May 8, 2007 10:11AM
Catholic Worship Wars
Will the Latin Mass make a comeback?
Rob Moll
Slate reports on the potential return of the Latin Mass to the Roman church. "Traditionalists prefer the power of Latin to what they see as the banality of the liturgy in English. And many Catholics associate the Latin Mass with the church's glorious heritage of ancient music and solemnity in worship—a heritage some say has been lost in the liturgical changes that have been enacted over the last few decades."
So will Protestants pick up the "hocus pocus" jeers of the Reformation? Or, perhaps the jeers were never dropped.
Posted by Rob Moll on May 8, 2007 10:11AM
Comments
There are several versions of what is called the Latin Mass. There is the Tridentine Mass which was the standard for 400 years with the priest back to the people and the service in Latin. And the current Novus Ordo with the priest facing the people but the service usually in the venacular, common language. Latin can be used here. There is a tread for more use of Latin. The Tridentine Mass requires bishop approval at any location, except there are renegades who use it without permission or "indult". Some suggest Pope Benedict XVI will issue a universal indult whereby all who want to have the Tridentine Mass can do so. I do not think it will ever become very standard again since Church altars have been changed for the Novus Ordo.
BTW: "hocus pocus" is from the Latin words of consecration "HOC EST enim, CORPUS meus" - This is My Body.
Posted by: Michael O. at May 10, 2007
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