The Last Word

on the Holy Father's recent documents. I promise.

I submitted this to our local Catholic newspaper. Comments welcome.

Re: (removed) Letter to the Editor

Although I can belt out a pretty intense Sanctus, I am surprised by Ms. B's assessment of those of us who aren't danicing, shouting, whistling and singing at the top of our lungs at Mass.

She wrote:
That might upset those who insist that the People of God should only obey, pray and pay. That might upset those who say that we have to be quiet in church like some unthinking creature on the lowest order of the human evolutionary scale.

Firstly, there is a tremendous, outrageous need for the virtue of obedience in our society. I can not imagine denegrating such an important requirement of the Church! My 4th grade daughter's vocabulary book defined chaos as "a want of order." How in the world can you have order without obedience??

Furthermore, there is a time for quiet, thoughtful prayer, and a time for prayer in motion.

A quiet Liturgy provides me the opportunity to focus on the Word of God as heard from the primary source.

It allows me the time I need to to internalize the message as a directive for the week.

I am then able make connections interiorly in the hope that I may humbly but enthusiatically carry the Light of Christ to the world throughout the week. As the mother of five, I have plenty of opportunities for raucous rejoicing Monday through Saturday!!!

I have no particular attachment to the extraordinary form of the Liturgy, but I find it intriguing.

As a student of languages, I admit to being quite delighted to read the translations of a Novus Ordo Latin Mass. The language contains a specificity and palpable texture that I appreciate in this nebulous age.

Truth be told, though, we participate in a quiet, reverent English language Mass for the sake of our youngest children. I do believe it is incredibly important for them to hear the Mass in their own language.

In a world saturated with vivid images, tanatilizing aromas, and ceaselss audio, it is equally important that my children participate in a Liturgy which gently elevates their senses rather than one which bombards or flattens their senses.

Incense, candles, statuary, flora, the soothing sounds of Gregorian chant, processions, long lines of altar boys...

In our minds, these things bespeak careful consideration of the word sanctuary, give balm to the battled soul, and are a joy to offer and receive.

In conclusion, it gives one pause to note that , nationally, more than a handfil of 1970 Missal children, now adults,are seeking this convergence of the "old" and the "new." The old lines clearly still exist, but many of the arguments are perceived as an anachronism.

Simply put, if one can accept Life Teen as a valid liturgical practice, why in the world can't the same person accept, indeed rejoice in, the wide availability of the extraordinary (Tridentine) Mass?

Peace and grace,
me
St. William the Confessor Parish