RE Margaret Bolger’s letter (“Regretting row over words”, CL 19/6/11), it sounded so magisterial that for a moment I almost believed her main point, that Vatican II decreed that Mass should be celebrated in the vernacular.
In the enthusiasm of those early days, claims were made and errors also, that are only now being rectified.
In my younger days I attended Latin Masses in almost every country between Australia, Japan and Korea.
Believe me, the congregations easily followed the Mass.
Of course there were adequate reasons for admitting the use of the vernacular, but not the complete outlawing of Latin usage, and our popes have seen fit to redress the balance.
It is not the legitimate use of Latin or the vernacular which has caused damage in the Church, but people who would be their own popes.
Christ in the Eucharist is the heart of our religion and we worship fruitfully by following the Church’s rulings.
DON GAFFNEY
Tarragindi, Qld
