Return to tridentine mass...in English?

[GandalfTheWhite]

A week ago my friend took me to a Latin Solemn mass. I’ve never experienced anything like this before because I was “breast-fed” with the regular NO mass and it’s only about a year since I trully bowed before Jesus (of course, I still fail many times) and really became a Catholic (so didn’t really have much chance before). I was trully blown away by the beauty and reverence of the mass. Today I went again and once more it was great. I’m will of course continue going to our university masses because the priest we have is great, orthodox and is also my very good friend. We use guitars and modernish songs, but we can’t really ask for more (we need to go with what we have, right?) But I surely want to attend another mass like that soon.

Now, this actually brings to the reason I’m making this thread. I feel that I’m becoming more and more traditionalist (not ultra-traditionalist) Catholic. I would love if all masses were done this way - the old way (it is in fact my big wish). On the other hand, while I think Latin masses are great, I don’t understand Latin . I understand that in today’s age Latin is a dead language and I believe that vulgar masses would do no harm. So: I wish that we would return to the traditional mass but only make common languages a default (basically having Tridentine Mass in English, German, Polish etc.)

What do you think? Do you think it might ever happen?

 

[NoPlaceLikeRome]

Well, Latin is one of the big draws of the Tridentine Mass; then there are no issues with watered-down translations, you can hear word for word the same Mass in Texas and Rome, and in 2007 as it was in 1607 (well, maybe one or two changes), and based on the Latin Vulgate, the Church’s standard Bible. But although I have never been to an Anglican Use parish, I think they may be similar to what you are asking about: “High Church” Anglicans apparently have retained a very traditional Catholic-type liturgy, and Anglican Use is what you get when an entire Anglican parish becomes Catholic, but asks to keep using that liturgy so far as they can.

 

[GandalfTheWhite]

I understand and I have nothing against Latin masses. I think they are beautiful. However I also believe that people should have a possibility to hear the mass in their native tongue. I’m not sure whether incorrect translations is really a problem unless we make it a problem. What I mean that if we keep an eye on the translations, problematic translations shouldn’t be common. In anyway, most people don’t seem to speak Latin and so they will still read the translation - which would imply the same problem.

Anyways…as I said…my thoughts we to return to the traditional mass but allow all languages without any problems.

 

[BobP123]

I understand and I have nothing against Latin masses. I think they are beautiful. However I also believe that people should have a possibility to hear the mass in their native tongue. I’m not sure whether incorrect translations is really a problem unless we make it a problem. What I mean that if we keep an eye on the translations, problematic translations shouldn’t be common. In anyway, most people don’t seem to speak Latin and so they will still read the translation - which would imply the same problem.

Anyways…as I said…my thoughts we to return to the traditional mass but allow all languages without any problems.

Much of the Latin Mass is quiet, even most of the readings, and intentionally so, which is part of its beauty. I don’t think you would gain much if it were in English, Spanish, or Arabic.

 

[VociMike]

The issue of getting a good approved translation would be enormous. The Novus Ordo has suffered for almost 40 years under a terrible (English) translation. The same people and agendas that made that such a bad translation would be happy to volunteer for duty for the TLM translation.

 

[BobP123]

The same people and agendas that made that such a bad translation would be happy to volunteer for duty for the TLM translation.

Ah, no, that’s ok, but thank you for the generous offer, though.

 

[palmas85]

I understand and I have nothing against Latin masses. I think they are beautiful. However I also believe that people should have a possibility to hear the mass in their native tongue. I’m not sure whether incorrect translations is really a problem unless we make it a problem. What I mean that if we keep an eye on the translations, problematic translations shouldn’t be common. In anyway, most people don’t seem to speak Latin and so they will still read the translation - which would imply the same problem.

Anyways…as I said…my thoughts we to return to the traditional mass but allow all languages without any problems.

We actually tried that between 1965 and 1970. Didn’t work then and it won’t work now. I’ll even tell you why. The Traditional Mass is very rigid. No real room for experimentation and adaptation to local cultures and customs. No room for lay participation to any great degree, The aura of sacrifice is very real and very obvious. The whole thing was set up to be a very courtly very respectful and a very stylized affair.

[Edited by Moderator]

 

[GandalfTheWhite]

palmas85:

We actually tried that between 1965 and 1970. Didn’t work then and it won’t work now. I’ll even tell you why. The Traditional Mass is very rigid. No real room for experimentation and adaptation to local cultures and customs. No room for lay participation to any great degree, The aura of sacrifice is very real and very obvious. The whole thing was set up to be a very courtly very respectful and a very stylized affair.

I don’t understand. Maybe it’s because it happened long time before I was born, shrug. I don’t see how simply changing the language would be equate to experimentation. I would still be the same mass, same reverence - just a different tongue. I believe that translating the mass shouldn’t be a problem as well if perhaps a committee would be created to oversee the process.

Hmmm, I don’t see a problem and I even think that there is a better chance that the Church would switch to this then go completely Latin once again.