Sir,—Dialogue Mass and vernacular go hand in hand, it seems to me that you can't have one without the other.
But if we must, alas! have a vernacular translation, thereby narrowing down the immense implications and spirituality of the Mass to the small compass of the twentieth century in England, please let us have a few professional poets on the job and not just scholars and "good" writers. It is as though somebody turned to a few chaps with a pretty taste in water colour painting and said, "Look here. we arc going to bring the Sistine chapel ceiling up to date. We know you chaps aren't exactly Michelangelo, but we can't get hold of any professional mural artists at the moment, wonder if you'd mind having a shot at it".
The Mass •is the greatest work of art in Christendom. Please let us not tinker with it!
Helen Raedl,
London, S.W.18.
Palatine Guard
Sir, — During the 1890's my father was a member of the Palatine Guard of Honour to Pope Leo XIII.
As this company was normally reserved for Roman citizens I wonder if any other Englishmen have had this privilege.
A. G. M. Westbrook, Bexhill-on-Sea, Winds of change Sir,—with sadness and a little dismay I see the old order changing in the Church. 1 would accept all the changes willingly and gladly if they would make us kinder and more loving to our neighbours. more thoughtful and tolerant, less uncharitable and envious and giving less scandal. But, will they?
M. Cunningham,
Twickenham.