Letters: Reform of the Mass, or not?

Sydney
28 April 2002

Archbishop Pell and the Philosopher’s Stone

All he needs is a home and a family with love

Caritas pledges aid to Holy Land

Tribute to dad wins award for Rita

Bondi schoolchildren go to Galilee

New shrine was born in stormy seas

One in four chance of World Youth Day gig

Fun-filled radio CD guide for young drivers

‘Living truth’ will wipe out barriers

Chastity leads to true freedom, seminar told

Church unity is Christ’s will: Cardinal Cassidy

Sri Lankan fare at Amnesty night

Editorial: Mission of love, charity

Letters: Reform of the Mass, or not?

‘My life, my love’ - a vocation story

Reflections: A lone voice for our ‘enemy aliens’

Trinh’s journey from refugee to religious

Earthquake, malaria, but what a faith experience!

Obituary: Fr Lex was a friend indeed to those in need

Obituary: Lawyer, nun, college principal

Inspirations: Honour for Viet cardinal’s mother

Letters: Reform of the Mass, or not?

Mr John Kennedy writes that he disagrees with Cardinal Ratzinger’s call for a reform of the new Mass and a return to a more trad itional approach (CW 24/3).

He asks “what reforms of the reform” a reformer of the new Mass might propose?

In The Reform of the Roman Liturgy, Mons Klaus Gamber expounds some suggestions. His book contains written endorsement by three cardinals; Cardinal Ratzinger commends Mons Gamber as the “one scholar, who among the army of pseudo liturgists, truly represents the liturgical thinking of the centre of the Church”.

Mr Kennedy asks: “Do we return to a celebration in Latin?”

The Vatican II document on the Liturgy, while acknowledging that some parts of the new Mass could be recited or read in the vernacular, affirms others parts should be preserved in Latin. Article 36 (1) states “The use of the Latin language, with due respect to particular law, is to be preserved in the Latin Rite”.

A totally vernacular Mass is contrary to the express ruling of Vatican II.

The late Cardinal Heenan in his book, A Crown of Thorns p367, said: “When on December 7, 1962, the bishops voted overwhelmingly (1922 against 11) in favour of the first chapter of the Constitution on the Liturgy they did not realise that they were initiating a process which after the Council would cause confusion and bitterness throughout the world.”

Philip Robinson
Holt, ACT

SPIRIT IS WITH US

Dr Morley did not mention it (Historical myth lives on, CW 7/4), but he would know - though some readers might not - that Australia was dedicated to the Holy Spirit when the Papal Legate performed the Act of Consecration at the conclusion of the National Euch aristic Congress of 1953.

An article about this ded ication in The Catholic Weekly, May 21, 1953 was reproduced in the issue of January 19, 1997. Next year will be the 50th anniversary of this dedication.

Jane Newsome
Mosman, NSW

EXTRA SPECIAL

Mons Lex Johnson left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all who encountered him.

His genuine care about his people was evident for all to see. All priests are special; but Fr Lex was extra special.

Our family welcomed him in our home and we especially experienced his warmth and depth when he gave the eulogy at my wife’s requiem in 1980.

We experienced it again at the wedding of one of my daughters, which she insisted on having at Mons Lex’s church at Forest Lodge (where he was parish priest, after having served as Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral).

Typical of him was his response when I congrat ulated him on the bestowal of Monsignor on him in recognition of his arrangements for Pope John Paul II’s stayover at the cathedral in 1986.

“Oh, yes,” he said. “I got it for opening and closing the door each time His Holiness came in or went out.”

Joe Morley
Lane Cove, NSW

DEDICATED SERVERS

I am absolutely impressed by the young dedicated altar servers who assist at the Mass celebration at Holy Family, Maroubra (Young flock to serve at Holy Family, CW 7/4)

Congratulations Fr Bill Challenor and all your wonderful servers and parishioners for your inspirational idea.

I am a new parishioner at St Anne’s Church, South Strathfield, where Fr Ray Weaver also has an innov ative attitude and a young group of enthusiastic boys and girls altar servers assisting at Mass.

It is a wonderful feeling to have a friendly, approachable priest who makes the congregation feel involved. He is one of us.

The feeling that we are wanted like a family is marvellous.

Bruno Vartuli
Belfield, NSW

CLOSE THE CURTAIN

The concept of mateship peculiar to Australian society is without precedent. It is based on solidarity and egalitarianism.

Sadly, in the most urban ised country on the planet, mateship survives only in the bush; in the cities the substance has been discarded for the shadow.

Society’s harsh treatment of asylum seekers in detention centres has been the final act in the drama. Bring down the curtain.

We can no longer say: “When I was thirsty you gave Me to drink, and when I was hungry you gave me to eat”.

Denis Scanlan
Southport, Qld

POPE AS ARBITER

With reference to Fr Bruce Duncan’s column A continual state of war with Iraq? (CW 3/3), I would like to support the Vatican’s opp osition to US President George W Bush’s military threat against Iraq.

I share Fr Duncan’s concern about an inability of our media and public opinion to make a formal declaration of opposition to what he asserted is a ‘continual state of war against Iraq’, supported by the Australian government.

As in the past, I will write a letter of thoughtful suggestions to our Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader concerning Iraq.

In the meantime, with respect to the UN, I quote the Rev H O’Laverty’s advice of 1922: “No other means is in existence for the preservation of peace unless the people make use of the Catholic Church and make the Holy Father the arbiter in all international disputes.

“The Catholic Church is confined to no nation, or no race, but extends to the very ends of the earth and embraces peoples of every language and every colour.” (Christ v Capitalism).

Wojciech Szelagowicz
Seven Hills, NSW

RELICS OF SACRIFICE

At the same time as the relics of the young French-woman St Thérèse of Lisieux are being revered by hundreds of thousands of Australians and given a reception usually reserved for pop stars, some of the media are whipping up resentment against the French for proposing to exhume the relics of young Australian soldiers to make way for an airport.

A saint is a person who is in heaven, the passport to heaven is love and, as Jesus put it, greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for another.

These young soldiers are both heroes and saints; perhaps we should follow the French example and have their relics exhumed, placed in reliquaries and brought home so that we can give them due reverence.

The reliquaries could be distributed to RSL clubs in areas where they lived and taken in procession on Anzac Day in a great, joyful celebration of their lives and sacrifices.

David Bannerman
Rouse Hill, NSW