Letters

Pope's Masses

Paul Martin

Contents - Dec 2007 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Liturgy: light at the end of the tunnel - Michael Gilchrist Liturgy: Australian archbishops report progress with new English Mass translations - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Schools: The state of Catholic education: teacher and student experiences - Br Barry Coldrey Catechetics: Religious education in Catholic schools: the role of parish priests - Michael Gilchrist Church History: Interesting aspects of ecumenical councils - Frank Mobbs Britain: British Catholicism: the salt has lost its flavour - John Haldane 1962 Missal: Australian bishops support Benedict XV's liberalising of the Latin Mass - AD2000 Report Architecture: Did Vatican II recommend the removal of altar rails? - M. Cassey Letters: Dissent - Brian Bibby Letters: Far-sightedness of Father Purcell - Fr Brian Harrison OS Letters: Response - Don Gaffney Letters: Narrow way - F. Thims Letters: Latin Mass - Carol V. Phillips Letters: Pope's Masses - Paul Martin Letters: True Church - Peter D. Howard Letters: Homosexual 'marriage' - Arnold Jago Letters: Unbaptised infants - Lawrence R. Hurley Letters: Archaeology - Ann Marie Streda Events: Latin Masses for Christmas in Caulfield and Kew Books: JESUS, THE APOSTLES AND THE EARLY CHURCH by Pope Benedict XVI - Tim Cannon (reviewer) Books: THE CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD AND WOMEN by Sara Butler MSBT - Paul Woodbury (reviewer) Books: Books available from AD Books Reflection: May we deepen our longing for the Lord's coming - Bishop Arthur Serratelli

I noted with interest your report that Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the Tridentine Rite of the Mass (1962 Missal) in his private chapel (September AD2000).

A more recent statement issued by the Vatican states that His Holiness concelebrates his daily Mass with his priest secretary according to the provisions of the 1970 Missal as promulgated by Pope Paul VI (Novus Ordo).

It appears that the earlier report concerning the celebration of the Tridentine Rite was based on photographs. But the fact that the concelebrants were facing the altar does not necessarily mean that the rite being celebrated was the Tridentine one.

On 22 February 2007, as your journal has noted, Benedict XVI issued an Apostolic Exhortation, Sacramentum Caritatis, which proceeded from the discussions of the Synod of Bishops on the Mystery of the Eucharist of October 2005. There is much material in this for prayerful reflection and study.

PAUL MARTIN
Hamilton, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 20 No 11 (December 2007 - January 2008), p. 14