Preserve Our Catholic Tradition

by Letters Editor · Published February 6, 2023 · Updated February 6, 2023

Angie Menes/Cathopic

From Lynette Peterson, Cape Town – Many Catholics attend Mass once a week in expectation of being fully instructed. Canon 834:1 states: “Through the liturgy, a complete public worship is offered to God by the head and members of the mystical body of Christ.” Worship means showing reverence and adoration. Instruction during Holy Mass should be the explanation of the readings and fraternal correction, given for the salvation of souls, the primary mission of the Church.

Over the years many priests have tried to make the Mass more appealing to draw lapsed and young Catholics back to Church, resulting in Holy Mass literally being offered in the ocean, a blessing given during Mass with a guitar. Are these innovations “worship”?

A teacher’s goal is to inspire and motivate students, and the students are expected to delve deeper into the subject on their own. We too should not expect the priest, in one hour, to satisfy our spiritual needs. It’s time we blow the dust off the Catholic Church’s treasure chest, with its inspired writings and teachings.

The Catholic Church was established by Our Lord, and the sacred liturgy grew organically over the centuries through the Holy Spirit — and is not in need of being made “better”, as suggested by Frits Rijkenberg in his letter “How Can the Liturgy Be Improved?” (November 2022).

The teachings and traditions of the Church should not be changed to suit the whim of the century. Change means “to make different”. Sacrosanctum Concilium, Vatican II’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, states that some vernacular can be introduced into the liturgy, and Latin and Gregorian chant must be retained (54; 116). This has not been adhered to.

Thus, my passionate plea is that we rather conform to the faith and traditions of the Catholic Church. Changing the Catholic Church would put everyone’s salvation at an even greater risk.

This letter was published in the November 2022 issue of The Southern Cross magazine