The Classical Roman rite of Holy Mass "was never abrogated" and "is consequently legitimate," Jorge Cardinal Medina Estevez, former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, told the Italian I Media news agency late last week in the first interview granted by any of the cardinal participants of the April 7 dicastery and March 23 meetings of the College of Cardinals.
Of course, this may be a bit of a shock to some who believe the rite of the Mass as it was celebrated for centuries should have been "abrogated"...I hear this from priests (or those who claim to be priests) and laity, many of whom never quite "got it" as far achieving a fundamental understanding of what worship is supposed to be.
This recent interview is certain to continue speculation about an upcoming document allegedly in the works that would free the Classical Roman rite of the liturgy. In this recent interview, Cardinal Medina outlined three connected, but separate discussions that have been the topic of many news articles and online media speculation over the past weeks.
It's better to take the time to do things right rather than to do it quickly...Besides, currently there is the indult which helps, to some extent...Of course, it's not a panacea and there are still many issues. How many seminarians are even learning Latin these days? How many of our priests know Latin, despite the fact that Pope John XXIII directed that Latin be taught as part of priestly formation?
"I would not raise my hopes too high when it comes to seminary formation, at least not in the near future," said Fr. Thomas Kocik. "After all, few are the seminaries that train men to celebrate the Mass of Paul VI in a traditional manner, such as in Latin, with Gregorian chant, priest and people facing the same direction," he said. "So can we really expect widely available training for the traditional rite, even if its use is unconditionally approved?" (Fr. Kocik is a parish priest in the Diocese of Fall River, Mass., and is the author of The Reform of the Reform? A Liturgical Debate, Ignatius Press 2003).
...
Fr. Joseph Santos, pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Providence, R.I., offers the Novus Ordo and the Classical Roman liturgy every Sunday. "One thing that must be underlined is the competency of priests to celebrate the old rite in Latin," Fr. Santos said. "Many have no knowledge of the language; good intentions are not enough," he said. "A general indult could make things worse, not better, with a multitude of well-intentioned, but inept celebrations."
We certainly don't need those as there are plenty of inept Novus Ordo celebrations already...If you are blessed to have a good and holy priest who celebrates Holy Mass in a dignified and reverent manner as the Church desires, then you should give thanks to God for your wonderful blessings. And don't neglect to thank your priest for his fidelity...
of Brian Mershon's article here...
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