CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
For the good of souls Joseph Shaw on the positive role of the ancient liturgy
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s I write, the Latin and right to work so that the divine Mass Society’s message of salvation more and more enforced inactivity, reaches all people in every age and in as far as public events every land. What makes us think that the have been concerned, is coming to an end, and I Church’s ancient liturgy, specifically, hope our supporters will has a positive role to play in spreading not need too much urging to join us at the divinum salutis nuntium, the divine Masses and all sorts of special events message of salvation? Well, in addition which we are organising. There are to whatever personal experience we many such events, listed conveniently in may have, this liturgy enjoys the hearty this edition of Mass of Ages in the events endorsement of the Saints, Popes, and Doctors, of the ages. That is enough pages and also in the Classified section. to show that our work is legitimate. I know Mass of Ages is read by many It doesn’t have to be the best possible non-members. For what end, such means to spread the Gospel. The Church readers may ask, is all this busy activity is not a Utilitarian institution, where directed? For the good of the Latin Mass people are only allowed to do what will Society? No. We have no share-holders bring about the best possible results. to reward; the Society exists for an A Catholic can promote some old end beyond itself. In order to promote devotion, like that of the Holy Name, or a particular form of the liturgy? Not some relatively obscure saint, like the quite: even the liturgy is a means to Society’s Welsh Patron St Richard Gwyn, an end. What we are concerned about, or some neglected place of worship, as ultimately, is the glory of God and the St Francis rebuilt the little church of San sanctification of our fellow creatures. If Damiano, and be doing God’s work. that sounds a little beyond our pay-grade, I should explain that we aim to do this in the very simple ways that lay people have used over many centuries, when they have promoted devotions, helped with the liturgy in one way or another, and given or received instruction in the Faith. For these are among the things that lay people can do to make real their participation in the spread of the Gospel, a participation incumbent on every baptised Catholic. The 1983 Code of Canon Law expresses it this way: Can. 210 All the Christian faithful must direct their efforts to lead a holy life and to promote the growth of the Church an d its c ont inual sanctification, according to their own condition. 'Got any better idea?' Can. 211 All the Christian from Cracks in the Clouds by Dom Hubert Van Zeller OSB faithful have the duty (erstwhile Brother Choleric), 1976
SUMMER 2021
We promote the ancient Mass: it is a legitimate liturgical form, we feel drawn to it, and we know it helps others, too, grow in holiness, as it has for so many centuries. That is all that needs to be said. I have been stimulated to think the matter through in this way by the American Jesuit Fr Thomas Reese, who has recently penned a list of things he would like to see happen, including the following item: The church needs to be clear that it wants the unreformed liturgy to disappear and will only allow it out of pastoral kindness to older people who do not understand the need for change. Children and young people should not be allowed to attend such Masses. Fr Reese’s liturgical preferences are well known; what is interesting is that he expresses himself in such an extreme way. It is not enough, for him, to promote what he thinks needs to be promoted: he has the means, one would think, to do that to his heart’s content. But no, he is like the rich man in the prophet Nathan’s parable: he ignores his own resources and seeks to kill his poor neighbour’s one ewe-lamb (2 Sam 12:4). This was the attitude of not a few influential people in the Church over the decades, and the Latin Mass Society has long done its work in the teeth of opposition. Times have changed, however, and it is now rare to hear such silly stuff. When we do, it says more about the speaker than about the ancient Mass, which Pope Francis welcomes into St Peter’s every year for the annual Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage. Our work can now be done in a spirit of harmony and serenity, not for the good of any institution, or as if there were some puerile competition going on between liturgical forms, but simply for the good of souls.
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