Friday, May 16, 2025

Video debate with Fr Joseph Fessio

The Mass of the Ages team set up this debate between me and Fr Joseph Fessio, the well-known proponent of the 'Reform of the Reform'. This is the beginning section of the debate, when we each read  short pre-prepared talks. Mine starts at 3 minutes 12 seconds, which is where this video will start -- scroll back to Fr Fessio's (it doens't matter which you hear first as they don't respond to each other).

The full version is available to subscribers on the Mass of the Ages 'vault', along with a lot of other material.

In this opening statement I make the point that the Traditional Mass sacrifices intelligibility (audibility, visibility, etc.) for what will increase the devotion of the worshipper. Later in the discussion we go into the place of Latin in the Mass (Fr Fessio likes Latin), the authority of Vatican II, the interpretation of Sacrosantum Concilium, and other matters.



To see the vault, you can get the Mass of the Ages App for Android or IPhone, and go here:

iOS app https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mass-of... 

Friday, May 09, 2025

Pope Leo XIV: LMS press release

Press Release on the Election of Pope Leo XIV from the Latin Mass Society

 

The Latin Mass Society welcomes Pope Leo and assures him of our heartfelt prayers.

The Society has been distinguished since its foundation for its obedience to the Holy See, even in the most difficult and indeed tragic circumstances. We pray that Pope Leo, like his distinguished namesakes, the first Pope Leo, the Great, and the most recent, Pope Leo XIII, may be a beacon of orthodoxy and charity in a troubled world. May all the faithful say, like the Fathers of the Council of Chalcedon: ‘Peter has spoken through Leo’.

We pray that he may have the greatness of soul to acknowledge the contribution the Traditional Latin Mass continues to make to the life of the Church, allow it a place of honour in our churches, and promote the reconciliation of Catholics attached to it.

We invite our supporters and all Catholics to have Masses said for Pope Leo, and to offer the rosary for him, and other devotions. We will present a spiritual bouquet of these offerings to him in due course; those wishing to contribute can do so through this web page.

The Society will have a Solemn Te Deum sung on the occasion of the regular Sung Mass at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, London, that will take place on Monday 12th May.

Prayer for a newly elected Pope (from the ancient Roman Missal):

Deus, ómnium fidélium pastor et rector, fámulum tuum Leonem, quem pastórem Ecclésiæ tuæ præésse voluísti, propítius réspice: da ei, quǽsumus, verbo et exémplo, quibus præest, profícere; ut ad vitam, una cum grege sibi crédito, pervéniat sempitérnam. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

O God the Pastor and Ruler of all the faithful, look favourably on Thy servant Leo whom Thou hast been pleased to appoint as shepherd of Thy Church: grant to him, we beseech Thee, that by word and example he may edify those over whom he is placed, so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may attain unto life everlasting. Through Christ our lord.

 

Notes for Editors

The Latin Mass Society was founded in 1965 to support the continued celebration of the Catholic liturgy in the form it took at the eve of the Second Vatican Council: the ‘1962 Missal’, the ‘antecedent Missal’, the Vetus Ordo or Traditional Mass.

The Traditional Mass has been given greater or less freedom by successive recent Popes; in 2021 Pope Francis restricted it with his Apostolic Letter Traditionis custodes. 

Press contacts:

Communications Officer, Daniel Beurthe daniel@lms.org.uk

Chairman, Joseph Shaw oxford@lms.org.uk


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