Well-entrenched progressivists in Italy (and elsewhere) are forever telling us that people have no interest in the older form of Mass and that Summorum Pontificum won’t make much of a difference.
I think they are deluded.
Now I read a nice little story on from Il resto del Carlino about a Mass with the 1962 Missale Romanum on the feast of All Saints:
Look past the sloppy terms for the gem in this piece.
The first Mass in Latin at Santa Maria della Pietà: 8 priests and over 250 faithful at the Tridentine Rite.
Also in the parish of Santa Maria della Pietà (via San Vitale 112) where Fr. Tiziano Trenti is, there began on All Saints Day the celebration of Mass in Latin with the Tridentine Rite, arranged by Card. Caffarra and is foreseen for every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. The first liturgy, which had the participation of eight priests and 250 faithful, was celebrated by Fr. Alfredo Morselli, parish priest of Stiatico, with the enriching presence of the choir "Il Cenacolo ("The Upper Room").
We are talking about a TLM in downtown Bologna!
Apparently there was resistance on the part of many priests. But the Cardinal put this in the middle of the city, and not in some little spot out in the country.
Keep in mind that Bologna is not exactly a strong Catholic city. There is a powerful Communist party there and the city, with the University, is highly secular.
This is a huge success story!
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EIGHT priests? Wow!
There is a powerful Communist party there …
Bologna is also the city that gave us the term “baloney”.
I think what you will find, especially in the smaller towns of Italy and other European countries, particularly France and Spain, is there will be a great degree of openness and/or desire for the Traditional Liturgy. Anyone who has read the Don Camillo books, will see Giovanni Guareschi’s perspective of the people of the Italian country side, and the general reaction to Vatican II’s aftermath. The Italian side of my family for example, all traditional farmers, still despises any mention of Vatican II, and would absolutely jump for joy at a chance to attend the Traditional Mass.
Downtown in a very secular city? Do I dare say that the Cardinal has decided to stand up and be counted and lead from the front. Eight priests, that is saying something. I’ll take that any day.
Keep in mind that Bologna is not exactly a strong Catholic city. There is a powerful Communist party there and the city, with the University, is highly secular.
Yes, but then, Card. Caffarra is a very solid and orthodox Bishop. He is a leading moral theologian and has antagonized all the “liberals” anyway, especially by speaking aloud about a fact which is often conveniently ignored, namely that the “normal” contraceptive pill also acts as an abortifacient. This is why the German section of “We are church” made a critical statement when he was created a Cardinal by Pope Benedict.
Now that we have a TLM in downtown Bologna, how about LA???
This is indeed good news but why eight priests? I trust it was not concelebrated.
To call Bologna “secular” is an act of inexpressible charity. It’s for very good reason why it’s nicknamed “Bologna la Rossa” (Bologna the Red) and it’s not because of the color of the roof tiles.
But even the most cavernous darkness must yield to the light of just one match…
AMDG,
-J.
This is indeed good news but why eight priests?
Why not? The more the better. What a refreshing sight to see priests in cassock and surplice kneeling in choir, rather than milling about the altar — or so it often seems — as concelebrants.
How salutary it would be for your bishop — my diocese is without one right now — when he celebrates his first cathedral TLM to require that all his priests serve in choir dress.
Henry: Indeed. I am not absolutely opposed to concelebration. I occasionally will do this, but I never prefer it.
Concelebration should be safe, legal and rare.