon the SSPX chapel and attend a diocesan approved EF, they’re welcome. As Catholics they have a right to attend. But Pope Benedict is clear that they do not have a right to request the EF as long as their allegiance is not secure.

If you proceed with all the advice that people have given you here, you may find that your bishop, local religious superiors and priests are receptive. Perception is everything. You want to make a good impression.

Don’t worry about communion rails. Many places don’t have them and it does not stop people from kneeling. They just won’t have something to lean on.
 
willie_duggan said:
Thank you.

Just to give some details.

We have approximately 50 parishioners who have expressed the sincere wish to attend weekly TLM.
We believe that there are parishioners in neighbouring parishes who would also wish to attend.
Through informals meetings and discussion we have discerned the wish to see a restoration of TLM.

In our parish church the pre Vatican II altar is still located at the Apse of our Church.
The pulpit is still in situ also.
However the altar railings are no longer there.

The points that you raise are thought provoking.
We have discussed, for example, the issue of whether or not the local clergy would be capable of performing TLM. The majority of our parish clergy were formed post V-2 so a practical consideration is whether or not they are capable of performing TLM.

You’ve given me plenty of topics to consider and I thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
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If you can’t find a priest to say the Mass, contact either the FSSP, the ICRSS, St.John Cantius, Una Voce, the Latin Mass Society or the Coalition Ecclesia Dei for advice. I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to help you out.
 
It’s important to remember too, not only do you need a priest who can celebrate the Latin Mass, they must be willing to do so as well.
 
What would be wonderful would be restoration of the Mass to the language in which our beloved Savior instituted it…in Aramaic. That would be awesome
 
Also, the group must be prepared to do the spending and the legwork. They will need to be responsible for purchasing the EF-specific items, such as birettas, maniples, and the 1962 altar Missal. You will need to offer to buy the training DVD’s, take care of the altar servers’ training and organize a choir if you want High Masses.
 
In my area we have formed a local chapter of the NY Latin Liturgy Association. One of our Catholic elementery schools is teaching students the Trinitine Latin Mass so they may become the alter servers knowing the rubrics and correct responses. We have a Trinitine Latin Mass once a month. We currently have one priest versed in the Mass with another in training. The idea is to keep the young ones involved so they learn and appreciatec the beauty of the Trinitine Latin Mass.
Pax et Bonum
 
You should ask all of your local clergy, including retired priests, if they have advice for you and if they are able and willing to say the Traditional Latin Mass. You are correct that many recently ordained priests know almost no Latin and may have never even seen a Latin Mass. You really should have more than one priest because one will not be available every Sunday.
 
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