Skip to main content

The Mass in Latin?

Pope Benedict XVI has shown a penchant for reviving (or restoring) long lost Roman Catholic practices. In his investiture last year, he revived the use of the early Roman pallium, the symbol of papal primacy and jurisdiction over the Church. The pallium is a wool vestment worn on the shoulders by all metropolitan archbishops in the Latin Rite as a sign of their communion with the Roman See. But over the centuries, like all vestments such as the chausable, this piece of cloth became smaller.

In Christmas last year, the pope wore a red cap with an ermine lining or camauro. The camauro which dates back to the medieval period, fell out of use after the death of John XXIII, who also discontinued wearing the shoes of the fisherman. Benedict revived it last Christmas and the post-Vatican II congregation thought he dressed up like Santa!

But Papal fashion revivals aside, this Pope is now thinking of giving a wider indult for priests to celebrate the Tridentine Mass in Latin. We can recall that Pope John Paul II gave an indult for priests to celebrate this Mass if their bishops approve it and if the faithful request it. Very few bishops gave their permission since some bishops thought this was divisive and more likely a majority of the Catholic faithful did not request for it.

Why did the bishops find it divisive? John Paul's papacy witnessed the only significant schism after Vatican II. Archbishop Lefebvre opposed the decress of Vatican II. He founded a religious group (Society of St Pius X or SSPX) that preserved the pre-Vatican II rites and vision of the church. In 1988 he consecrated four bishops without Vatican approval and thus incurred excommunication.

But the SSPX is not the only group that believes that the Pre-Vatican II rites are the only valid way of celebrating Mass. Other groups contend that the popes beginning with John XXIII to Benedict XVI are impostors. These are the "sede vacantists". The SSPX holds that the papal line of succession is valid.

It is in this context that Benedict's plan to give a wider indult for the celebration of the Tridentine Mass in Latin has met controversy especially in France. French bishops and priests are opposed to the Pope's plan because the Traditionalist movement is strong in France.

But for a Catholic layman like me will ask "What is really the value of reviving the Tridentine Mass in Latin?"

Vatican II did not do away with Latin at all. It allowed for the vernacular. The Mass can still be heard in Latin in the Novus Ordo. However 40 years after Vatican II, you would be hard pressed to find a Latinate priest. That was Mel Gibson's major problem. Even in Rome, he couldn't find a priest that can say the Mass in Latin!

I am a post-Vatican II Catholic and a "returnee" at best. I attended Anglican services conducted using the Book of Common Prayer. My love for the English language stems partly from hearing the BCP. So when I heard the Roman Mass in English, it was a major letdown.

Why? The Catholic Church jumped from the Latin to Modern English almost overnight. And this modern English had no lilt in the language. Contrast this with the Anglicans. Cranmer modified and translated the Latin Missal into the English BCP and this BCP reached its most beautiful language beginning with Elizabeth I's reign. Roman Catholics probably do not realize that when they say the Hail Mary in English, they are actually reciting Cranmer's translation. Also I would rather say Cranmer's BCP version (Protestant!) of the Lord's Prayer rather than the post Vatican II English version.

My point is that Anglicanism managed to preserve Englishness in the BCP even though the English used in the BCP is no longer spoken on the street. Roman Catholicism almost threw away everything that made it Roman when the vernacular was adopted.

So it was not surprising that the only time I heard the Mass in Latin was in England! In London's Westminster Cathedral, I heard a priest say the Mass in Latin. And this was spiritually memorable for me since it was on the feast day of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales. These men and women died for the right to hear the Latin Mass and here I was assisting at a Latin Mass. Many of these martyrs were commanded to pray in English by the executioner but they went on praying in Latin.

The mass propers were all in Latin. Only the readings and the Gospel were in English. But the congregation came from all over the world. Were were Catholic and we did not speak Latin but still we prayed.

A few years later, when I was doing my PhD I had to learn some Latin in order to read original taxonomic descriptions. I then realized that Latin was really an exact language. The priest who tutored me suggested I read the Latin Missal and the Vulgate to get a feel of the language. I did. And so when I saw Mel Gibson's "Passion" I did not bother to read the subtitles. My appreciation of Latin has made me a more effective science teacher. (On a sidenote, when I was reading Josef Kamel's Latin descriptions of Philippine biodiversity, there were some Latin constructions I can't figure out. An old Jesuit priest who still remebered his Latin helped me.)

