THE LANGUAGE OF HISTORY LOCAL CHURCHES STILL CELEBRATE TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS.Byline: Holly J. Andres Staff Writer MISSION HILLS - In one of only a handful of locations in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Latin: Archidioecesis Angelorum in California) is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the western region of the United States. , the Tridentine Rite Mass will be celebrated Sunday at San Fernando Rey de Espana Mission. Msgr. Francis J. Weber Monsignor Francis J. Weber is a noted Catholic scholar, an Honorary Chaplain to His Holiness, and Archivist for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Monsignor Weber's many literary works include Life and Times of Fray Junipero Serra (1987) and has been celebrating the Mass, said in Latin, on the first Sunday of every month, except in September, since May 1985. The Tridentine Rite Mass was replaced in 1963, after being in use for almost 1,500 years, by the Second Vatican Council Noun 1. Second Vatican Council - the Vatican Council in 1962-1965 that abandoned the universal Latin liturgy and acknowledged ecumenism and made other reforms Vatican II Vatican Council - each of two councils of the Roman Catholic Church . ``As a result of church reforms in 1963 nearly all Roman Catholics go to Mass in their own language,'' said Tod Tamberg, director of media relations for the archdiocese. ``That (change) promotes understanding and participation more fully in the whole Mass.'' The traditional Latin Mass, said Tamberg, is a reminder of history. It is offered on a limited basis in the archdiocese and is not intended to take the place of to be substituted for. - Berkeley. See also: Place the Mass celebrated at local parishes, which he called ``the building block of our Catholic faith.'' ``Some people feel that it is more mysterious, a little more solemn or a little more holy,'' Tamberg said. The word ``Tridentine'' comes from the Council of Trent Noun 1. Council of Trent - a council of the Roman Catholic Church convened in Trento in three sessions between 1545 and 1563 to examine and condemn the teachings of Martin Luther and other Protestant reformers; redefined the Roman Catholic doctrine and abolished , which standardized the Mass in the 16th century. ``It was the only one we had when I was ordained or·dain tr.v. or·dained, or·dain·ing, or·dains 1. a. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on. b. To authorize as a rabbi. 2. in 1959,'' Weber said. ``There are about 200 to 300 who come to it at the old mission. ``It's beautifully done. There is a choir. The liturgy is very attractive.'' The Tridentine Rite Mass takes place on different Sundays at five locations: the first Sunday of the month at the mission and the Jeanne Jugan Residence (Little Sisters of the Poor The Little Sisters of the Poor is a Roman Catholic religious order for women. It was founded in the 19th century by Jeanne Jugan near Rennes, France. Jugan felt the need to care for the many impoverished elderly who lined the streets of French towns and cities. ) in San Pedro; second Sunday of the month at Santa Teresita Medical Center Chapel in Duarte; third Sunday at Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula; and fourth and fifth Sundays at St. John Vianney Chapel in Los Angeles. It also is celebrated at 1:30 p.m. every Sunday at San Buenaventura Mission in Ventura. ``It is one of the best-kept secrets in the archdiocese. The reason I go to it is because it meets my spiritual needs,'' said Chuck O'Connell, who attends the Tridentine Rite Mass at the mission. ``I find it to be very meaningful. I think it's more reverent rev·er·ent adj. Marked by, feeling, or expressing reverence. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin rever .'' There are a number of superficial differences between the Tridentine Rite Mass and the regular Mass at O'Connell's parish church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church, Christian church headed by the pope, the bishop of Rome (see papacy and Peter, Saint). Its commonest title in official use is Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. in Santa Clarita. Gregorian chant, not rock and roll music, will be heard, and the congregation dresses up more - most women in hats or veils - at the Tridentine Rite Mass. ``I think the Mass now is more focused on community and hand-shaking and less on solemnity SOLEMNITY. The formality established by law to render a contract, agreement, or other act valid. 2. A marriage, for example, would not be valid if made in jest, and without solemnity. Vide Marriage, and Dig. 4, 1, 7; Id. 45, 1, 30. , meditation and what the Mass is all about,'' O'Connell said. ``The Mass is basically the combination of the Last Supper and the sacrifice on the cross. That should be the focus, not so much on the priest.'' Silent meditation and more prayers to God are qualities of the Tridentine Rite Mass that O'Connell said he finds spiritually satisfying. Weber, who was chosen by the late Cardinal Timothy Manning to celebrate the Tridentine Rite Mass, characterized the almost hourlong service as more solemn. ``You go to church to worship the Lord, not to feel good,'' Weber said. ``Most of the people coming for it travel quite a distance. There are people who come from Bakersfield, San Pedro and Santa Barbara.'' The congregation members must bring their own missals to the Mass, as there are none available in the mission's sanctuary. O'Connell uses ``Latin-English Booklet Missal missal [Lat.,=of the mass], in the Roman Catholic Church, liturgical book containing all directions and texts necessary for the performance of Mass throughout the year. ,'' published in 1991 by the Coalition in Support of Ecclesia Dei. ``There is a group Una Voce UNA VOCE. With one voice unanimously. , with a branch in L.A., who would like to see the availability of the Tridentine Mass in local parishes,'' said O'Connell. ``This was the basic Mass from about the year 400. It provides a continuum of tradition. I think people would find it more meaningful.'' Tridentine Rite Mass, noon Sunday, San Fernando Rey de Espana Mission, 15151 San Fernando Mission Blvd., Mission Hills. The group Una Voce has a Web site: www.unavocela.org. San Fernando Rey de Espana Mission, (818) 361-0186. Holly Andres, (818) 713-3708 holly.andres(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Msgr. Francis J. Weber still celebrates the Latin Mass. Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer |
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