The Apostolic Administrator of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kampala, the Rt Rev Bishop Paul Ssemwogerere has asked Catholics not to panic over the new restrictions that Pope Francis has imposed on the Tridentine mass (also called the Extra-ordinary mass).

 The Tridentine Mass is an old form of Latin mass that the Roman Catholic Church used before the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). 

This old form of mass had a lot of symbolic rites. For example, the priest and the congregation faced east throughout the Eucharistic celebration. 

Bishop Paul Ssemwogerere, Apostolic Administrator, Kampala Archdiocese

This means, a priest conducted mass with his back to the congregation. The mass was conducted in Latin. The songs (Gregorian chants) used were also in Latin.

 The respective rituals of the Tridentine mass carried deep symbolism. For example, the act of facing east (ad orientem) symbolized Jerusalem. 

East is also the direction of the sun’s rising. So, the eastern orientation during Catholic divine worship ultimately symbolized Jesus Christ the risen Lord. 

The requirement that a priest performs the Eucharistic consecration rites with his back to the congregation was intended to hook the focus of the congregation to Jesus in the Eucharist.

Despite their religious significance, the respective Tridentine rituals arguably complicated the Catholic mass. The faithful generally didn’t understand Latin. 

This is evidently the cardinal reason why the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council (1962-65) resolved to make reforms in the Old Latin form of mass, giving way to the new order of mass (Novus Ordo), which is currently most commonly used in the Roman Catholic Church. 

The Post-Vatican Council II Mass (also known as the Ordinary Roman Rite Mass) was promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1969.

Pope Paul’s Novus Ordo simplified the Catholic mass. It gave the Christians unprecedented privileges during divine worship. 

The Christians were allowed to use their native language, and also, to play their traditional musical instruments during mass. 

Several rituals of the mass were also made easy. This ultimately boosted the active participation and creativity of the lay faithful. 

It is important to note that when Pope Paul VI promulgated the Ordinary Roman Rite Mass, he never abolished the Tridentine mass. 

As stipulated in the Vatican Council II Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium, December 4, 1963), the Tridentine mass was supposed to be preserved and its essentiality upheld. 

But even with the clear protection that Vatican Council II accorded the Tridentine mass, there were some ultra-traditionalists who never tolerated the respective reforms. They rejected the Novus Ordo and insisted on using the Old Latin Mass. 

Rev Fr Anthony Musaala

Among the diehard conservatives who abhorred the new Ordinary Roman Rite mass was Archbishop Marcel Francois Marie Joseph Lefebvre (1905-1991). 

The French missionary prelate of the congregation of Holy Ghost Fathers opted to stick to the Old Latin mass even if it meant his excommunication. 

“I prefer to be in the truth without the Pope than to walk a false path with him,” he argued. 

Lefebvre subsequently formed the Society of St Pius X and also ordained 4 bishops (without Vatican approval) to further his mission of retaining the use of the Old Latin Mass.

In an attempt to heal a rift with the ultra-traditionalists, Pope John Paul II, in 1983, encouraged the bishops to grant permission to the faithful who wished to use the Old Latin Mass. 

His successor, Pope Benedict XVI went an extra-mile and increased access to the Traditional Latin Mass (2007). Benedict argued that the Tridentine mass appealed to young people. 

He further argued that the two forms would not contradict but enrich each other.  

“For those faithful or priests who request it, the pastor should allow celebrations in this extra-ordinary form also in special circumstances such as marriages, funerals or occasional celebrations such as pilgrimages.” (Confer Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, 2007).

Following Pope Benedict’s Motu Proprio (2007), Catholics enjoyed greater freedom of using the Old Latin Mass. Unfortunately, some Tridentine mass enthusiasts eventually started abusing the privilege that Benedict had given them. 

They started criticizing the Ordinary Roman Rite Mass referring to it as a pure “liturgical corruption.” 

Pope Francis has evidently been aware of this belittling of the Ordinary Roman Rite Mass by some ultra conservatives and its likely consequences. 

As a strategy to avert possible schisms and safe guard the unity of the Church, Pope Francis recently slapped new restrictions on the celebration of the Pre-Vatican Council II Latin Mass.

In his Motu Proprio titled Traditionis Custodes (Guardians of the Tradition), issued on July 16 (2021), the Holy Father advised the Catholic faithful and priests who have been subscribing to the Old Latin Mass to seek new permission from their bishop. 

He also ordered that where permission has been granted, the mass should not be celebrated in the parish church, but in some other place approved by the bishop. 

In some cases, the bishop will need to consult the Vatican before granting the permission. 

Pope Francis made it clear that bishops must make sure that groups celebrating the old Latin Mass “do not deny the validity and the legitimacy” of the standard liturgy.

 Fr Christophe Nouveau, who celebrates the Tridentine Mass at Lubaga Cathedral is optimistic the Old Latin Mass will be allowed to continue.

“I am aware of the guidelines the Holy Father has issued. 

I am happy he has not banned the Tridentine Mass. He has just imposed some new restrictions to safeguard the unity of Mother Church, which is the desire of all of us. 

I will meet the Apostolic Administrator of Kampala Archdiocese, Bishop Paul Ssemwogerere and get his advice. But I am sure this is not the end of the Tridentine Mass because the Pope didn’t suspend it. 

He just wants us to seek renewal of our permission. He also wants the two forms of mass to co-exist without contradicting each other.”

Bishop Ssemwogerere speaks out

When contacted to comment on the issue, the Apostolic Administrator of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kampala, the Rt Rev Bishop Paul Ssemwogerere advised the Christians to be calm and patient as the issue is examined.

“We are going to sit down and examine the Motu Proprio of the Holy Father. Definitely, he must be having very serious concerns which we must examine. So, our Christians should be patient. As soon as we finish our investigations, we shall pronounce the way forward. But of course, I know our brother Fr Christophe Nouveau who celebrates the Old Latin Mass at Rubaga Cathedral followed the right channels and got permission from the late Archbishop Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga. So, I am sure we shall continue to work with him when we get done with the respective discussions.”

Fr Musaala’s Experience of the Tridentine Mass

Rev Fr Anthony Aliddeki Musaala, currently a curate at Rubaga Cathedral, has a rich experience of the Tridentine Mass. He also studied/sang the Latin Gregorian Chants when he was still a Benedictine monk in Nairobi.

“Personally, I love the Tridentine mass because of its associated Latin chants which are flavorful, meditative and highly contemplative. By the way the Latin chants are simpler to sing. They also carry very deep spiritual messages. Their relics are directly adopted from the scriptures. They bring out well the respective themes of the liturgy. Some of our current songs are devoid of that flavour that characterize the Gregorian chants. The Old Latin Mass has of recent become even more popular among young people in Europe and the US, which is very surprising,” Musaala observed.