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What
is the Tridentine Mass?
It's
the Mass used in the Catholic Church for almost 1500 years, until
the introduction of the Mass of Pope Paul VI following the Second
Vatican Council.
Why
is it called the Tridentine Mass?
Because
it was codified by the Council of Trent in the 16th century.
But the Mass itself is far older than that. The Canon, or central
part, of the Mass dates back to the time of St Gregory in the
sixth century.
In
1570, Pope St Pius V - in his Papal Bull Quo Primum -
said that priests could use the Tridentine rite forever, "without
scruple of conscience or fear of penalty".
Wasn't
the Tridentine Mass banned?
No,
but following the Second Vatican Council, its public use was
restricted by most Bishops.
After
the introduction of Pope Paul VI's new Mass, the only priests
given permission to say the Tridentine Mass publicly were priests
of England and Wales, thanks to an indult (or permission) granted
by the Vatican to Cardinal Heenan of Westminster.
Other
priests - such as Blessed Padre Pio and Blessed Josemaria Escriva,
the founder of Opus Dei - continued to use the old Mass privately
in preference to the new rite.
What's
the advantage of the Tridentine Mass?
One
of the great strengths of the Tridentine Mass is its uniformity.
Wherever Catholics go in the world, the Tridentine Mass is exactly
the same. The movements and gestures of the Mass are clearly
prescribed, so there's no room for "personalisation"
of the liturgy. And the time-honoured Latin of the Mass reverently
reflects the sacrificial nature of the celebration.
Didn't
the Second Vatican Council forbid Latin Masses?
Not
at all. The Council, in its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy,
said: "The use of the Latin language is to be preserved".
The Council merely gave permission for the limited introduction
of the vernacular (or local language) into certain parts of the
Mass when celebrated in public.
Does
the Pope approve of the Tridentine Mass?
Certainly.
In his 1980 letter to the Bishops on the Holy Eucharist, Pope
John Paul II said: "There are also those people who, having
been educated on the basis of the old liturgy in Latin, experience
the lack of this 'one language', which in all the world was an
expression of the unity of the Church and which, through its
dignified character, elicited a profound sense of the Eucharistic
mystery. It is therefore necessary to show, not only understanding,
but also full respect towards these sentiments and desires. As
far as possible, these sentiments and desires are to be accommodated."
So
are Catholics entitled to attend a Tridentine Mass if they wish?
Yes.
In 1988, Pope John Paul II issued his binding instruction Ecclesia
Dei Adflicta. The Pope ordered: "Respect must everywhere
be shown for the feelings of all those who are attached to the
Latin liturgical tradition by a wide and generous application
of the directives already issued by the Apostolic See."
This
instruction grants a privilege to Catholics under Canon Law.
Cardinal Mayer, the former head of the Vatican Commission Ecclesia
Dei, said the Pope had spoken of the "lawfulness"
of the Tridentine Mass and of the "legitimate aspiration"
of Catholics to celebrate or attend that Mass. "Hence a
privilege in the canonical sense of the term was granted to the
faithful by the supreme legislator of the Church," said
Cardinal Mayer. "Once a privilege is duly granted, the subject
indeed has the right to benefit from it."
Where
can I attend a Tridentine Mass?
Visit
our directory of regular Masses
throughout the U.S. and Canada. LatinMass.org promotes the celebration
of the Tridentine Mass throughout North America according to
the 1962 Missal.
What
if there's no Mass in my area?
You
should find out whether there is a genuine desire among Catholics
in your area to attend a Tridentine Mass. Consider forming
an Una Voce chapter. Also list the names and addresses
of those who wish to attend and ask your local Bishop to grant
permission for a Tridentine Mass. A copy of the letter and the
names and addresses should also be sent to the Ecclesia Dei Commision
in Rome. If required, Una Voce will help with the application
to the Bishop.
Who
would celebrate the Mass?
Your
Bishop will probably appoint a local priest to say the Mass.
What
can I do to help promote the Tridentine Mass?
The
first thing is to pray that God's will be done in the restoration
of the old rite. You can also organise Masses in your diocese,
support pilgrimages and other initiatives organized by groups
like Una Voce and offer financial or practical help.
This page
was written by Kieron Wood of the Latin
Mass Society of Ireland and former religious correspondent
for RTE. His video on the rubrics of the Tridentine Mass; "The Most Beautiful
Thing This Side of Heaven" is available to order through
Coalition Ecclesia Dei.
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