"Latin Liturgy: A Natural and Beautiful Thing"

[brotherhrolf]

My point is that what is “beautiful” and “natural” (especially the former) in liturgy is strictly subjective.

There may be some people who consider their happy-clappy NO to be beautiful and natural.

This being said from someone whose liturgies are anything but. One wonders, good bishop, if you would be so sanguine if the iconostasis was removed and the a’strummin’ and a’grinnin’ ones said “hey, we need to jazz some of these ancient hymns up to make them relevant”.

 

[alanjeddy]

Eastern Catholicism and Eastern Christianity are terra incognita here in the southern United States as well. I had a classmate who invited me to the Eastern Orthodox Holy Saturday Liturgy back in 1977. I cried because I realized just how much we had lost with Vatican II.

I am of Irish ancestry and I was baptized, made my First Communion, and was confirmed before Vatican II. I’m 57 and don’t think of myself as particularly “old”.

This Catholic knows all too well about mortal sin. This Catholic lives in fear for his mortal soul. (Don’t hear too much about that today, do you, boys and girls?)

I am still living the Catholic faith under which I was raised.

Layman, my Irish ancestors have been here in the United States since before Black '47, We’ve kept the cultural traditions from that time period that I don’t expect you to have followed them since they are 19th century customs.

I grew up with the Latin Mass. I was an altar boy. I’ve sung in a cathedral choir for 20 years. I am an anthropologist by training. I am quite happy to be gloriously Catholic.

Since I grew up before Vatican II, the Latin Mass is second nature to me. I got my first missal when I made my First Communion in 1957 and I got my big missal when I was confirmed in 1963. After all these years, I don’t need a missal to follow along with the Mass in Latin. I understand the Latin.

I echo your sentiments about Vatican II.I grew up with the Latin Liturgy. There was something holy and special about kneeling at the altar rail for communion.The old fashion confessionals were there in sight. Everyone recieved communion then but the lines to confession were nearly as long. If we missed Mass you could be sure that Father Regan would be paying you a visit and he wouldn’t call ahead before he arrived at your home.

I think priests understood then, that christ is going to ask not only the clergy, but all believers: " How many souls did you save for the Kingdom? But more importantly, "How many did you let get away? Why weren’t you the instrument through which I could work?

Recently I read through Matthew, for I was told that Christ spoke of hell 25 times. It is true. He talks about Heaven 5 times. For some reason I never hear a homily about the dangers of hell. If Jesus can talk about the reality of hell shouldn’t our priests do the same at Mass? Today we have only to watch the 6 PM news for a daily preview of the reality of hell, Daily coming attractions of countless spiritual casualties that will come to pass.

Corpus Domini, nostri Jesus Christi, custodiat animam nostram in vitam aeternam. Amen

 

[rrbond07]

For myself, I wholeheartily support and attend the Latin Mass that is offered at my parish in Louisville, Kentucky. My former parish in northern Wisconsin was totally Latin Mass celebtrated by the priests of the Institute of Christ the King. I have lived through the changes from VII and witnessed varying abuses. I am happy that the Pope removed all impediments to the Latin Mass. I am finding more and more young people prefer this liturgy over the venacular.

 

[PJM]

Thanks this is among this best news on the Catholic Church in America that I have heard in a very long tine. Saint John Newman must be smiling

 

[alanjeddy]

PJM:
Thanks this is among this best news on the Catholic Church in America that I have heard in a very long tine. Saint John Newman must be smiling

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum. Beati qui ad cenam agni vocati sunt!!! Corpus Domini nostri Jesus Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam.

For those who have forgotten their Latin:
May the peace of the Lord be always with you. Blessed are they who are called to the Lamb’s supper. May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ keep your soul into eternal life.

Oh how I miss the Latin Liturgy, altar rails, and the long lines to the old fashioned confessionals. Priests driving to your home, unannounced, to ask why you missed Mass.
Homilies about the possible loss of heaven and the pains of hell. Where in Matthew, Jesus talks about hell more than 25 times. Adam and Eve lost Paradise over a piece of fruit. What does that tell each one of us living in today’s world? Why do we refuse to talk about a place where you wouldn’t want your worst enemy to go? Want to have nightmares??? Read St Faustina’s Diary about the horror that is hell.

 

[bpbasilphx]

This being said from someone whose liturgies are anything but. One wonders, good bishop, if you would be so sanguine if the iconostasis was removed and the a’strummin’ and a’grinnin’ ones said “hey, we need to jazz some of these ancient hymns up to make them relevant”.

What does relevancy have to do with anything?

Actually, a thing cannot be “relevant” all by itself. It has to be “relevant” to something else.

And there’s no such movement among Byzantines: Orthodox or Catholic.

 

[Gabriella_San_S]

My point is that what is “beautiful” and “natural” (especially the former) in liturgy is strictly subjective.

There may be some people who consider their happy-clappy NO to be beautiful and natural.

Your point is extremely important, Good Bishop! It cannot be emphasized enough, that the “subjective” preference for a particular Mass will never lessen the efficacy of “one Holy Communion”.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Your point is extremely important, Good Bishop! It cannot be emphasized enough, that the “subjective” preference for a particular Mass will never lessen the efficacy of “one Holy Communion”.

This is precisely what I have said elsewhere to someone who was looking for some kind of checklist to determine the “efficacy” of a given Mass.

There are only four things that make a Mass invalid. One’s own subjective devotional feelings are not among them.

Each validly celebrated Mass is as “efficacious” as the next Mass.

Hosts don’t partially consecrate because people hold hands or felt banners are used.

 

[Gabriella_San_S]

This is precisely what I have said elsewhere to someone who was looking for some kind of checklist to determine the “efficacy” of a given Mass.

There are only four things that make a Mass invalid. One’s own subjective devotional feelings are not among them.

Each validly celebrated Mass is as “efficacious” as the next Mass.

Hosts don’t partially consecrate because people hold hands or felt banners are used.

Thank you for fulfilling your high office of “teacher” so faithfully, Your Reverence.