The Traditional Latin Mass has been called "the most beautiful thing this side of heaven". It is the manner in which Catholics worshiped for well over 1000 years. For those over the age of 40, it is the Mass of their youth. For those too young to remember incense filled churches, Gregorian Chant, and the reverent SILENCE at Mass, the Tridentine rite offers a real alternative in the manner of worship. However, Una Voce does not now, nor has it ever sought to condemn the new rite (Novus Ordo) of Mass implemented by the Second Vatican Council and propagated by Pope Paul VI. Although we may have considerable problems with the abuses that have occurred in the Liturgy since 1970, the Novus Ordo is a valid rite of Mass in which Christ becomes truly present under the appearance of bread and wine.
However, to those who have longed for the majesty of the Tridentine Mass, it has indeed been a long 3 decades. The good news is that in the past 10 years, the availability of the Latin Mass has increased dramatically. In 1988, our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, in his Apostolic Letter Ecclesia Dei announced to the world his desire that the Traditional Latin Mass be made available to all who desire it:
"To all those Catholic faithful who feel attached to some previous liturgical and disciplinary forms of the Latin tradition, I wish to manifest my will to facilitate their ecclesial communion by means of the necessary measures to guarantee respect for their rightful aspirations. In this matter I ask support of the Bishops and of all those engaged in the pastoral ministry of the Church.."
"...By virtue of my Apostolic authority I Decree... respect must everywhere be shown for the feelings of those who are attached to the Latin liturgical tradition, by a wide and generous application of the directives already issued some time ago by the Apostolic See, for the use of the Roman Missal ... of 1962."
