FACTS & PURPOSE
Questions and Answers about
Una Voce - Springfield Area Chapter
(Editors Note: This article was published in 1999 when our chapter was founded. Some information may no longer be current or otherwise relevant. The Motu Proprio "Summorum Pontificum" of Pope Benedict XVI published on 07/07/2007 provides new guidelines for allowing the Traditional Mass without any special permission.)
What does Una
Voce stand for?
Una Voce means "with one voice" and is taken from the end of the preface as it introduces the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) of the Ancient Mass, otherwise called the Traditional Mass or Tridentine Mass.
What is the
purpose of the Una Voce - Springfield Area Chapter?
Founded in August of 1999 as part of the Ecclesia Dei movement in affiliation with Una Voce America and Una Voce International, which has been in existence since 1964, we work as a lay organization in the diocese under canons 210, 211, 212, 215, and 216 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, the final Vatican II document. We seek the restoration of the Traditional Roman Mass (Tridentine) as one of the forms of Eucharistic celebration according to Pope John Paul II's 1988 Motu Proprio "Ecclesia Dei". We promote the traditional spirituality and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church in accordance with Vatican Council II. In addition to working for the privileges of the Ecclesia Dei indult of 1988, of special concern is outreach to the many Catholics who have stopped practicing their faith since the introduction of the current Mass (Novus Ordo) in 1970, and who tragically feel that the Church has abandoned them.
According to Michael Davies, a recognized historian and author and president of Una Voce International, "in the United States, Mass attendance has collapsed from 71% in 1963 to 25% in 1993. If we consider this in its true perspective of a loss of souls to the Church it means that 25 million Catholics who were assisting at Mass" prior to the introduction of the new Mass are no longer practicing their faith. In all charity, we must try to encourage these people to return to the Church by helping them see that she has not changed one iota of doctrine, nor has she turned her back on the beautiful traditional liturgy.
Does Una Voce -
Springfield Area dispute the validity of the Novus Ordo (the Mass of
Pope Paul VI)?
Una Voce - Springfield Area acknowledges all approved rites in the entire Catholic Church, both Eastern and Western, while preferring to promote the use and understanding of the Traditional Mass (Tridentine) according to the 1962 liturgical books.
Didn't the
Church prohibit the Latin Mass after Vatican II? And aren't you just being
nostalgic?
Although the Traditional Mass, sometimes called the Latin Mass, (the Novus Ordo may also be said in Latin at the will of the priest) virtually disappeared with the changes following Vatican II, it was never prohibited. In 1988, Pope John Paul II in his Motu Proprio "Ecclesia Dei " asked all bishops to respect the rightful aspirations of the faithful attached to the Latin liturgical tradition by generously allowing the Traditional Mass to be offered everywhere. It is often referred to as the "Indult Mass" to clarify its status as opposed to other Latin Masses not said with the permission of Rome or the local bishop.
As for nostalgia, it only lasts so long. Many of us continue to find, after all these years, through the beauty, ritual, and music of this rite, a nourishment of our imperfect faith. Dr. Alice von Hildebrand clarifies the root of this longing to attend the ancient liturgy:
We are so attached to the Tridentine Mass
because our faith is weak, and the fact that by this liturgy, which goes back
to nearly the beginning of the Church, we are linked to our Catholic past by
the golden cord of tradition; that we hear the very same words that the saints
throughout the ages have heard, offers us a welcome support and a joyful
strengthening of our faith.
What is a Motu
Proprio?
A Motu Proprio (Lit.: by one's own accord) is a letter which the Pope himself writes, signs, and issues on his own initiative. It is, therefore, a most authoritative form of papal legislation. Bishops the world over are required to observe it. However, that does not mean that they will or that the Pope will force them to do so.
In Ecclesia Dei the Pope granted the faithful the privilege of attending the Tridentine Mass, otherwise called the Ancient Mass or the Traditional Mass, and the right to the Sacraments using the liturgical books of 1962. Through this Motu Proprio Pope John Paul II expressed his will to guarantee respect for the rightful aspirations of those attached to the Latin liturgical tradition. It is up to the local Bishop to provide access to this form of the Roman Rite. Our chapter follows proper canonical procedures in requesting this Mass.
What else did
the Pope provide for as a result of his Motu Proprio "Ecclesia
Dei"?
In addition to promoting by indult the Traditional Mass, the Holy Father's positive attitude towards the Ancient Mass has resulted in the establishment of at least 15 priestly societies and monastic communities which use only the 1962 liturgical books. These include both the Mass and the Sacramental rites. These societies are attracting large numbers of vocations. The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter is now acting with the full approval of bishops in 20 American dioceses and the Institute of Christ the King in three.
Isn't
Traditional Catholicism dying, and the Traditional Mass dying?
Traditional Catholicism, especially a movement toward greater reverence, is growing all over the world, as is attendance at the Traditional Mass. In 1999 the Priestly Fraternity broke ground for a new seminary in the diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska. It opened in September of 2000 and was dedicated in December of 2000. They have a backlog of good priestly vocations-in-waiting even though they established rigorous standards of admission. New orders of priests and nuns are being formed all over the world with the exclusive dedication to the Tridentine Mass and teaching the Traditional Catholic Faith.
