Cardinal Stickler

OUR LADY OF FATIMA

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Alfons Cardinal Stickler Speaks on

Our Attachment to the Tridentine Mass

Yet another Cardinal has gone on the record with regards to the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, Alfons Cardinal Stickler (prefect emeritus of the Vatican Library) addressed the Latin Mass Society of England, 20 June 1992 and made the following observations:

"So if many of the Bishops ask us "why do you follow The old rite?" We can answer very easily: -- the New rite was introduced after the Council as a matter of pastoral care, that means that the faithful should be animated more and more by the new form of rites to be better in Catholic truth and life. But many good people in the world who still believe in the truths of the Catholic Church are not satisfied about the innovations introduced into the Mass. Can you say then that the pastoral purpose has been reached? I think, through my own experiences that there is more and more dissatisfaction becoming stronger always in all the categories of age, social positions, even in many young people. Further, we are told that the truth about the Mass, about the center of the liturgy, is not really changed. But we can ask -do we have the same sense, the same reverence we have had before and perhaps still have when we assist at the old Roman Rite? Or do we have a loss of reverence, of awe for our biggest mystery, our faith in The Holy Mass? In the sacrifice? It was admitted officially when, two years ago, on the silver jubilee of the changing of the rite, authorities in Rome admitted that there was a great loss of awe in the Mass - the most important rite of our worship.

"This is the experience of all who travel around everywhere. We have lost what really is at the heart of our worshipping in the Holy Sacrifice. Many times we get the impression that it is the man being worshipped but not God. We have a community meal and not a sacrifice. I think that this was one of the most important changes in the general attitude vis-à-vis the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. When I studied theology I was told that the center of the Mass was the Consecration, the Communion is quite necessary for the priest but supposes the sacrificial act already done. Today at the center is the meal. What do we have to do when confronted with the situation as members of the association [the Latin Mass Society] you represent here? Firstly, we have to tell our bishops and our Priests that we are not satisfied with the New Rite, That we have good reasons for being attached to the Old Mass. We should explain all the reasons why it should be available for those who ask for it. We must also explain that the Holy Father has granted the privilege contained in the motu proprio Ecclesia Dei and wants to take care of the sentiments of those attached to the old Latin Mass. Our fidelity to the old Rite must always conform to the decisions of the Holy See, with all the conditions satisfied which the Holy See has laid down for this purpose. We should persist in our fidelity to this heritage Which is a heritage of truth, because we can be sure that also today, the old Latin Mass is completely valid and the lex orandi reflects the lex credendi. If we are faithful in oratione, we can be certain to remain also attached to the truth in credendo, in full devotion to our heritage Of faith."

address to the Latin Mass Society of England, 20 June 1992 which can be viewed at the L.M.S. website: http://www.latin-mass-society.org/sticklms.htm