Pope’s inauguration gives hope for return of Latin Mass

THE visit tomorrow by Pope Benedict XVI to the Benedictine Basilica of St. Paul’s in Rome will give heart to traditionalists anxious to see a return to greater use of the Latin rite in celebrating Mass.

Known as St-Paul-Outside-The-Walls, it is here that the ancient language of the Catholic Church is given particular reverence. Because of this, the Pope’s visit takes on an added significance.

As a cardinal, he coined the phrase “reform of the reform”, referring to the need to rein in some of the chaos, as he sees it, that has resulted from Vatican II. That is likely to mean that Father Trendies and their folk Masses may be curtailed. It could also see a resurgence in the use of the Tridentine rite.

This was the liturgical form used throughout the western Catholic Church from the fifth century until 1968. After the introduction of the vernacular liturgy, it was effectively suppressed.

In 1988, Pope John Paul II gave permission for the Tridentine rite to be used for Catholics who preferred the traditional liturgy. It is celebrated in a number of Irish dioceses with the permission of the local bishops but some are openly hostile to it.

Traditionalists have long argued that the use of the vernacular has had the opposite effect to what was intended. They eagerly await change after what they see as decades of liturgical turmoil.

According to James Likoudis of the powerful American Latin Liturgy Association, that turmoil has been one of the main sources of divisions within the Church. “It has brought great sorrow to the faithful as well as factions and divisions impeding the mission of the Church,” he says.

The association is particularly bullish about singing the Roman liturgy, pointing to the importance and richness of sacred music in the life of the Church. It has even produced a hymnal called Latin Chant for Dummies.

“It is tragic that Pope Paul VI’s chant book, Jubilate Deo, issued to every bishop in 1974 to encourage authentic participation in the Roman liturgy, has remained for the most part ignored.”

“Great damage has been done by gimmickry and relentless experimentation and tinkering with the liturgy.”

Peadar Laighleis, president of the Latin Mass Society of Ireland, believes that the new Pope will be more accommodating to their wishes than the last.

“Pope John Paul II produced some very good documents but he left it at that. Pope Benedict XVI is very interested in the Latin rite and has celebrated the Mass himself.

“I think that he will address the issue sooner or later and will take some initiative.”

In 1998 the then Cardinal Ratzinger told a gathering of traditional Catholics in Rome that the Second Vatican Council did not prohibit the former liturgical books but only ordered their revision. He also criticised modern liturgists who developed the ideas of the council only in one direction.

According to Mr Laighleis, the society’s biggest problem is not open hostility in general but indifference. While Tridentine Masses are allowed occasionally in Ireland, there are only three Sunday Masses celebrated nationally in this way - in Dublin, Donegal and Mayo.

“There are some bishops who are very much against it while some allow it. But the new Pope’s election is the best hope for the widespread use of the Latin Mass. Those who dismiss us as mere cranks will be forced to think again.”