Attendance at the Tridentine Masses throughout the United States is slowly increasing every week. About 2/3 of the dioceses in the United States permit the Mass. A large percentage of those attending are young families with many children. The persecuted underground Catholic Church of China retains this as its form of the Roman Rite. This is truly the Mass that will not die.
Isn't the
promotion of the Tridentine form of the Roman Rite divisive?
If it were divisive, Pope John Paul II would not have urged all bishops of the world to provide it to those faithful who want it. In 1998 at the 10th anniversary celebration of Ecclesia Dei in Rome, Cardinal Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, expressed his regret that "there are bishops, priests and faithful who consider this attachment to the old liturgy as an element of division." His Eminence refuted this argument by citing the indisputable fact that before Vatican Council II there were many variants of the Roman rite, and that this was in no way considered to be a cause of division. No legitimate form of a rite can be divisive if one understands the Church's teaching on the Holy Eucharist.
Unity is not the same as uniformity. In 1998 the Holy Father, at the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Ecclesia Dei, expressed the hope that Catholics would not be divided by their "legitimate diversity and different sensitivities, which deserve respect." According to Michael Davies, "Note that the Pope does not differentiate between those whose sensibilities result in a preference for the 1962 Missal and those whose sensibilities prefer that of 1970." In fact, Catholics who obstruct the wishes of the Holy Father are the divisive ones, not Catholics who uphold his teachings and desires.
In a family, do not some members prefer hamburgers to meatloaf, and others steak to roast? All these forms of meat are legitimate foods for the body, yet no one would say that a family member is being divisive for ordering steak instead of hamburgers at a restaurant, even if the rest of the family ordered hamburgers. How much more so should it be with the spiritual food for our souls in the family of the Mystical Body of Christ!
The Holy Spirit
has inspired the changes since Vatican II. Aren't Catholics who promote the
Traditional Mass and Sacraments failing to respond to the Holy Spirit and
behind the times?
The Holy Spirit works today in the Church as always. Therefore His inspiration of a Mass celebrated nearly the same way for at least 1500 years cannot be nullified. It is, in fact, the breath of the Holy Spirit blowing throughout the Church today which is spurring the renaissance of the Traditional Mass. His Eminence, Cardinal Ratzinger made a crucially important point in October of 1998: although the Vatican Council II ordered the revision of the liturgical books, the new books are not the work of the Council. In fact, the Church has never in her history forbidden orthodox liturgical forms, and such an act would be quite alien to the Spirit of the Church, which is the Holy Spirit.
In October of 1998 the Holy Father reiterated what he insisted upon in the Motu Proprio Ecclesia Dei, that the Church show her understanding for people "who feel attached to some previous liturgical and disciplinary forms." He repeated the appeal that he made to the bishops in his Motu Proprio: "I therefore extend a fraternal invitation to bishops to show understanding and renewed pastoral attention to the faithful who are attached to the former rite…"
This urging by the Holy Father relates to a matter of faith, and therefore cannot be considered against the inspiration of the Holy Spirit who was promised by Christ to be with Peter and his successors. The fact that the Pope continues to tell bishops to provide the Traditional Mass "widely and generously" shows that Catholics desiring it cannot be accused of being oppositional to the Holy Spirit or "behind the times", especially as the traditional movement among Catholics is growing around the world. People who truly understand the history and tradition of the Catholic Church will realize the continuity and "ever-newness" of the Ancient Mass.
How can I attend
Traditional Masses?
Currently the Traditional Mass is not legitimately available in the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese. Part of the duty of Catholics who desire this form of the Roman Rite is to pray, especially a daily Rosary, for its availability, and start a regular hour of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament each week. Sacrifices and penances for the intention of the return of this Mass in our area are also important.
Meanwhile, Bishop Slattery has authorized a traditional Catholic Parish under the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter in Tulsa, 3 hours away, and has established a contemplative Benedictine monastery at Clear Creek which celebrates the Ancient Liturgy as well. Other locations within 3-4 hours by car are: Our Lady of Sorrows in Kansas City, MO, Blessed Sacrament in Kansas City, KS, St. Agatha's in St. Louis, and a parish in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
Does the Una
Voce - Springfield Area Chapter affect my parish?
The Una Voce - Springfield Area Chapter has nothing to do with any parish, nor is it attempting to set up a separate so-called Catholic Church. Una Voce Members are urged to participate in daily and Sunday Masses at their parishes, participate in parish life, and to practice their faith diligently, while availing themselves of Chapter events to learn about the Traditional Mass, Gregorian chant, Catholic sacred music, and traditional teachings of the Faith. Una Voce meetings are open to anyone from any parish who wishes to learn more about our Catholic liturgical and doctrinal treasury.
What are some
things Una Voce - Springfield Area provides?
We have monthly meetings to study the meaning of the Mass, a monthly newsletter, a children's choir, ongoing study sessions on Sacred Scripture and the Catholic Catechism, and occasional outside speakers on topics of concern to Traditional Catholics who want to live their faith in an increasingly hostile secular environment. We occasionally make pilgrimages as a group to the Traditional Mass in other dioceses.
How can I get
more information about Una Voce - Springfield Area activities?
You may subscribe to our online newsletter by visiting unavocespringfield.org and following directions on the main page.
(Editors Note: Visit our contact page for more contact options.)