UVSB - Report on Meeting of 2008-11-24

Report on Meeting of 2008-11-24

Dear Una Voce Supporters:

Last night we had our first meeting for Una Voce San Bernardino. Those who attended were: John Rozzi-Highland, Bob Herness-Banning, Kevin Andrade-San Bernardino, Dana Cash-Yucaipa, Jo Seno-Highland (VP, Webmaster), Carlos Lopez-Banning, and Laurence Gonzaga-Colton (Pres.). The past president, Ed Christy-Rialto, called me re. his inability to attend. I touched on all things mentioned on my previous emails. I went over the brief history of Una Voce, where and why it was founded, and its principal aims and goals. We then had a discussion on some of the major changes that took place during the “reform” of the liturgy in the 70’s. We discussed the proposed rationale for such changes in contrast to the practice before such changes took place. A defense of such practices was provided for each of the cases brought up. For example,

Why did the priest face the wall, and had has back to the people?
A: The major world religions have the same concept of a common direction for worship. The Jews have Jerusalem, the Muslims have Mecca, and the early Christians faced East. This is so because the Sun was a symbol of Christ. The Sun is a physical source of light and therefore life, and so to is the Son of Man the “Light of the world… who enlightens all men” John 1. As the Sun rises in the East, so to shall the Son of Man come from the East, coming to meet us, as we meet him from the West. So, we come in common direction, the whole world in unison, as the universal Church to meet him in expectation of His Parousia, His return at the end of days.

Why Latin?
A: A universal language for a universal Church. A point written beautifully by the pope who began the Second Vatican Council, Blessed John XXIII, who wrote in his Apostolic Constitution,
Veterum Sapientiae,
“Finally, the Catholic Church has a dignity far surpassing that of every merely human society, for it was founded by Christ the Lord. It is altogether fitting, therefore, that the language it uses should be noble, majestic, and non-vernacular. In addition, the Latin language "can be called truly catholic." It has been consecrated through constant use by the Apostolic See, the mother and teacher of all Churches, and must be esteemed "a treasure ... of incomparable worth."… It is also a most effective bond, binding the Church of today with that of the past and of the future in wonderful continuity.”

…and other such questions. After that, I presented a lesson on the development of the Roman Mass in the first 16 centuries of the Church (attached to this email). The last handout I gave out was a list of all the available churches were the extraordinary form is used, as well as a list of 6 priests interested in learning or returning to the old liturgy.

John Rozzi brought up the matter of financial assistance for the Una Voce project, and suggested the assistance of Knights of Columbus. The chapter dues to Una Voce America are $50 a year and with a minimum of 3 active Una Voce members (each $15 a year to Una Voce America), as well as an internet fee of $5-10 a year, that comes out to $105 a year in basic operation. It would be another matter entirely to try to financially support priests who will celebrate the old Mass, with necessary vestments and other things, especially those things no longer in use in the Novus Ordo, for example the amice, maniple, biretta, burse, etc.