This Old Mass

In a 2004 article, Delia's boss, Dr. Moynihan, advocated restoring the old mass. For those of us who never knew what this old mass is all about, he was referring to the one said in Latin – the Tridentine mass. I’m bringing up this article now because from what I understand, Dr. Moynihan repeated his stance in the latest issue of Inside the Vatican.

To which I respond: you cannot put toothpaste back into the tube.

This is troubling to me because I’m probably one of the few in my generation who doesn’t belong to any cultsy group and still attend mass regularly. And I can tell you now that there is a LOT MORE to the mass than the externalities: you might have all the trappings of the sacred – e.g., incense and Latin chants – but the real struggle happens within. In a way, the challenge for people my age is to enter into that Communion of Saints whilst living today, in this society - in this modern, relativistic society. Would the challenge be easier if we spoke the language of old – and ride in the coattails of ancient traditions and hope that we’ll get to where we need to get – or are we just compensating for what we lack within? If we need music and language and other externalities to help us enter into a communion with God, we are in more trouble than we originally thought.

See, it doesn’t have to be difficult... I think that’s what Jesus tried to tell us 2,000 years ago… and we still don’t get it.

I wonder how Delia Gallagher feels about this whole thing. I would assume that like me, she was born after Vatican II. But unlike me, she most certainly speaks Latin and therefore could converse with the likes of Julius Caesar if she ever needs to.

So let me ask this of Delia (if she ever reads this) – of all the languages that you speak, which one does your heart "speak" when you listen to the words of the consecration?