Thursday, October 02, 2008

A COMMENT FROM OUR FRIENDSTER ACCOUNT

A comment has been posted on our friendster account by someone named Lourdie, I believe he is a seminarian in Piarist Fathers. I am not sure.

This is the content if his comment:

Comments: first of all the Catholic Church was already in Vatican II: because of the necessary changes in the church but the primary concern was the used of the vernacular language during the Eucharistic celebration. On the other hand, it's very strange to say a mass without understanding the people. How can the people feel the important of the Eucharist without understanding it. this is a big challege to us as a minitry of the church. I am totally against of saying a mass in latin. sorry but I am against your way. but that is your faith.

Original post can be found here, it is located below that page, on testimonials and comments area.

I have two purposes for posting this topic.
1. for the awareness of others.
2. as a reply to this comment.

This is my reply:

Dear Mr. Lourdie

I wanted to ask you if you are aware of Pope Benedict XVI's Motu Propio: Summurom Pontificum. If you already have heard it, then you must be against the Pope. If you have not read the Motu Propio, read it from here, or here. I wonder why you explicitly say that you are against our way, the WAY that Catholics NORMALLY pray. Don't you know that this is the Catholic Mass that has been said for 2000 years and both mass are not of the same value? Don’t you know that the Mass in vernacular is about 40 years old? Don't you know that this Mass is canonized by Pope Saint Pius V in the year 1570 during the Council of Trent? And He said that this will be the Mass of the Catholic Church for all time and in perpetuity. Pope St Pius V added:

Accordingly, since it would be difficult for this present pronouncement to be sent to all parts of the Christian world and simultaneously come to light everywhere, We direct that it be, as usual, posted and published at the doors of the Basilica of the Prince of the Apostles, also at the Apostolic Chancery, and on the street at Campo Flora; furthermore, We direct that printed copies of this same edict signed by a notary public and made official by an ecclesiastical dignitary possess the same indubitable validity everywhere and in every nation, as if Our manuscript were shown there. Therefore, no one whosoever is permitted to alter this notice of Our permission, statute, ordinance, command, precept, grant, indult, declaration, will, decree, and prohibition. Should know that he will incur the wrath of 

Almighty God and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul. Quote taken from here

Read more about the Papal Bull: Quo Primum here
What is Papal Bull? read here
What is Tridentine Mass? read here
More about Council of Trent here
these links are from wikipedia.com

Now I think there are still so many things that you should learn more about the Catholic faith and so many things with that regard. It is very sad to hear that you are a seminarian who "dislikes" the Latin Mass so deeply. (note you said: I am totally against of saying a mass in Latin.) TOTALLY which means you are against a Catholic Mass? It is very sad Mr. Lourdie, really sad, and I hope that you will be unlighted in the days to come that this Mass is the true Mass.

You said that the Catholic Church is already in Vatican and that is correct. You said,” because of the necessary changes in the church but the primary concern was the used of the vernacular language during the Eucharistic celebration" Mr. Lourdie, the Mass is not about the language. The Mass is about doctrine. It doesn't matter which language it is. But we use Latin because Latin is the official language of the Catholic Church. The New Mass is officially written in Latin. Latin language makes the Mass universal. If I go to Russia and have a Latin Mass, I could understand (with frequent attendance) but if I attend a Russian New Mass, will I understand? Now If the Catholic Church will use Latin worldwide, the universality of the Church is emphasized because there is oneness of liturgy. Does it make sense Lourdie? (You have a nice name). Now the question here is that is the New Mass the same as the Old Mass with regards to doctrine and faith? Make a quick but thorough research about this. Or you can ask us. Numbers are provided on our friendster account.

"On the other hand, it's very strange to say a mass without understanding the people. How can the people feel the important of the Eucharist without understanding it"

Do you know St Isidore Labrador? Yes of course, it’s your patron saint. Do you know St Lorenzo Ruiz? sure you do. Do you know many other saints? in the history of the Catholic Church? I guess so, do you know that some of them do not know Latin and couldn’t understand Latin? What I'm trying to say is that people are not obliged to learn Latin in order for us to participate in the Mass. We use Latin because that's the way is it. That's the Church pre given gift to us. Frequent attendance in the Mass would somehow give you the ability to understand what is going on in the Mass. The language doesn't matter. Now you said strange, so some saints in the past who never know Latin is strange? And the Mass is not about FEELINGS... The Mass is about objective truth so you have to disregard the feelings because feelings are subjective.

Mr. Lourdie, please no offense, I cannot write this in the frienster account because it’s too long. There is only one thing that I can tell you, learn the Catholic faith. The faith that is taught in the past. The treasure of tradition which was taken away from us. Please leave comment Mr. Lourdie if you have read this. This post is actually for you. I am very open for a future dialogue with you. Don’t worry I believe you are older than me.

-maskupe

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