The Lake Charles Latin Mass Society

1. What special training must you undertake to prepare to celebrate the Latin Mass? Must you be fluent in Latin or just know the prayers?

Fr. T: Pope Benedict XVI’s Motu Propio Summorum Pontificum, in Art. 5, § 4, states: “Priests using the Missal of Blessed John XXIII must be worthy and not impeded by law” [This is unofficial English translation]. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in their Committee on the Liturgy Newsletter (Vol. XLIII, June-July 2007), further explained: “In order to celebrate the extraordinary form, a Priest must be suitably qualified for and not prohibited by any impediments to the celebration of the Mass according to the 1962 Missale Romanum. This means he must have the minimum knowledge and ability required for a legitimate use of the extraordinary form.”

It is necessary, therefore, for the priest to be trained in the Latin language and the rubrics of the Mass according to the 1962 Missal so as to be “suitably qualified” to offer that Mass. In my case, I participated in an intensive training workshop on the Traditional Latin Mass on June 11-15, 2007, with the blessing of Bishop Glen John Provost. The workshop, designed for diocesan priests, is a collaborative effort between Una Voce America, the largest lay organization in America that supports the Traditional Latin Mass, and the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, the largest clerical group in the US that offers what is often called the “Tridentine Mass” (Both of these groups, by the way, are international). The Priest Training Program held at Our Lady of Gaudalupe Seminary (the Fraternity’s Seminary in North America) in Denton, Nebraska has the support of the Most Reverend Fabian Bruskewitz, Bishop of Lincoln.

The Program was very comprehensive. It consisted of Classroom Sessions (twice daily), Practica (twice daily), and Workshops (held in the evening). The following topics were covered: Introduction to the Traditional Liturgy and Liturgical Principles, The Requiem Mass/Absolution/Burial, Exposition/Benediction, Missa Sicca (Dry Mass - the Low Mass fully explained and demonstrated step-by-step), Missa Cantata (Sung Mass), Missa Solemnis (Solemn High Mass), Introduction to the Roman Missal, Ordo, and Calendar, Introduction to Latin, Introduction to Gregorian Chant and Sung Mass.

2. How much Latin or liturgical text should attendants of the Mass understand or be familiar with?

Fr. T: The USCCB Newsletter states: “In both the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the Missale Romanum, full, conscious, and active participation of the faithful is to be desired above all else…. The extraordinary form accomplishes this participation largely through listening to the prayers in Latin and following the words and actions of the Priest and joining our hearts to ‘what is said by him in the Name of Christ and [what] Christ says [to] him’.” The faithful typically use their hand missal, which contains both the Latin and the English translation of the readings and prayers of the Mass. Thus, although one does not have to have a knowledge or understanding of Latin in order to attend the Mass, it would be very beneficial for him or her to have familiarity with the prayers of the Mass or, at least, the ability to use the hand missal in order to facilitate “full, conscious, and active participation” and for his/her own personal edification. I see a need for good catechesis on these, as well as on the origin of the prayers, the meaning of the gestures, and every aspect of the Mass.

3. Is the homily delivered in Latin or English? Do you face the congregation to deliver it, or do you face the altar as with the rest of the Mass?

Fr. T: The readings are proclaimed or chanted in Latin (although Pope Benedict, in Summorum Pontificum, Art. 6, makes provision for the readings to be done in the local language: “The readings may be given in the vernacular, using editions recognized by the Apostolic See.”), but the homily or sermon is delivered in English with the priest facing the congregation.

4. About how many local Catholics have expressed interest in this special service?

Fr. T: I cannot give you an exact or even estimated number of Catholics in the Diocese of Lake Charles who are interested in the “extraordinary form of the Roman Rite,” but in my own sphere of influence - family, friends, parishioners - I can definitely say that there is a significant number of people who can easily qualify as a “stable group of faithful” mentioned in Art. 5 of Summorum Pontificum.

5. Did you grow up attending and-or participating in Latin Masses? How does it compare to the current vernacular services, besides the language difference. In what ways is the ceremony unchanged, and what are the major differences in style, prayers, and format? What are your childhood memories and opinions of traditional Mass?

Fr. T: No, I was born in 1973 and grew up attending the Novus Ordo Mass – both in English and Tagalog (the Philippines’ national language). The first time I was exposed to the so-called “Tridentine Mass” was when I was studying to be a priest at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans (years 2000-2005). Our history professor, Fr. Stan Klores, who is also the pastor of St. Patrick Church on Camp Street, would invite the seminarians to regularly serve at the Tridentine Mass offered at his parish (This is the “Indult Mass,” made available according to the provisions of Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letters Quatuor Abhinc Annos and Ecclesia Dei Afflicta). I was immediately struck by its beauty and reverence. I was hooked since then. In reality, I am one of those “young persons” (the Holy Father talked about in his Letter to the Bishops that accompanied the Motu Propio) who “have discovered this liturgical form, felt its attraction and found in it a form of encounter with the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist, particularly suited to them.”

For a more detailed comparison and contrast between the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the one Roman Rite, please refer to the USSCB Newsletter, found on their website. Here is the link: http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/bclnewsletterjune07.pdf

From a priest’s perspective (from someone who celebrates the Novus Ordo in different languages – English, Latin, Spanish, Tagalog – and currently learning the Mass according to the 1962 Missal), the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the Mass are essentially the same, but the extraordinary (Traditional Latin Mass) has longer prayers (which are very beautiful and Biblical), more gestures (that are filled with meaning) and, as far as rubrics is concerned, has less options (thus, making the celebration very precise, stable and uniform). I appreciate both forms of the Roman rite; each has its own advantages and disadvantages and one can certainly benefit from the other (The Holy Father, in his Letter to the Bishops, states that the co-existence of the two forms “can be mutually enriching.”). In fact, as a result of my training (for the Tridentine Mass), I have gained a greater understanding, love and appreciation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and have noticed that even my celebration of the Novus Ordo has improved much.

6. Were you excited that Pope Benedict’s decree encourages more celebration of the Latin Mass? Or was it just icing on the cake after Bishop Provost already approved the services in June?

Fr. T: Yes, I was very excited because Pope Benedict turned the whole Church’s attention to a treasure that should never be forgotten. I like what he wrote in his Letter to the Bishops: “What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place.”

It also served as an “icing on the cake,” since even before the release of the Pope’s document, Bishop Provost already expressed keen interest and generous support in regard to having the Traditional Latin Mass celebrated in our diocese.

7. Why was St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church selected for the Mass? Is there special demand for it among Cameron residents? Are any other diocesan parishes eligible for or considering offering Latin Masses?

Fr. T: St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church made a request for the Traditional Latin Mass before the Motu Propio. After the Motu Propio, any parish with a “stable group of faithful” can theoretically have it. Practically though, it is a different matter because there are many things to consider: the rightful aspirations of the faithful, the need of the diocese, the availability of priests and church facilities, and, of course, the prescripts of the Motu Propio Summorum Pontificum. The Bishop wants to do it right and desires to fulfill the aspirations of the faithful according to the provisions of Motu Propio. He is in constant communication with people (including the three priests who are able to offer the Traditional Latin Mass in our diocese) with the goal of ironing out the details of the plan to make the ancient form of the Roman Rite available to the faithful.