Dear Editor, Like Fr Tom Whelan (‘Fresh Mass translation ‘a long shot’’ IC 02/02/2017), I agree that the “pragmatics of administrators will win out,” when it comes to the future of the largely unloved 2011 translation of the Roman Missal.
Its turgid prose, erratic use of capital letters and badly designed presentation of prayers in the altar edition are a nightmare. I have tried my best to work with it, but more than five years later, it is still problematic.
There are two solutions which do not require any major outlay of money. The easiest is simply to permit parishes that wish it to return to the pre-2011 translation, in the same spirit as those who wish it have been permitted to resume use of the 1962 edition of the Missale Romanum (often wrongly described as the ‘Tridentine Missal’). The other is to sanction the excellent ICEL translation of the Sacramentary, which was the forerunner of the 2011 text and was virtually ready for publication when it was sidelined.
Yours etc.,
Brendan McConvery CSsR,
Belfast,
Co. Antrim.
Unimpressed with Enda Kenny’s diplomatic efforts
Dear Editor, I can hardly believe that the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, actually asked the Pope on his recent visit to reinstate Fr Tony Flannery to public ministry and I feel sure our ambassador was hardly impressed. Apart from the ignorance involved, like not knowing the reasons for Fr Flannery’s silencing (because of questioning the very basis of the priesthood and other basic teachings of the Church) but accepting those reported in the media, how disrespectful to question the Pope on decisions made by the Vatican.
As David Quinn mentioned in his article, the Pope could very easily have asked him, with justification, why members of his Government were excommunicated because they opposed his abortion legislation, never mind, the closure of the Vatican embassy.
Questions are being asked about Mr Kenny and his diplomatic efforts on our behalf regarding Brexit and President Trump and, after his visit to the Vatican, it would seem that there is plenty to worry about.
Yours etc.,
Mary Stewart,
Ardeskin,
Donegal Town.
The mere ‘rantings of a jackass’
Dear Editor, We recently celebrated the feastday of St Francis de Sales, a man who lived through troubled times and had much success overcoming antichristianity by gentle preachings and writings.
I wondered if perhaps we could learn from him in relation to the incident on the Late Late Show on January 16 [in which the Eucharist was referred to as ‘haunted bread’]. My late mother would have called it ‘the rantings of a jackass’ and the proper way to deal with it was to pray. So instead of censure let us pray that those involved (including RTÉ) would learn respect for our most precious possession – our religion. Let us leave it all in the hands of God.
Yours etc.,
Angela C. Power,
New Ross,
Co. Wexford
Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit?
Dear Editor, Fr Tom Whelan refers to the “more proper Anglo-Saxon” translation of liturgical terms (A wish-list for a new translation of the Mass, IC 09/02/2017).
Presumably, as a member of the Bishops’ Council for Liturgy, he therefore supports and recommends the use of the term Holy Ghost in preference to the “Latinate form” Holy Spirit in the Sign of the Cross used throughout the Mass?
Yours etc.,
Kieron Wood,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.
Priests really must prioritise their time
Dear Editor, Your editorial comments (IC 09/02/2017), ‘Show must go on’ mentality cannot last forever’, is the harsh reality. There are fewer priests and they really must prioritise their time to undertake all the important aspects of ministry. With fewer people attending Mass it makes no sense to have three or four sparsely attended Masses when two may comfortably meet the parish’s needs.
There is no doubt that our priests will appreciate any time freed up. My parish priest advised me recently that he might give up to eight hours of his time in dealing with the death of a parishioner; meeting the family, preparing for the funeral service and attending at the graveside. But he also said it was worth making the time, as it was an opportunity to minister to the friends and family of the deceased, many of whom may not otherwise encounter the Christian message.
Yours etc.,
Frank Browne,
Templeogue, Dublin 16
Food for thought on modern parish life
Dear Editor, Your column of 09/02/2017 on the reality facing parishes as the number of priests continue to decline in the country, really offered food for thought for parishes.
I agree that the time has come for parishioners to stop lamenting the situation and to step up to the plate.
Yours etc.,
Mary Byrne,
Tallaght,
Dublin 24.
Objectivity not the hallmark of President Trump’s critics
Dear Editor, Stewart Maher’s letter (IC 09/02/2017) on American blogger Simcha Fisher makes for interesting reading, and congratulations to him for having explored Mrs Fisher’s blog and background.
Nevertheless, however impressive Mrs Fisher may seem, the question remains: who should conscientious pro-life American Catholic voters have supported on November 8 last when the alternative to the admittedly imperfect Mr Trump was the expressly pro-choice Mrs Clinton?
There are also the approximately 30 million women who voted for Mr Trump. It would surely be a major slur on these simply to dismiss them as deluded, or as suffering (as certain feminists claim) from that mysterious feminist-invented pathology, “internalised misogyny”.
As for the quality of Mrs Fisher’s research and knowledge, should we assume that she knows all there is to know about matters such as Mr Trump’s appointments, policies, etc. and is offering objective comment and analysis based on this knowledge – or would we be wiser to exercise caution here?
While this may be related to Mr Trump’s undoubted capacity for arousing strong feelings, objectivity is not the hallmark of many of his critics.
Yours etc.,
Hugh Gibney,
Athboy,
Co. Meath.