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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Old Tridentine Mass ted Monday, July 9, 2007

Question:

What is your view on the letter sent from pope benedict XVI to bishop Zubik on lifting the restrictions of the old tridentine mass, and do you think it will confuse people or add an ambient element that is currently missing in the local catholic community? And do you think it will draw more people to attending the sunday mass?

Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Ted,

Actually this was a papal decree issued motu proprio, "Summorum Pontificum" rather than a personal letter to Bishop Zubik.

My personal opinion is that it will NOT confuse many people, because for most people there will not be any change at all.  I've heard it first hand from Bishop Zubik, who spoke at my home parish this last Sunday, that the purpose of this decree is to reach out to those catholics who would otherwise leave the Catholic Church in order to satisfy a liturgical need that they would not find while in communion with Rome.  It would be terrible to have to lose these people since in matters of faith and morals they would still be in union with the universal church.

I don't see that we will actually have an increase Sunday mass attendance, that is not the purpose of the decree.  Most parishes will not see any liturgical changes at all.  The purpose is not to "ADD LATIN" to what most parishes are already doing, but rather to  make the TRADITIONAL Latin "option" more readily available to those who need it.

Mr. Slavek
Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers.

(b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks.

(c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively.