LETTERS
Letters to the Editor Liturgical smörgåsbord As a resident of Sweden, James Bogle’s article (Autumn Mass of Ages) referring to the Pope’s visit struck a chord. At best, the trip will make no lasting impression. The Lund ecumenical service in the 12th century Romanesque cathedral was a strange, cobbled-together affair conforming to no obvious liturgical template. It gave a confused message. The Swedish Catholic bishop, now Cardinal Arborelius, who was interviewed on television afterwards with the Lady Archbishop of Uppsala, head of Svenska Kyrkan, the Swedish National Lutheran Church, was visibly embarrassed by questions which he could not answer without causing an upset. More embarrassing were the Pope’s comments in the plane on the way home; he said what the Swedish bishop could not. Svenska Kyrkan will continue its decline. The Catholic Church in Sweden has itself become so Lutheranised that its services are almost indistinguishable from those of the actual Lutherans; any traditional Catholic music which happens to get into a Catholic Mass does so through a smörgåsbord approach to liturgy which draws primarily on Lutheran and English Anglican and Nonconformist sources, sometimes with ludicrous results, as when Britain’s favourite funeral hymn, “Abide with me”, was used a couple of years ago at an ordination! The day after the Lund event came the Mass at Malmö; this was an afterthought, since the original plans for the visit had not included anything much for the Swedish Catholics, the purpose of the visit being to commemorate 500 years of the Reformation. Arranged at short notice, it was held out of doors in a football stadium, hardly suitable for an event in Sweden in November. For most of the congregation it involved leaving by 4am for a start at 9.30. True to form, the liturgy was a smörgåsbord. What was in Latin was familiar to everyone in the multi-national congregation which reflected the composition of the Catholic Church in Sweden today: Missa de Angelis (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus), Credo III, Mysterium fidei, Pater Noster. The reasons for using Latin were explained by the TV commentator: that it is a universal and unifying language unconnected to any particular nation or ethnic group. Unfortunately, the Latin was compromised by an eclectic musical programme that, taken as a whole, was weird, verging on the perverse. There were newish pieces of TV-ad quality, a couple of 19th century Anglican hymns, and, worst of all, at the Communion, a couple of Lutheran hymns from the 17th century Swedish Empire period of Gustav II Adolf, scourge of Catholics throughout Europe. Of the Proper for All Saints’ Day itself there was there was nothing – not even the easily sung Introit Gaudeamus; the liturgy kicked off with “For all the Saints” by Vaughan Williams at a cracking light infantry pace. Nor were heard any of the compositions appropriate to a Papal visit, such as Tu es Petrus.
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Not only does this speak of a diocese that, at top level is out of touch and out of sympathy with the Catholic musical heritage; it also points to a lack of appreciation for this heritage by whoever in the Vatican approved the programme. Nevertheless, the Mass at Malmö was a memorable day for those with the stamina. The majority, never having been exposed to the riches of traditional Catholic worship, were well satisfied with this anaemic fare. The worrying thing is that this is about as good as it is going to get from now on. The liturgical revival that seemed to be gathering momentum in the last years of Pope John Paul II and under Benedict looks as if it will prove to have been a swansong. Experience under Pope Francis shows the importance of the influence from the centre on the liturgy. Will the next Pope be a Francis or a Benedict? Within the College of Cardinals, there are but a handful of potential Benedicts. The odds that one will be elected are low. And even if elected, “Benedict XVII” would have a battle royal on his hands. Bearing in mind the old adage “Lex orandi, lex credendi”, what real hope is there for the Latin church? Is “nowhere” really the answer to the question, “Where else is there to go?” Henry Law Via email
Of monks and mothers With reference to the autumn 2017 edition of Mass of Ages and the article on the works of Martin Luther, I agree absolutely! Earlier this year, one "Catholic" publication filled two pages extolling the "virtues" of this recalcitrant monk. Sadly, as I am sure many of us will know, there are those both clergy and laity who tell us that as long as it's "Christian" then it's OK! We may well enquire as to whether the established Church has come off the rails and ask that the real Church please stand up. We need to put these things into our prayer and make some kind of meaningful reparation depending on our circumstances. As well as offering Dr John Rao's book higher up the chain, so to speak, we might think to include some of our clergy in particular those versed in Vatican II and its "benefits". That said, we should not panic. All of what we are seeing is surely consistent with Pope St Leo X's vision of 13 October 1884 and will come right in the end as Our Lady promised? Even having not seen Dr Rao's book, I expect that it is right on target. As for "Marry Him and Be Submissive" (Autumn book review) my first impression is not too good given the portrayal on the book’s cover of what appears to be a young mum prancing about in trousers on the cover. Given that within the Catholic Church divorce and separation rates do not differ markedly from those of society in general, there is a long overdue need for proper instruction
WINTER 2017
