There has been quite a buzz about what Pope Benedict XVI will do regarding the Tridentine Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Mass that was celebrated prior to Vatican II. Traditionally, it was said in Latin, which some felt made it inaccessible to the general population. Vatican II changed all of that.

The Vatican confirmed today that “about 15″ bishops were invited to a meeting with the Holy Father to discuss this very issue. Our own Archbishop Burke is one of the invitees, one of only two Bishops from the U.S. chosen. Cardinal Sean O’Malley from Boston was the other invitee.

Vatican officials have said the document will allow for wider use of the Tridentine rite, but have not provided details about how this will be accomplished. (CNS)

The outcome of this meeting will be a document that will be sent to local bishops detailing how the changes will be implemented. This is expected to be released on July 7th.

Wider use of the pre-Vatican II Mass in Latin “is not a step backward,” Cardinal Castrillon said, but a sign that the pope “wants to make available to the church all the treasures of the Latin liturgy that have, for centuries, nourished the spiritual life of so many generations of Catholic faithful.” (CNS)

While I have not attended a Latin Mass, it certainly is on my list. I would welcome the experience as a way to share my love for the Eucharist in the way that was done for centuries. Will I want this experience every week? Probably not, but I believe that the option should be available to all of the faithful.

I’ll have to admit that the anticipation of this action has been interesting to read about. It seems that the blogosphere was disappointed yesterday when another motu proprio was released that had nothing to do with the Mass. Jimmy Akin writes:

POPE BENEDICT XVI HAS JUST RELEASED HIS NEW MOTU PROPRIO!!! WOO-HOO!!!

AND HE’S TURNED BACK THE CLOCK!!!

In it, he orders the Church to revert to a traditional practice that had been changed in the years following Vatican II! And it’s not just an “if the bishop doesn’t object” reversal! It’s a complete and total reversal!

The only thing is . . .

It doesn’t concern the Mass.

It’s not that motu proprio. It’s a different one.

He goes on to talk about the fact that now a Pope must be elected by a two-thirds majority instead of the simple majority that was required for Benedict’s election. This reverses changes that Pope John Paul II made.

Who knew that Church news could be so exciting!

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