I am not advocating a complete return to the Latin Mass. My Catholic life has been shaped by the vernacular languages. When abroad, I feel rather homesick at Mass since I can't sing the Ama Namin loudly. But even then perhaps Catholics should be reacquainted with their past through an appreciation of the original prayers in Latin. And I believe that this is the Pope's original intention for his plan to give a wider indult.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I have read about the controversy surrounding the SSPX and have come to the conclusion that "false obedience" is by far more detrimental to my soul. I have been attending the Tridentine Latin Mass for the last 3 years and the fruits are innumerable. So in case you want to attend:

Our Lady Of Victories Church
2 Cannon Road corner Betty Go-Belmonte St.
New Manila, Quezon City

Sung High Mass - Sunday 9am
Low Mass - Sunday 6pm,
Monday to Saturday 7:15am/6:30pm

Attire for women: Skirts below knees, blouses with sleeves, veils.
Ben Vallejo said…
Catholics are obliged to obey the Bishop of Rome in matters of faith and morals. We just cannot break this communion because we determine that certain practices are not to our liking or violates what we think is right.

The fruits of communion with the Pope of Rome are likewise innumerable.

Popular posts from this blog

Kung bakit dapat maging wikang pambansa din ang Ingles

Isang kakatwang eksena ang nasaksihan ko sa isang pribabdong opisina kamakailan lang. Dalawang empleyado ang inatasang bigyan ng solusyon ang isang isyu tungkol sa logistics. Ang isa ang tubong Davao at ang isa ay taga Iloilo. Ang unang wika nila ay Cebuano (Bisaya) at Hiligaynon (Ilonggo). Ang dalawang wika ay halos pareho ngunit may mga katagang iba ang kahulugan sa isa't isang wika. Ginamit nila ang wika nilang kinalakihan at hindi sila nagkaintindihan. Ang nangyari tuloy ay gumamit na lang sila ng wikang Ingles! Yung na nga rin ang sabi ko. Mag-English na lang kaya kayo! At bakit di wikang Filipino ang ginamit nila? Sa totoo lang, marami pa rin ang hindi bihasa sa Filipino upang gamitin ito sa mga larangan tulad ng logistics. At hindi lamang sa mga larangang teknikal, sa mga biyahe ko sa ibat-ibat lugar sa Pilipinas, ang mga naka-paskel sa mga CR o palikuran tungkol sa pagtitipid ng tubig ay naka sulat sa 1)Wika ng rehiyon 2) Wikang Ingles 3) at minsa'y sa wikang Filipino S

Simoun's lamp has been lit, finally.. not by one but by the many!

"So often have we been haunted by the spectre of subversion which, with some fostering, has come to be a positive and real being, whose very name steals our serenity and makes us commit the greatest blunders... If before the reality, instead of changing the fear of one is increased, and the confusion of the other is exacerbated, then they must be left in the hands of time..." Dr Jose Rizal "To the Filipino People and their Government" Jose Rizal dominates the Luneta, which is sacred to the Philippine nation as a place of martyrdom. And many perhaps all of those executed in the Luneta, with the exception of the three Filipino secular priests martyred in 1872, have read Rizal's  El Filibusterismo . Dr Rizal's second novel is a darker and more sinister one that its prequel but has much significance across the century and more after it was published for it preaches the need for revolution with caveats,  which are when the time is right and who will in

President Manuel Luis Quezon's Code of Ethics

Being a denizen of Kyusi, in honour of the man who gave my city its name and for being the most colourful prez the Philippines ever had, I have the pleasure to post Manuel L Quezon's Code of Ethics on his birthday. Let us profit from the wisdom of the Kastila. 1. Have Faith in the Divine Providence that guides the destinies of men and nations. 2. Love your country for it is the home of your people, the seat of your affection and the source of your happiness and well-being. It's defense is your primary duty. Be ready to sacrifice and die for it if necessary. 3. Respect the Constitution which is the expression of your sovereign will. The government is your government. It has been established for your safety and welfare. Obey the laws and see that they are observed by all and that public officials comply with their duties. 4. Pay your taxes willingly and promptly. Citizenship implies not only rights but obligations. 5. Safeguard the purity of suffrage and abide by the decisions of