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.

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 on the true meaning of marriage but will the aforementioned book bridge this gap?

As Catholics we should not teach ourselves according to what other churches pass off as Christian. But, it has to be said that some of these other churches appear to have very firm ideas about what is right and what is not for women's apparel. St Peter's is able to enforce a dress code but very many of our churches at home seem quite unperturbed. The "modern" woman shows a marked preference for wearing trousers unlike say, our mothers or grandmother's generation. It now seems from the female viewpoint that it is quite in order for them to wear trousers but the wearing by any male companion of blouses or skirts is distinctly off limits - as it rightly should be - and yet they speak of "equality"! Why might this be?

On June 20 of this year, a Polish monk-priest, Fr Karol Meissner, died at the age of 90 years. As well as being a priest, he was a qualified medical practitioner. Having spent a large part of his life studying the psychology behind human sexuality, Fr Meissner concluded that out of every three women, two had difficulty accepting womanhood. It is of course within a woman's body at the moment of conception that body and soul come together but somehow, for the "modern" woman, this is simply not good enough.

Motherhood is seen as something unmeritorious, onerous and unrewarding. The "modern" woman much prefers to be mixing concrete, driving a bus or whatever else. I think it was in 1848 that Karl Marx described marriage as something on the lines of a mechanism for the oppression of women by men. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, within just three years, the Soviets legalised abortion and banished the institution of marriage promoting "free love" and so on. This surely is a part of the "errors of Russia" of which Our Lady of Fatima spoke? Less than one hundred years later, in many countries, we witness extensive redefinition of the meaning of marriage, all such redefinition being gravely contrary to God's law.

It goes without saying that the Blessed Mother with Her "fiat" is the model of motherhood and the pattern for all mothers but somehow too many of us seem not that bothered. What can we do to restore motherhood and marriage to the dignity that they truly deserve?

Jozef Bubez - via email

Vigil and investiture

On Friday and Saturday 18-19 August the Grand Priory of Great Britain of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem, held its vigil and investiture in the church of St Catherine Laboure in Faringdon, Lancashire.

The investitures took place during Extraordinary Form Solemn Mass celebrated by Fr William Charlton of the diocese of Middlesborough.

The ceremony was carried out by His Eminence the Baron Fetternear (Grand Prior) and Fr Simon Henry (Grand Chaplain). Also present was the Vice Lord Lieutenant of the County of Lancashire, Colonel Alan Jolley.

The choir sang the Proper of the Mass in plainchant and the Ordinary was the Mass of St Cecilia by Dom J.E.Turner OSB.

Members enjoyed a meal in a local restaurant following the vigil service and a celebratory lunch in the Faringdon Lodge Hotel adjacent to the church after the Investiture.

The Order of St Lazarus is the only Catholic order which welcomes Christians of other traditions as members and is under the protection of Cardinal Duka OP.

The order financially supports the treatment of lepers in Sri Lanka, and the church in that country, led by Cardinal Ranjith, recognises the great difference this support makes.

More details of the order can be found on the internet or direct from:

David and Theresa O'Neill, 34 Morston Drive Dumpling Hall Estate Newcastle Upon Tyne NE15 7RZ david-oneill3@sky.com

Letters should be addressed to:

The Editor, Mass of Ages, 11-13 Macklin Street, London WC2B 5NH email editor@lms.org.uk Letters may be edited for reasons of space