Letters

Latin Mass

Richard Congram

Contents - Sep 2005 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Support the 2005 Fighting Fund! - Peter Westmore Events: Sydney to host World Youth Day 2008 - AD2000 REPORT News: The Chuch Around the World Canadian Bishops' cave-in to 'renegade Catholicism' under fire Priesthood: America's 'vocation rich' dioceses: latest success stories analysed - AD2000 Report Can reverence at Mass make a comeback? - Michael Ryan Interview: Benedict XVI and the power of the Eucharist - Fr John Corapi Education: Catholic schools of the future - Br John Moylan CFC Cinema: The Church under Nazism: a sensitive film portrayal in 'The Ninth Day' - Michael E. Daniel (reviewer) BOOKS: The Myth of Hitler's Pope: How Pope Pius XII Rescued Jews from the Nazis - Thomas E. Woods Jr (reviewer) A religious response to evil ideologies - John Rego Letters: Liturgy - John Daly Letters: Liberal manifesto - Dr Peter Gilet Letters: Fatima and Benedict XVI - Paul MacLeod Letters: Society of St Pius X - Fr Kevin Robinson Events: C.S. Lewis Seminar - Sat 17 Sept 2005 2pm-9pm Letters: Ethical medicine? - Dr A.W. Hartwig Letters: Latin Mass - Richard Congram Letters: Simple Catechisms - Rosanna Sherman Letters: Gnosticism Letters: Good reading - E. Pickering Books: GOING AGAINST THE STREAM: Ethical Aspects of Ageing and Care, by Peter Jeffery - Kerrie Allen (reviewer) Books: THE ART OF GIVING by Francine Black - Kerrie Allen (reviewer) Books: THE PATH OF LIFE: Benedictine Spirituality for Monks and Lay People - Gabrielle Walsh (reviewer) Books: STAIRWAY TO THE UPPER ROOM: Daily Meditations on the Gospel Readings - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: The Holy Shroud, by Antonio Cassanelli - Gabrielle Walsh (reviewer) Books: More good reading from AD Books Reflection: Benedict XVI: how to make the new evangelisation more effective - Fr Dennis Byrnes PP

Tom King's letter (August AD2000) recounted how the Archbishop of Brisbane, in May 2005, prohibited celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass on any day except Sunday. In conclusion, he expressed wonderment at the Archbishop's motivation. The answer is simple but sad.

There are many within the Church who regard the old Mass as some sort of archaic heresy; and its adherents at best as misguided, and at worst as evil. Those detractors care not about denying us spiritual comfort and solace in glorifying God through a sublimely reverent liturgy, in a dead language immune to distortion and aberration. They also care not that the old Mass has the approbation of both our reigning pontiff and his immediate predecessor. Obviously they had sufficient numbers and influence to achieve their end in this instance.

I was present at the Mass when the Archbishop's directive was announced. On 22 May I wrote respectfully to His Grace begging him to reconsider his decision which gave so much pain to many sincere and faithful Catholics. To date (1 August) I have not received any acknowledgment.

RICHARD CONGRAM
Carindale Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 18 No 8 (September 2005), p. 16