"Please give us the old mass"

Brandan Tran

I am a practising Catholic who was previously fallen away. My first memory of the Holy Father was his first papal address in St. Peter's Square shortly after his election by the Holy Ghost. My opinion of him, at the time, was hopeful and entirely positive. My present opinion of him is somewhat negative and I do not believe he will bring massive changes to the Catholic world or the world at large. This is different than my opinion of the Pope Emeritus, (Benedict) which is mostly positive. Francis's impact on youth is mixed. Many love him as they love a grandfather, yet many, especially young men, are disappointed, feeling that Francis is too much with the world and too indifferent to good liturgy and the old Mass. If I had the chance to meet him I would say to him Holy Father, pray for me and all young Catholic men. Many of us are lost. Please, give us the old Mass. As Brandan says Pope Francis is in the world and has been shaped by his culture as a priest ordained after the Second Vatican council. He has embraced the evolution of the Catholic culture which can make people uncomfortable as we move away from our more traditional roots as a Church. Pope Francis echoes the words of his predecessor the Pope Emeritus who is quoted saying "there is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal". There is good to be found in both the traditional latin and mass said in the vernacular. The rigidity of the latin mass creates a greater structure and allows for a greater intentionality to the mass. But, in the new mass there is no change in the Traditions, with a capital T, there is still the transubstantiation and it is still a sacrament all Catholics can participate in.