Will Pope Benedict XVI ever publicly celebrate an EF Mass?

I cannot believe that any Catholic would not welcome the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of Mass by the Holy Father. In fact, the balance of Church life seems out of kilter because it has not yet taken place. We have the Ordinary Form which, of course, Pope Benedict celebrates and then we have the Extraordinary Form which he doesn't.

Photo: Orbis Catholicus
We wait and pray, Holy Father!

Would it be too banal to liken this situation to a man who has two cars? He drives one regularly but the other remains unused in the garage. Need I say more?

But there may be sound reasons why this momentous event has not taken place; there are groups within the Church who actually would be most.......upset? ....not quite the word......very angry? - more like it, if the Pope said the Tridentine Latin Mass. In fact, it is rumoured that some French Bishops (and possibly a few  German and Dutch ones) would be so angry that they would cut the ties with Rome. I do not know if this is true or not but it may account for the fact that the 'Mass of all Time' has not featured on the Holy Father's busy schedule.

He has to do all within his power to stop any fragmentation of the faithful, yet he cannot be held a hostage to fortune, or, in this case, Providence! A difficult road to walk and one that may not satisfy the traditional wing of the faith - prayers are needed and, with that thought in mind, I turn to the unfailing wisdom and grace of Thomas a Kempis.

This is a chapter for those who want for something that appears unnattainable:-

The Voice of the Lord:

My son, on every such occasion this is what you should say: Lord, if this is Your will, let it happen like this. Lord, if this brings you honour, let it be done in your name. Lord, if You see that this will help me and do me good, then grant that I may use it to the honour of Your name. But if you know that it will harm me, and not advance my soul's salvation, then take the desire away.

The Holy Spirit is not the author of every desire that seems good and proper to you. It is not easy to decide whether it is a good spirit or an evil one that generates any particular desire, or even if it originates in your own spirit. Many find themselves deceived in the end, although they thought at first that some good spirit led them.

So whatever desirable scheme presents itself to you, you must be governed by humility and the fear of God as you work towards it; above all, you must commit it entirely to Me, abandoning your own will, and saying: Lord, You know what is best. May Your will decide what shall be done. Give what You will, how much You will, and when you will. Do what you know is best for me, do what pleases you and brings your name most honour. Put me where You will, and deal with me in all things as You please. I am in Your hand - turn me backwards and forwards, turn me upside down.
Here I am, Your servant, ready for anything, for I have no desire to live for myself, but only to live perfectly and worthily for You.

A prayer that God's will be done

Most kind Jesus, grant Me Your grace to be at my side and share my labours, and remain with me right to the end. Grant that it may always be my longing and desire to do whatever is acceptable and pleasing to You.

May Your will become mine, and my will always follow Yours in perfect harmony. Grant that I may be one with You in choosing and rejecting, that I may be unable to choose or reject except as You would do.

Grant that I may die to the claims of everything in this world, and that for Your sake, I may aim at being unknown and unvalued among men.

Grant that beyond all my desires I may find my rest in You, and in You discover peace for my heart. You are the true peace of the heart, its only rest.

All that is outside You is rough and restless. I rest in You, the highest, the everlasting God, and even as I lie down, sleep comes, and with sleep tranquility.

The Imitation of Christ

Posted by Richard Collins - Linen on the Hedgerow

What was it like after Vatican II Daddy?

Much as it pains me to say it, I was around in 1970 and have quite a vivid recall of events at the time. I was actually all for a folksy type Mass (I was very young) and having it in English was a novelty for me because, being an altar boy since the age of five, I knew the latin backwards, upside down and inside out. English was a novelty. And, also, we did not have an awful translation, we had the straight translation from the latin; "I will go in unto the altar of God, unto God who gives joy to my youth". Beautiful even in English!
But it was a time of flux and the faithful (as well as the clergy) were confused and somewhat dazed at the disparate way that the liturgy was being chopped up and reconstituted.

Not a Bass Guitar - a Mass Guitar!

Strangely, my siblings, were very anti the changes whilst I was all for them. Now, the situation is reversed and I am the only one to pursue the EF Mass, everyone else opts for the OF Mass. I owe this change to my wife whom, when we met was a Church going Anglican - and a very strong one at that. Each Sunday, she would set off for Canterbury whilst I made my way to Rome. I do believe that it was this that strengthened my faith, without that challenge of having to 'fight my corner' I am sure that I would have joined the ranks of attrition - and those ranks were very full at that time.
After two years of marriage, my wife announced that she was interested in being catechised in the Catholic faith. This was something of a shock to me but, recovering swiftly, we made our way to our parish presbytery (where the incumbent priest was the Diocesan Catechist no less). Explaining the situation at the door we were met with the response: " Why don't you go away and find some books to read on the Catholic faith". Not so good and very humiliating for me the alleged Catholic partner. Next, we phoned up a neighbouring parish under the control of the Discalced Carmelites. There we were met with the rolling Irish accent of Fr Patrick who welcomed us with open arms. This was more like it.
We attended the Lord knows how many sessions with Fr P who had a most infectious laugh and, after making some outrageous statement such as: "I don't think anyone commits mortal sin these days" would turn to me and say: "Was that heretical?" "Yes, Father", I would reply and we would all fall on the floor laughing hysterically. We were very young, all of us.


After my wife was received into the faith (and was subjected to no less than four sacraments that night) we attended the 'house Masses' that were all the rage then. Somehow, it was deemed desirable to forsake the church building and take the Mass into the village community; it does have a certain attraction, but, let me tell you, it soon wears off. Kneeling in Mrs Boddington's front parlour with the television set in the corner and Mrs B's cat purring around one's nether regions is not good for the soul.
Now house Masses are a thing of the past; a bit like Peter and Gordon - they were great pop singers at the time but, eight weeks after they started, no one could remember them.


After some years, the Novus Ordo became an established and well loved Mass. With small children at heel we found ourselves on the fringes of Ross-on-Wye, where, just a couple of miles away was the Mill Hill Fathers' base of Courtfield and a beautiful chapel with a Welsh name (Ty Mair) - Mary's House. For a few years, all was sweetness and light; the Novus Ordo was celebrated with extreme reverence by Fr Hughes and we even formed our own choir under the strict eye of John Bevan (Catholic Books).
And there, I shall leave it. This was meant to be a snapshot of Catholic life in England in the 1970s and it will remain precisely that.
 Not contentious, just a small fragment of Catholic history that may be worth recording or, alternatively, no worries, may be chucked in the round file!

Posted By Richard Collins - Linen on the Hedgerow