Dear John,

I remember when you first wrote to me about this awhile back and I'm glad to hear that you're keeping at it.  Like your parish administrator says: "small steps", this really is the way to do it... People are human and they simply can't handle such drastic changes..  I've heard countless stories of people leaving the Church because "they didn't like something Father did at Mass".

Your cathedral parish has demonstrated that they are CAPABLE or celebrating Mass with reverence, now they need to learn to do it for GOD instead of only the visiting dignitaries.  It might take time...  in my own diocese, it took TWO bishops, each of them  improving things little by little.  Now, our cathedral parish is a wonderful success story in terms of parish membership and involvement.  All of this coincided with returning to wonderful, traditional Catholic Liturgy...  there is no secret that it works, it's just unfortunate that people need TIME to get used to it especially since so much has been lost in recent decades.

For those among us who are adamantly against traditional Catholic reverence, including those in your own cathedral, well frankly their kind is numbered.. and they are NOT being replaced.  This includes priests and bishops!  This is something to celebrate!

Now own to your bottom line question: "is it essential for a Diocesan Cathedral to have a regular Solemn Mass each Sunday?"

John I want to remind you again that the phrase "Solemn High Mass" no longer exists officially in our current rite. (it does still exist in the traditional Latin rite).  But if you mean to use the phrase to describe a Mass in which you see incense, altar bells, any amount of Latin, sacred music, etc..  you can still use the phrase unofficially to describe Mass but today you'll probably get a lot of confused looks and this is probably what's happening to you when you bring up the phrase "Solemn High Mass" at the committee meetings.

It is not REQUIRED for the Cathedral to have a solemn High Mass on Sunday.  The requirements for the cathedral are the same as any other parish..  they must follow all the rules of the Roman Missal, UNCHANGED, including the texts.  For those parts of the Mass that are OPTIONAL, such as incense, choice of music, etc...  those decisions are on the pastor/rector of the cathedral, who usually delegates that work to a liturgical administrator.

SHOULD a cathedral have Solemn High Mass every Sunday?  My personal opinion?  ABSOLUTELY... if for no other reason, then simply to show other diocesan parishes how it's done!

I know that's probably not the answer you wanted to hear, but like I said earlier, there is hope because the liberals are NOT being replaced, and my own small diocese is proof of that.

Mr. Slavek