Not the Latin Mass
Dear Editor: With the death of Pope Francis and the new papacy of Pope Leo XIV, the old chestnut of the Latin Mass has made its presence known.
Those in favor of it are hoping for a reversal of its ban put into place by Pope Francis. I cannot understand why anyone who lived through that time period, when it was the only way we attended Mass, would want to go back.
No one speaks conversational Latin. Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, Creole, French, and so many other languages, sure, but Latin not to my knowledge.
The Eucharist should bring you in, involve you, not make you a spectator.
The priest with his back to the community, what is that about? He always looked like he was praying alone; you would just watch.
As I said, I’m old enough to remember what it was like, and it was not inclusive at all.
At the Last Supper, Jesus reclined at the table with them, not away from them, and I don’t think he spoke to them in any language other than their own.
Maria Mastromarino
Manalapan N.J.
A Memory of Sister Mary McBride
Dear Editor: While I was saddened to read of the passing of Sister Mary Bride (Obituaries, 8/9), it was just a moment until so many fond memories of Sister Mary came to mind.
One in particular makes me smile. While I worked at St John’s Prep as the principal’s secretary, Sister Mary was Dean of Discipline. Her office was right next door to mine, along with her secretary, Donna Potter. Both Donna and I had been widowed, and after many years we were remarrying.
My wedding was in March 2006, and Donna’s was in May. Someone took a picture of Sister Mary with the two of us, and Sister Bride exclaimed, “The three Brides!”
Rest in peace, Sister Mary.
Dorothy Hickey
Floral Park
Remembering Brother Kent
Dear Editor: I was on Brother Robert Kent’s first junior varsity baseball team to win a City Championship (“St. Francis Prep Honors Lasting Legacy of Former Staffer, Coach Brother Robert Kent,” Aug. 16).
Brother Robert was a true tactician when it came to manufacturing a run.
He knew all of his players’ skills and used them all to work together as a team. His most important lessons were saved for the game of life.
He instilled the ethic of doing things the right way; he was passionate but humble when it came to winning, always giving credit to others.
Brother Bob was loved by all, and he cared about all who were part of the St. Francis family.
I know I am a better person for having known him and am forever thankful for all that he did for me. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” was one of his favorite sayings.
May he rest in peace, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
John McGee
Palm City, Fla.
This is a response to the letter of a woman who denigrated the Traditional Latin Mass. Firstly, our devotion to this sublime form of worship, and our efforts to preserve it, are not an”old chestnut.” I attended Catholic school during the time when this was the only form of Mass that was celebrated, during which time we learned to say the prayers of the Mass in Latin and sang chant and traditional hymns. I loved it and sorely missed all of this when it was discontinued.
Speaking on my own behalf, I don’t know anyone who speaks Latin at home or in the street, but that does not preclude our worship being conducted in this wonderful ancient language which was used for many centuries. When the TLM is celebrated, people are indeed involved and not made “spectators.” Evidently this lady has not attended a Latin Mass in a long time and has not observed the participants during the celebration.
The ad orientem stance of the priest, when he has his back to the congregation, represents his concentration on God Whom we are all worshiping. The priest is not putting on a performance for everyone; he is focusing on God and addressing his and our prayers to Him, not “praying alone.” Also, the TLM is as “inclusive” as people make it through their participation, and I have noticed wonderful participation on the part of my fellow worshipers during this Mass.
Yes, Jesus spoke in His native language of Aramaic during The Last Supper as He sat among them and ate and drank with them. The celebrant of the TLM Is not “apart” from the congregation; Father is very much with the people as they all pray together.
I suggest you talk with people who attend the TLM and perhaps attend one yourself. You seem to have a lot of mistaken notions about it.