The new Mass

* What a rich selection of reader opinions you carried recently covering Fr. Peter Phan, the Dutch strategy, liturgy reform, and women priests. I need to take exception with the two letters denigrating the Novus Ordo liturgy (NCR, Jan. 11). In expressing their preference for the Tridentine rite, two individuals wrote that since the time of the inception of the Novus Ordo, "more Catholics have left the church" and "the reform has driven away millions." Do they seriously believe that it is the Vatican II-inspired Mass that has driven millions of Catholics away? Are they unable to transcend that one issue to explore the multiple and profound reasons Catholics have left?

After Pope Benedict assumed his throne, he uttered something to this effect: Why are young people willing to drive a goodly distance to party all night but are unwilling to drive a much shorter distance to attend Mass? I thought Benedict was going to look for the real reasons. I was wrong. Benedict also said, "It's almost as if they don't need us anymore." I thought for once the hierarchy might look within itself for answers to the problems that assail our church. I was wrong again. The Vatican response to the ills besetting our church has been to bring back the Latin Mass, change the responses at Mass to more accurately refleci;the "original" Latin, suggest we all learn our prayers in Latin so we can pray together. It is much easier for us to seriously consider solutions such as Fr. Phan's theology and the Dutch strategy.

BILL BAYE

Green Bay, Wis.

* I had to re-read Thomas Rotella's letter (NCR, Jan. 11) to finally understand what he was saying. :it is his contention that the new Mass is responsible for everything from people leaving the church in great numbers to disbelief in the :Real Presence and no con cept of mortal sin. But the claim that really caught my attention was that among the evils inflicted on the church by the new Mass is "homosexual predators have become legion." Can someone please explain to me the connection between the new Mass and "homosexual predators"? Is it something devious and devilish in one of the eucharistic prayers? Or perhaps it is that dreaded greeting of peace?

This is one of the most contrived arguments against any doctrine or practice of the church I have heard in a long time. I grew up with the Tridentine rite, learned all the Latin prayers required of Mass servers, practiced endlessly on how to move the book several times with great reverence, etc. Then I was exposed to the "new" Mass as part of my seminary training during the middle and late 1960s. I would never go back to the "old" Mass. If the Novus Ordo is celebrated well, it needs no defense, as Mr. Rotella suggests. And as Pope Benedict XVI recently reiterated, it is the ordinary way the Mass is to be celebrated.

(Fr.) KEN LOHRMEYER

Minneapolis, Kan.

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