The Catholic Herald reported the CIEL celebration of the Tridentine Mass and Dwight Longenecker's scathing remarks about his first attendance at such a Mass.
Two years ago my husband and I went back to St. James, Spanish Place where we were married, forty five years before. There, at the weekend, it is possible to attend a Novus Ordo vernacular mass, a Tridentine Mass, and a Novus Ordo sung Latin Mass. For us it was our first Tridentine Mass for over thirty years. I cannot but agree with Dwight Longenecker. It was almost inaudible. In fact it was dreadful. The contrast with the sung Latin new Mass was extraordinary. We were given an example of how to praise God with meaning and solemnity. It made our anniversary day.
We have to remember that Latin is not synonymous with Tridentine. There are problems with the Novus Ordo but a priest with a sense of liturgy can achieve wonders, By all means let those who want it have the Tridentine rite, but let us not delude ourselves that it is the answer to falling numbers or the other problems of the present day Church.
Yours sincerely M.A.LEARY Chesterfield, S43 1AX