surely being a part of a christian community, wherever in the world, involves learning and speaking the language. 'Going to Mass' should be a part of belonging to that community. The Tridentine mass is exclusive, regressive. Reading about the current issues makes me a thankful lapsed catholic

Maggie, Long Eaton, UK

The Trinitine Mass is not the worship of the peope of God. It is the worship of the priest. He does his thing and the folks in the pews do theirs, ie saying the rosary etc. There is NO community being formed. As a kid I remember how it was Fr rushed the prayers and the choir sang the responses OY

Fr. Michael Anthony, osf, Oakland, USA

Wow.Totally surprized at the comments.Im just an old guy born into the Church and have been blessed to participate in the Latin Mass & now in the vernacular.No one hasto learn latin to pray .There were always missals that translated the words,usually the page faced each other and made it easy ,

Fred Donovin, Wilmington,NC, USA

The power of the Tridentine Mass was that wherever one was in the World there was always the Mass said in a common language. The value of the Mass in the venacular is that we can now, after Vatican 2, interpret the Tridentine into our own language. There is room for both

Bernard James Luckhurst, Eastcote, Pinner, England

dear Mikko,

Maybe to you, christians like are just a sad bunch of people in the 21st century, but you know we are happy and at peace with our faith, hope and love of Our God, that there is something wonderful "out there" besides our silly materialistic belongings and life that don't last!

Jae, Glendale, u.s.a

Let the Race begin! As a young altar boy in the west of Ireland, we raced the priest in the reciting of the Confiteor Deo and we always won. Let's all go back to the 1950's - there were even priests in training in the seminaries then.....................

Liam McGurrin, Chesterfield, UK

Splendid! I fully expect him to decree that Catholics must once more abstain from eating meat on Friday.

I was an altar boy during the 1950s in smalltown USA, and learned the Latin Mass by rote. But we weren't taught the translations. I love being an ex-Catholic.

CARTER JOSEPH, ATLANTA, GA, usa

How on earth in the 21st century can grown up men and women have anything to do with this bunch of sad old men in frocks and silly hats?

Get a life!

Mikko Takala, Drumnadrochit, Scotland

Despite the fact that Palestine was under Roman rule at the time of Christ, the New Testament was written in Greek, which, as a legacy of the conquests of Alexander, had the same communicative role as English in modern India. Latin eventually replaced it as a functional tool, not a sacred language.

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

Three languages are considered to be distinct from all others in that their sounds/vibrations actually have an effect on listeners similar to the meaning of their words. i.e., the sounds themselves uplift; it is not necessary to know their meaning. Those languages are Latin, Hebrew, and Sanskrit.

Pamela, Chicago, USA

Benedict wants to rid the altar of women. There are no females in the Tridentine mass except as as alter cleaners. Is it any wonder catholic women are joining other faiths and taking their children with them. Why are so few women speaking out against the continued discrimination of the rc church.

Ellen, Boston , USA

We have a rich gift in the Mass. I have seen how through the last years we have become only barely aware that Christ Himself is present on the alter. We are beginning to treat the Church as an Auditorium Rather than the Holy place that it is.
Sal

sal, Plainsboro, USA

The Tridentine Rite is not the universal rite even in the Latin Church, think carthusian or ambrosian and what about the Eastern Churches "united" with Rome? There is a place for the Tidentine Rite but not every parish has the resources, perhaps a designated Church in each large urban area?

william, Cork, ROI

I am a young Catholic who loves the Tridentine Liturgy. I don't understand why people say it's fine to make it available, but not to promote it. What's wrong with encouraging people to see what the ancient liturgy is like? I also don't understanding why people say it's about style. It isn't.

Benjamin Lewis, Washington, DC, USA

Elizabeth,
The only gift that God said He would give to us was the gift of the Holy Spirit. benedict was NOT chosen by God but by man.Those that are led by the Spirit of God are the true Son's of God. The apostles were given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit they could do nothing.

althea, sydney-australia,

I am a young catholic who has no desire for the Tridintine Liturgy. If its available for some -fine; but it should not be promoted. All the concern for beauty can be just as present in reformed liturgy. Such statements reveal the real concern, STYLE. Hardly a determinative factor.

James Thomas, washington, DC, USA

Those quick to bash Fr. John can't see the larger picture from their pews. Maybe if some of you holy rollers became priests or deacons, you'd understand how thinly stretched the ranks of Catholic clergymen are in America, shared between multiple parishes. Well, now I literally won't understand mass.

Jon, Cleveland, USA

Perfect news.

As a recent immigrant to France from the UK I find the mass, in french, hard to follow. It differes in form as well as language.

Now I can visit my church and experience the mass as I remember from my childhood and refresh my latin.

Truly a universal experience.

G Miller, Brittany, France

Benedict is truly a gift from God to His Church. This is wonderful news! Much has been lost in all the confusion over the last 40 years. The casual atmosphere has eroded the belief of many in the central truth of the awesome Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist. This is a step forward!

Elizabeth, Centerville, USA

The Tridentine Mass is a beautiful Mass and it can be seen as a memorial and participation in how our brothers used to celebrate in the past. I think that having the Mass in Latin, for those of us lucky to understand it, would be the maximum expression of solemnity, beauty and dedication.

Rick, Victoria, Australia

What wonderful news. Catholic, I was taught, meant Universal. Until the '60's I could hear Mass in any country in the world and know where we were in the service - truly universal. I think the Church in its wisdom bowed to the common myth that everything has to be simpe to be understood - Not so.

Tricia, Warwick, UK

I think that we could have the beauty of the Tridentine Mass but in the venacular. I think that translating it into the local languages would be a good move, why should it be a choice between Latin and local languages. Lets have that Tridentine Mass translated.

