In an interview and in leaked correspondence, Archbishop Arthur Roche of the Congregation for Divine Worship has doubled down in defending Pope Francis' liturgical reforms as necessary to strengthen the church's unity.
Commentary: Pope Francis regards restoration of the Vatican II liturgy to be of the utmost seriousness. In effect, the reimposed restrictions will dry up the supply of priests who can celebrate the Tridentine Mass.
Distinctly Catholic: Pope Francis is a patient pastor. Until he isn't. His decisive step to greatly restrict the celebration of the Tridentine rite was the only real option in service of the unity of the church.
The Archdiocese of Dijon, France, has asked the traditionalist Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter to leave for refusing to concelebrate Mass according to the post-Vatican II rite.
A change in wording to the concluding doxology of orations in the Roman Missal, from "one God, for ever and ever" to "God, for ever and ever," took effect on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Your thoughts: Two recent opinion pieces at NCR have caused a stir within our readership. One says the traditional Latin Mass is toxic, while the other proclaims its beauty.
Commentary: The Latin prayers, the precise rubrics, the silence, the bells, the genuflections, the Gregorian chant — each prayer, each gesture has ancient lineage, each its own part in the masterpiece.
Commentary: In the wake of much needed reforms instituted by the Second Vatican Council, the Latin Mass has become a rallying point for change-resistant sects within the church.