TO?THE?EDITOR:
I am sure that the learned Fr. Creedon understands that, unlike the changes in the Liturgy brought about in 1970, the Council of Trent did not change the Mass in form or content but codified the Liturgy as it was being celebrated at that time in the main Basilicas of Rome.
It is easy to see the connection between the various forms of the Western Rite connected more closely to Rome such as the Dominican Rite, the Carmelite Rite, etc. because the basic structure is a constant. These, and other Rites of the western part of Christendom were allowed to continue because they had been in constant use for over 200 years prior to the Council of Trent. From this it can easily be deduced that the Rite of the Church of Rome as codified by Trent has a millennial history.
As for the use of the Latin language in the Liturgy I would prefer the term fixed language in place of dead. If it were truly dead we would not even be discussing it. However, it is a language that because of its limited usage is fixed in its meaning and therefore extremely useful, not only to the Church, but to medicine and science as well. If properly examined all of our eastern Brethren also have Liturgically fixed languages that are not used in daily conversation: Slavonic, Ge’ez, Syriac, etc. are all hieratic languages reserved to the Sacred Rites. The easiest example is found in the insistence on the use of Syriac (ancient Aramaic) in the Consecration of the Maronites. The largest in numbers in the east would be the Russians where Church Slavonic dominates. This language is to Russian as Latin is to French. Understanding the Liturgy passes not only through the rational comprehension of each word, but through the understanding of the heart and the spirit. It may interest your readers that the majority of my parishioners attending the Latin Mass have no objection per se to Mass in the vernacular. However, they are afraid of being saddled with a translation as grievous as what we have suffered under in the Ordinary Form since 1970. Pray God that the new translation finally redresses this crime against the great Prayer of the Church.
I wish to assure the Reverend Fathers that the Mass is alive and well at Holy Name and that the majority of those attending are from Rhode Island although I will admit that some people are willing to travel to be able to pray in peace. Thank you for your concern and may God bless your parishes with continued growth in complete and visible communion with the Holy Father.
Rev. Joseph D. Santos, Jr.
Parochial Administrator, Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, Providence
