AboutFr. Jerome Expertise A traditional Catholic priest who provides forthright answers to questions FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF TRADITIONAL CATHOLICISM (not the New Order) on topics pertaining to traditional Roman Catholicism, including theology, the Bible, Church history, the Latin language, liturgy (especially the Traditional Latin Mass), and music (especially Gregorian chant), and current events in the Catholic Church.
Expert: Fr. Jerome Date: 7/16/2008 Subject: Traditional Mass
Question Dear Father,
My faith in the Catholic Church was shaken when I found out that it was only with permission a priest could say the
Traditional Latin Mass. If it was Holy and Sacred than it
should be Holy and Sacred now. It's like they wanted us to
forget what they taught us.
Why did they do that Father, why does it feel so wrong when
I went to Catholic Church and the tabernacle is in a side room, people are receiving communion in the hand standing, and it's not mixing with what or how I was raised.
Also what do we do if there is no Traditional Mass near us?
Answer The short answer is that the Church (what many now call Newchurch as opposed to the Catholic Church) tried to impose the Protestantized New Order service of Hannibal Bugnini without the Church's having any authority to do so. From earliest times the principle has been that the Sacred Liturgy as handed down from the Apostles, elaborated by the early Fathers of the Church, could not be changed in any significant way, even by the pope. Vatican I, when defining papal infallibility, confirmed the general principle of the limitation of the papal authority.
If there is no Traditional Latin Mass near you, you do not attend the invalid New Order service, but keep holy the Lord's Day as best you can. For much wise guidance in these matters, see the TRADITIO Traditional Roman Catholic Network at www.traditio.com. In the Library of Files there, particularly look at POPELIM and ABSENT and MASSLAT.
