BYCATHERINE COOK
YOUNG people across Donegal are turning back to the old Latin Mass as it grows in popularity across the county.
Last Wednesday parishioners young and old attended the Tridentine Mass held in St Eunan's Cathedral on the Feast of the Assumption. Celebrated by Fr Joseph Briody CC, Creeslough, the Latin Mass has become an annual event at St Eunan's Cathedral since the celebration of its centenary in 2001 and could become a weekly occurrence in the near future.
The resurgence of the Latin Mass has been encouraged by Pope Benedict XVI. From September 14 the "Motu Proprio" comes into effect which means priests no longer have to seek permission from the Bishop to say a Tridentine or Latin Mass. It can be said by any priest in any parish if the parishioners wish it although not all priests in the Diocese have been taught the Latin rite of Mass.
In the Raphoe Diocese there is already a weekly Sunday Tridentine Mass held in the Church of St Joseph and St Conal, Bruckless parish. Parish priest Fr Dermot McShane PP, first began saying the Latin Mass on a Thursday once a month with numbers attending growing steadily he now celebrates a Tridentine Mass every Sunday. In Golan, Fr Kevin Driver CC, performs a Tridentine Mass on the first Friday of every month in St Brigid's Church at 7pm.
Proinnsias O Muireagain, based in South Donegal, is the Ulster Convenor for the Latin Mass Society in Ireland. The Latin Mass Society of Ireland, founded in 1999, is an association of Catholic faithful dedicated to the preservation of the traditional Latin Mass.
Tridentine or Latin Mass was used in the Catholic Church for almost 1500 years, until the introduction of the Mass of Pope Paul VI following the Second Vatican Council.
Mr O'Muireagain said people from all walks of life attend the regular Sunday Service in Bruckless. Aside from the Mass being recited in Latin there are a number of distinct differences from the Tridentine Mass and the ordinary Mass.
"The new Mass is not a direct translation from the Latin and in the Latin Mass there is no personalisation of the Gospel. The vestments are different and the priest wears a birreta, (black hat). The priest stops at the foot of the altar and says Mass with his back to the people, facing the God in the tabernacle. He will face the tabernacle, bow, then recite Psalm 42 before walking up the steps to the tabernacle- this is symbolic of Christ's climb to Calvary. He moves to the right of the altar to recite some prayers in Latin and the Mass then begins," said Proinnsias.
In Tridentine Mass there are two gospels which are said facing the congregation. Depending on the priest celebrating Mass it can either be said first in Latin, then in English or simply in Latin. The second gospel from St John is said before the congregation leave at the end of Mass.
" A very important difference for me, in the Tridentine Mass is that at communion time, everyone kneels at the altar and receives on their tongue. It's much more reverend, I think. The music is also central to Latin Mass which takes the form of old Gregorian chants in Latin," said Proinnsias.
The introduction of Mass in English caused some controversy and French Archbishop Lefebrve who continued to celebrate Mass in Latin was later excommunicated from the Church for consecrating four of his own bishops. The movement he created; "the Fraternity of St Peter" are now educating young priests in the old Latin and teaching them how to say Mass, with one member of the Fraternity due to begin teaching in Belfast shortly.
Juventutum is a youth group within the Catholic Church dedicated to the Tridentine form. Spokesperson Robert Lane said their organisation had been approached by a number of young people following Wednesday's Tridentine Mass in Letterkenny. He said many young people, like himself, are attracted to the spiritual aspect and the rubrics of the Tridentine Mass which is becoming available in more parishes all over Ireland.
Latin Mass will be held in Our Lady of Knock Shrine on Saturday 2 September at 2pm, in St Paul's Church, Falls Road, Belfast on 8 September and on 22 September in the Dominican Church in Newry.
