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1. At least we have one sensible Cardinal at the Vatican! Isn't the conservative pope responsible for such selfishness? If these people want to live in the ark, that is OK but why should they impose their fear of change on others who want to move with the times? Rome is too quick to give in to the stupidity of those who won't change. These are the people who are doing great harm in some dioceses of Australia. They report every little change a decent Bishop tries to make to help the people grow in their spirituality. Why don't these people move over to Rome and live there with their conservative pope and let the rest of us get on with growing in our faith and worshipping in ways that are meaningful?
   Congratulations to Cardinal Castrillon. May more like him find their way to Rome and give us some peace.

   Posted By: Kerryanne M

2. The Cardinal misses the point. The point is not the language (Latin) but the mistranslations and mutilations ICEL perpetuated on a docile laity. Liturgies accrue over time. They are not invented over three years at an ecumenical council and a body named ICEL.

   Posted By: J Johns

3. "the mystery of God who becomes bread"???
   Surely the Cardinal's words were to the effect "the mystery of God who becomes REALLY PRESENT UNDER THE APPEARANCE OF bread".
   Whoever wrote the English translation should be sacked. (It's almost impossible to believe a Prince of the Church (presumably speaking in Spanish or Italian) could make such an elementary blunder.)

   Posted By: Ronk

4. Wouldn't all this be so easy to solve if it was just a matter of Latin vs modern languages?
   
   I would love to read an article by a theologian which could show and explain (to an ordinary layman) that there is no truth to the claims of those traditionalists who for almost 40 years have been saying that the Novus Ordo de-emphasizes the central Catholic doctrines that the Mass is a true sacrifice and that the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ.
   
   If anyone can recommend a book or article I'd be grateful.
   
   When I read "traditionalist Catholic" material on the internet they do not seem to go on and on about Latin. They are much more likely to write about the traditional Mass being more God-centred as opposed to man-centred etc. Or they may write how the new Mass omits certain texts that mention hell, miracles or sin etc. This is about so much more than Latin.

   Posted By: paul

5. As someone who is very partial to the Latin Mass, I also rejoice in the vernacular Mass said with reverence. Both are 'the Mass'. Jesus comes to us in Holy Communion in both - is there any detail about extraordinary and ordinary forms of the rite of the Mass that can be greater? Who could dare to say there is.
   
   Cardinal Cario Castrillon Hoyos has a point in saying some traditionalists can be over-demanding with regard to the Latin rite, their view of those who attend Novus Ordo Masses, and sense of superiority which seems to verge on a form of elitist judgmentalism . There seems to be a lack of a sense of gratitude that we have the Mass in the vernacular.
   
   Are the sincere prayers of a person at a NO Mass any less pleasing to God, than those of a traditionalist at a Latin Mass? Surely our merciful God listens to both.

   Posted By: Skye

6. The ultra-traditionalists are unreasonable when they demand that certain parishes or basilicas be for the exclusive celebration of the Tridentine Mass.
   
   However, I think Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, and many other Princes of the Church, to be the unreasonable and incredible ones when they continue to deny the Tridentine Mass into every parish or for only Sundays.
   The Novus Ordo and the Old Rite of Mass should be celebrated without hindrance in all parishes every day.

   Posted By: Michael Webb

7. Kerryanne M
   
   I suggest you read some other statements of the good Cardinal, however you will be disappointed to find that he has rather the same views as his boss, Pope Benedict (which I also share) - that the old liturgy has a dignity and place in the Church, and the new liturgy has suffered from demeaning implementation, albeit well intentioned, that has resulted in banalisation.
   
   And I second the comments about ICEL's atrocious (inaccurate and inelegant) translations foisted on the english speaking world. I look forward to the new translation of the ordinary form missal.

   Posted By: Peter

8. The good cardinal is unfortunately right. I like the traditional Mass and I hope that one day, I can have it celebrated in English.
   

   Posted By: Collin Michael Nunis

9. It might be worth keeping in mind (and I speak as a trad) that Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos is the head of the Ecclesia Dei Commission, and is probably only making legitimate complaints against those who are too importunate. I prefer to think he is just being mis-represented in the article.

   Posted By: Kiran

10. Did Cardinal Castrillon REALLY say that God becomes bread??!

    Posted By: Kieron Wood

11. I have attended the Latin Mass for many years (only under diocesan approval) and will always view it as a treasure. However, I came to the painful realization, after the release of the Motu Proprio, that a significant portion of those attending the Latin Mass will indeed never be satisfied and act as armchair popes. I realized I too was becoming more critical of others and harshly judgmental.
    
    As a result, I have been attending the vernacular Mass for the past 6 months. Although I miss the beautiful Chants and Hymns and many of the parishioners, I do not miss certain social aspects that seem to be associated with the Latin Mass. The Holy Father acknowledged in his cover letter to the bishops accompanying the Motu Proprio that there were social aspects "unduly linked" to the Latin Mass I think the bishops have a grave and difficult responsibility in permitting the wider use of the Latin Mass while somehow correcting these social aspects. There is a dangerous tendency amongst certain Latin Mass advocates to forget that both the basis and the objective of all masses and Catholic doctrine is to arrive at love. I think the following quote from then Cardinal Ratzinger sums up the issue that the bishops and the Church face:
    
    
    “…we are witnesses today of a new integralism that may seem to support what is strictly Catholic but in reality corrupts it to the core. It produces a passion of suspicions, the animosity of which is far from the spirit of the gospel. There is an obsession with the letter that regards the liturgy of the Church as invalid [read: not legitimate or theologically suspect] and thus puts itself outside the Church. It is forgotten here that the validity of the liturgy depends primarily, not on specific words, but on the community of the Church; under the pretext of Catholicism, the very principle of Catholicism is denied, and, to a large extent, custom is substituted for truth.” Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Principles of Catholic Theology (1982), p. 377

    Posted By: Patrick

12. Hang in there Patrick. The day is coming when the chants and hymns you love will be commonly used in the vernacular Mass, and hopefully all your old friends from the 1962 Mass will eventually join you there.

    Posted By: Ronk

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