Mark Jones, Cardiff, Wales

As a convert to the Catholic faith-the latin rite would mean nothing to me. I attended public schools and Baptist Church. I never learned to read, write, sing or understand Latin. I would not be participating in Mass, my mind would be on my grocery list. I like the choice of one or the other.

Sharron, cincinnati, USA

I grew up with the Latin. I served as an alter boy, our purpose was to respond for the congregation that were mostly involved
in private, not the mass itself.
I think most are fondly remembering the good old days.
I personally prefer to participate with words and music I understand.

giorlando, Pensacola, USA

I'm not sure Mr. Schoda was comparing the 'type' of mass celebrated in Catholic parishes to the Episcopal mass. I think he was comparing the sparse attendance at mass. Episcopal churches are becoming increasingly empty due to all the new 'innovations' ie. gay bishops, etc.

Walt Combs, Visalia, usa

How wonderful to have a choice of Masses! What on earth can be wrong with connecting with our past as Catholics? It was wrong to deny priests and congregants the option when it has continued as a completely licit liturgy.

Fr. John, your sacred duty is the Mass. I'm sure you'll figure it out.

Audrey, Austin, TX, USA

Ah, yes! Marching straight forward into antiquity!

R. Marcley, alb. ny, USA

Finally!!! This is long overdue. Having lived in Muscat for two years and suffered weekly a completely incomprehensible stongly Indian-accented Mass, I will at least be able to worship fully. I hope and pray that Benedict will also instruct ALL parishes worldwide to return to proper traditional hymn

David, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

Haven't you people got anything better to do that chant the same old rigmarole, week after week.

alan, germany,

I was raised in the Gregorian Mass. The 'New" Mass is awful.The Eucarist and what it is is lost. The understanding that you can look at the host and your are seeing Christ...God is just not there. I often wondered how deliberate this is? I recently was at a Gregorian Mass. It was simple & elegant.

DANIEL WILLIAM SULLIVAN, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL

This is great news. I never knew the pre-conciliar Mass but am so grateful, particularly living in Belgium, where proper liturgy has all but ceased to exist, to have discovered the "extraordinary form" over the past two years. The liturgy is no battlefield. Both forms can exist side-by-side.

Joe, Brussels, Belgium

i have no desire to go back to this liturgy that was well suited for its time but now is only a museum piece more akin to Grand Opera than authentic worship

Patrick McMahon, Washington DC, USA

As an Episcopal priest who celebrates the traditional rites, I take exception to Mr. Shoda's blanket statement about Episcopal liturgy. There are parishes which are sloppy. But there are also parishes, like mine, which preserved the traditional rites our Roman bretheren threw out the window.

Fr. Richard Robyn, New York, NY, USA

Imagine being able to celebrate mass along with any congregation in any part of the world, it would be wonderful. It just needs to taught, and I for one would be very happy to learn.

David Stapley, Sidcup, England

I can't wait to be able to attend the Tridentine Latin Mass in my parish. The Vatican II Mass is a joke. It is an improvised, fabricated farce. Hardly anyone attends. It's just like an Episcopalian service in the USA.
I hope the Pope mandates a complete return for the Latin Mass before Sept.

Kenjiro Shoda, Philadelphia, USA

I for one will welcome it. I currently attend one in NYC, am 39, and its' availability is what has brought me back to practicing.I am indeed sorry but growing up in the years after the Council leaves me feeling a bit cheated. If they had kept Latin they would not be scrambling to learn other tongues

Mitchell, Forest Hills, USA

This is long overdue. There was no abrogation of the Latin Mass so it only makes sense it continues.

BobP, Lombard, USA

Talk about shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic! The institutional Church is fast becoming a museum, a preserver of fossils and religious trinkets, hermetically sealed off from the real world and ever distant from the Christ it professes to follow. Where are the people of vision today?

Brendan Peters, Coventry,

I do not see the point of re-introducing the 1962 Mass. It has only one EP, hardly any readings and is in a foreign language.
Will there be any takers for this if this is made available at every parish Church?, or will this just be a huge waste of time.?.

John Quinn, Birmingham,

The vernacular has its place and helps to build local community, but cannot compare as a devotion with the traditional Latin Mass. I always felt part of the world-wide church, descended through the centuries from the time of Jesus, aware of the awe and mystery of the Triune God. Deo Gratias.

stellam, Loughborough, UK

Fabulous! I chant most of the mass anyway in Latin - have done for years - I was a rebel at school and still am - I always knew that this day would return!!

Pat, FL, USA Ex Pat,

Fr. Gilman, from your post you have already admitted breaking Cannon Law so what we are dealing with is not the illicit nature of your actions but rather how much you are doing it. Why not try 2 Novus Ordo masses and 2 Gregorian; you could swap the masses and the parishes each week, easy! Or were you planning to do something else on Sunday?

Mark, Cambs,

What will be restored is a concentration on the liturgical texts of the Mass, rather than the eccentric ad-libs which we receive from priests today. A Sung-Mass with the Gregorian Chant is a more devotional experience than the truncated vernacular versions in vogue.

JB, Norwich,

About time too. God Bless Benedict - the Tridentine rite will enhance the Church immesurably, and those "trendy" priests that have a problem with it should be forced to cater for all Catholics, not just the hippies.

dominic lennon, london,

God help the Church!! I celebrate four Masses each weekend at four different parishes, now I will have to do eight?? Or do we close two of the parishes. Church law states that a priest may only do two Masses on a Sunday, and with bishop's permission and pastoral need more. But not eight!

Fr. John, Gilman, WI, USA

Rejoice and hallelujah !
'Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?'
Psalm 85:6

Francis, Vancouver, Canada