Tuesday, August 9, 2005
Comment Policy

Comments are strongly encouraged on this blog.

It doesn't matter if you are a Catholic or not - I would love to hear your positions as long as they are done in a respectable manner. Your comment will however be deleted if you deliberately attack or mock Jesus Christ, other posters, or if you use inappropriate language. For example, you can discuss priests without insulting them for the actions of a few bad ones in our contemporary world. Such insults will not be tolerated.

Final decision rests with me, the author of this blog, concerning the deletion of a comment.

Unacceptable comments include but are not limited to:

  1. Posting Insulting, Derogatory, or Attacks against me or another commentor
  2. Posting heretical or blasphemous comments
  3. Posting obscene comments
  4. Advertising or Self-Promotion (email such comments to me directly)
  5. Writing a comment about something completely unrelated to the post you are commenting on
  6. Linking to a video, article, webpage, etc. that I deem anti-Catholic or inappropriate
  7. Posting a non-English Language comment.  Use of Latin within is fine, but a message entirely in another language is not acceptable.
Note: This policy is subject to change without notice.

11 comment(s):

del_button August 4, 2006 at 6:13 PM
Tom Reagan said...

another awesome picture!

del_button June 28, 2007 at 12:22 PM
Anonymous said...

I am a 72 year old Catholic woman, educated in Catholic institutions in USA. I find this infomation frightening. I have had 4 years of HS Latin so Latin is not the problem. Why are people so anxious to go back to Masses in Latin & priests with their back to faithful?
I welcomed Mass in my native language as did Millions all over world. I have experience with two missioniaries, (one in South America, one in Inda,) where the people welcomed the Mass in their own vernacular. Many of these people can not read in their own language much less Latin!
I love the Mass in English, readings, prayers, and hymns. I can hear Panis Angelicus, Ave Maria, sung, and enjoy them on rare occasions.
I fear many people who want Latin back are the same people who want Vatican II rescinded or cancelled. The Council was called by Pope John XXIII and the bishops, worked on for 4 years, voted and approved by the Bishops of the world. I know of such groups in USA who decry Vatican II. i fear they are schimatic, and wish to split the Catholic church here is USA.
I don't want to go back to "bells and smells" of the so-called good old days.
I don't think the ordinary parish will be for this. Where are the priests to say Latin Mass going to come from? Many priests who did know Latin, say they will refuse to go back to Latin, unless ordered too.
In our Archdiocese, there are Latin Masses on Sundays in certian areas. They do have people at the Masses but not overwhelming crowds. Most of the people say that is fine, but not for regular Sunday Masses. PJB

del_button June 29, 2007 at 5:09 PM
Matthew said...

Anonymous,

As Vatican II even taught, Latin is the official language of the Church. For centuries the Faithful have worshipped God through the language of Latin, and the current translations in many languages including English at extremely poorly done. They are not as mystical, holy, or God-reverring at the words in Latin.

And, the priests do not face "with their back to the Faithful". That is a common misconception. Rather, the priest and the people face the same direction towards the East - symbolic of the Risen Christ who will return from the East. The action of priest and Faithful looking in the same direction at the Sacrifice of the Mass is beautiful. Honestly, I only want to attend Masses when the priest and Faithful face the same direction like they did in the Latin Mass.

The Faithful can easily be taught Greek and Latin. Before Vatican II children were usually taught the Kyrie in First Grade. Today, at least in my area, the children in 6th grade still are confused and ask "So what is the Trinity" and "Is Jesus God". This is shocking! We need the reverence and holiness of the past generations. The Church is beginning to fall apart. Thankfully, traditions are returning.

Many priests I know will gladly learn Latin and say the Latin Mass. I'm a seminarian and nearly ALL of us are traditional. Some of us probably want to ONLY say the Latin Mass. The Traditions are returning and some abominations like Communion in the Hand will soon end.

del_button July 1, 2007 at 2:54 PM
Claudia said...

Seminarian Matthew, I love what you have to say. Keeping tradition alive is vital to the Church. I attend the Tridentine rite; belong to a tridentine only parish. While I accept the validity of the novus ordo, I do not like the way it is done and never attend unless absolutely necessary. I love facing East with our priest; it brings true unity to our worship without negating the fact that it IS worship. There's nothing like it this side of Heaven.

del_button July 19, 2007 at 10:05 PM
Anonymous said...

I agree that too many traditions were thrown away since the 1960's. A sense of the mysterious at mass is lost in the English translation. Part of the mystery though, aside from the Christ Himself, is Latin. For centuries, the faithful did not participate at mass nor even understand the Latin. Parts of Pope Paul VI's mass should be retained so the faithful can participate more. Perhaps the greatest tragedy though is the loss of traditional music. Ninety percent of the hymns sung today(at least in my experience)have been written since the 1960's and sound like vapid AM pop music. Cardinal Arinze said that if you haven't heard any Chant at mass, then someone goofed somewhere. I've been Catholic for 11 years now and I don't think I've ever heard Chant at mass, aside from a Tridentine mass I attended at a Benedictine monastery. At one time I said that Latin is dead in the water, since most priests and bishops don't understand it, but it keeps resuscitating back to life.

del_button July 31, 2007 at 6:21 PM
Anonymous said...

I am from Ancaster Ontario. My name is John MacDonald. I am looking to come in contact with people who are interested in having the tridentine Mass in the Hamilton, Ontario area. Anyone wishing to get in contact with me can reach me at macdonald_johnedward@hotmail.com

del_button October 16, 2007 at 2:16 AM
Anonymous said...

Interesting.....

I understand that Vatican II was not without opposition. In fact, I recently found out about another group called "The True Catholic Church".

They reject the teachings of Vatican II and are traditionalist. Maybe some of you might consider joining them instead.

My question is..... what exactly is the definition of tradition? How far back would you like to go? Does tradition not evolve through time?

I heard a priest say this "everything will come to pass, but the WORD will remain forever".

del_button October 16, 2007 at 5:34 AM
Matthew said...

I firmly support Traditional Catholicism that remains in union with Rome and the Vicar of Christ. The "True Catholic Church" is not in union with the Church because they claim to have their own pope.

DO NOT JOIN THEM.

del_button May 24, 2008 at 3:38 PM
JOSE THOMAS said...

When we say Good Friday we remind of the how the passion of Christ saved us by dying on the cross, Mass should be so structured that we will be in a position to participate in the suffering death and glorious resurrection of our lord which brought us salvation, receive the living presence of the Holy Spirit, enable us to give glory and adoration to God the father, foster the community of love in the Church and our fellowship with all living and the dead in Chirst Jesus.


JOSE THOMAS, PALA , KERAL. INDIA

del_button November 10, 2010 at 3:26 PM
Dominic said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26mc_gcrVJI

This links is a really beautiful tribute to St Peter. It's clearly made by someone who admires this great man an awful lot. I thought you guys might enjoy it as much as I have.

Peace with you all

D

del_button August 19, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Anonymous said...

Please help me pray to God that I may not feel some anxiety and frustration. Help me to stay focused.Give me a clear mind, and perform to the best of my ability. Help me in reading, listening, writing and speaking of my Test of Foreign English this sunday. Thank you so much...beth

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