Bishop Robert Lynch Blog Post on Chrism Mass

I enjoy Bishop Lynch's blog. Following is an excerpt from his post on Chrism Mass on Palm Sunday, 2011. Bishop Lynch addresses some of the troubles facing the Church today, and briefly mentions the Tridentine Mass:

"However, during these days of sharing and reflection some concerns were also expressed by our priests, more pastoral than personal, and always spoken in love, not in anger. At several of the sessions one or more of the fathers stated that “they did not know what was happening to the Church for which they were ordained” and by that they generally meant that there seemed to be a withdrawal from commitment to liturgical renewal, from active pursuit of social justice, from the sense of the Church as being relevant to the people to whom they were ministering, from real concerns about declining membership and declining faith practice. Additionally, concerns about a growing feeling of alienation of many of the faithful which can be occasioned when we bishops choose to draw lines in the sand of who is a good Catholic or a bad Catholic, an uneasiness stemming from deep questions and real concerns about the need for the new translation of the Roman Missal concomitant with the perception caused by the seeming support in certain sectors of the extraordinary form or Tridentine Rite, the priests of this diocese see steps backward from the headier days of ecumenical enthusiasm and lament the lack of timely responsiveness to requests by the diocesan pastoral center, from the growing sense of our inability to reach the youth of our parishes and diocese, fewer priests but greater expectations placed on those presently serving, uncertainty about retirement and the future, dramatically fewer Catholic marriages, fewer funerals, fewer confirmations and the list could go on and on."  (See full blog post here).

It seems to me Bishop Lynch is saying the going is tough right now for the Church, and also that the New Translation is unpopular in some instances. Also, Church membership, weddings, etc., are declining. I for one am disappointed in the New Translation. It seems if I am reading Bishop Lynch correctly, the New Translation has made things worse not better, at least in terms of morale.

The Tridentine Rite is mentioned as being seen by some as a step backword. But perhaps a step backward is what we need. I would respectfully suggest something a basketball coach once told me: "When the going gets tough, good teams get back to the basics. Great teams never leave the basics."

What could be more basic to the practice of Catholicism than the Tridentine Mass? The Tridentine Mass was in practice from 1570 to 1962. That is more than a few centuries. Perhaps the way to address this growing sense of alienation, the declining membership and faith practice, is to go back to what worked so well for so many long - to get back to the basics of the faith - the Latin Mass.

My Feelings Regarding the New Translation

I first heard about the New Translation of the New Mass a couple years ago. Our Pastor mentioned it in passing, but there seemed to be concern on his part that it would not be an easy thing for Catholics to accept.

My thought at the time was who cares about a New Translation? So they change a few words of the Mass... no big deal.

Was I wrong. In practice, I have found the New Translation to be unnecessary and unappealing. I am afraid it will hurt the experience of the New Mass for many and perhaps even challenge their faith in a small way.

I first heard the New Translation on a Parish website, where we listened to the "Glory to God in the Highest." I was immediately disappointed. Gone was the sublime beauty and majesty of the hymn. In its place was awkward wording and a mundane musical setting.

Once the transition took place, I noticed almost all the music was affected for the worse. My young children used to sing the old hymns, but they don't sing the new uninspiring music. I look around at my fellow Parishioners, and they look bored and unaffected.

The words of the New Translation seemed unnatural and arcane. Proponents of the New Translation will say it's more accurate. But I don't see how... In most cases, the New Translation is just that... an awkward way of saying the same thing.

Let's consider a few examples:

The old:

"Through him, with him, in him."

The new:

"Through him, and with him, and in him".

The word "and" has been added. Has the meaning changed? No, in the first translation, the conjunction "and" was assumed or implied for a more poetic reading.

Or:

"The Lord be with you."

"And with also with you."

Versus:

"And with your spirit."

Since we are spiritual beings, I believe both translations say the same thing. The difference is only the unnatural wording of the "with your spirit" interpretation.

Or from the Nicene Creed:

"One in being with the father..."

Versus: "Consubstantial with the father..."

Consubstantial, from the dictionary, means: Of the same substance. So I ask, what is the difference?

Or the use of "chalice," instead of "cup." Folks, a chalice is a cup!

Or "under my roof" versus "receive you." No difference in meaning, just an idiom.

And then there is the "dew fall" line which I still don't get...

The sad outcome is I no longer enjoy the New Mass as much as I once did. My children don't participate as much. In my opinion, a crisis has been created where one did not exist. I want to have a good experience at Mass. This has been lessened by the New Translation.

What will the resolution be? If the New Mass was not right before the New Translation, why is it right now? If it is right now, then why does it sound so strange? Why is the music made poorer? Why does the whole thing not feel right?

I would never leave the Catholic Church or not attend Mass. If all I have is the New Mass with the New Translation, then I will attend. However, I have for sometime felt on an intellectual level I would like to attend the Latin Mass. Now, because of the New Translation, I will seek to attend Latin Mass rather than the New Mass.

My First Latin Mass

I attended my first Latin Mass last Sunday at the Cathedral of St Jude in St Petersburg, Florida. I didn't know what to expect. The Latin Mass I witnessed was the most beautiful Mass I have seen. When I am at the New Mass, I feel as though God is visiting our house. At the Latin Mass, I had the feeling I was visiting God's house.

The attention to detail and the ritual made it a spiritual, rather than a social, experience. There was no talking before Mass, and no handshaking during. After the Latin Mass, I had this feeling I had experienced the Sabbath. I don't normally get that feeling at the New Mass... I get the feeling I have been to Church for an hour. That is a good thing, but not as good as what I felt from the Latin Mass.

The music was Gregorian Chant sung by a choir of young people. It was beautiful. I was impressed by how many young people (early twenties) were in the choir. In fact, there were many young adults in attendance. Is it possible the Latin Mass may appeal to the young people the Church is trying to cultivate?

I was taken by surprise by how well dressed everyone was. The women wore veils over their heads. The men wore suits. One man even wore a bow tie - as though a regular tie were not special enough. The young boys wore suits, something I have not seen since the Sixties, and the young girls wore nice dresses.

Contrast this to the casual dress at the New Mass, where shorts, t-shirts, sandals, jeans, and tennis shoes are common. At the New Mass, I am usually one of the nicer dressed, as I wear khakis and a dress shirt. At the Latin Mass, I felt under dressed, and next time I am going to wear a suit. Perhaps I will follow the Catholic gentleman's example I mentioned earlier and wear a bow tie as well. I may have to get my boys suits as well. And my wife a veil for her hair.

The sermon was the finest sermon I have heard. It was not like a typical sermon, but more like a bible study on the gospel reading of the day.

I left the service moved in a way I have not been for many years by a Mass, perhaps ever.

I am grateful to our wonderful Parishes in Clearwater, Florida, and to our clergy. I thank them for all they do for us. I value the New Mass, and I believe a Latin Mass would be a great offering.

I pray a Latin Mass will be one day be offered at a Parish on a daily basis in Clearwater, Florida.