SIR – Regarding low participation in the Sacrament of Confession (Letters, March 22 and 29), may I suggest that availability is a big part of the problem and therein lies the solution?
I live in the US, travel regularly, and spend my holidays in the UK, and have observed a pattern for Confession participation – my own and others’. Where Confession is scheduled alongside every Mass, and especially with evening Mass and traditional confessionals available, there’s always a steady flow of people in line, and of all ages. It’s not just one parish: I’ve seen this everywhere, from Oxford and London to Houston and La Crosse.
Alas, in many places it’s offered for 30 minutes on a Saturday, or maybe 20 minutes on weekday mornings (impractical for working people).
Confession is emotionally and spiritually challenging, even when we value it. Ready access lowers the barriers of anxiety and allows people to learn by observation that it’s part of our faith.
To those who say: “If people really cared, they’d make time to go,” I offer this analogy: we know it’s important to eat fresh vegetables, and modern people already eat too much junk food. Now imagine if the produce section of grocery stores were only open for 30 minutes on Saturday afternoons …
Every Catholic is called to personal holiness, and the Sacrament of Confession is a tremendous gift. We don’t need alternatives or excuses: we need the real thing, made available, with patience to let its use grow. Let’s make it more available.
Dr Holly Ordway
La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States
SIR – Fr Somerville Knapman’s article, “The New Mass turns 50” (Feature, April 5), seems to give prominence to undue criticism of the reformed Mass promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1969.
Regarding its implementation Pope John Paul II wrote: “The reform of the rites and the liturgical books … was brought to an effective conclusion in a few years thanks to the considerable and selfless work of a large number of experts and bishops from all parts of the world. This work was undertaken in accordance with the conciliar principles of fidelity to tradition and openness to legitimate developments, and so it is possible to say that the reform of the liturgy is strictly traditional and in accordance with the sacred usage of the holy fathers” (Vicesimus Quintus Annus, no 4).
The Church may perhaps promote a reform of the reform in years to come, but meanwhile we should obey Pope Francis’s call for an end to the “liturgical conflict”, and under the leadership of our bishops, concentrate priests and people on celebrating the current Form of Holy Mass in a truly sacred, dignified, reverent and beautiful manner.
Jack Robbins
Downham Market, Norfolk
SIR – As a parishioner of the Diocese of Motherwell, I am rather dismayed at Bishop Toal’s announcement that eulogies will no longer be permitted at funeral Masses. While I fully understand that the Mass is sacred and for the glory of Christ, this move seems drastic and mean-spirited. Giving due respect to God while recognising the life of an individual need not be mutually exclusive.
It may be the case that the content of eulogies at funerals has increasingly bordered on the coarse and has not been in keeping with the sacred nature of the Church.
Surely a better solution to such problems would have been for Bishop Toal to issue guidance on what is/is not appropriate within a eulogy. Appropriate guidance would enable family members to deliver a eulogy which recognises the deceased while maintaining a tone appropriate for a Church.
I am not one who buys into the notion that the Church must conform to the quirks of modern life in all things. The banning of eulogies is, however, a move which will harm the Church’s relationship with its flock.
The faithful (who have more grave reasons to have had their faith in Church leadership shaken in recent times) aren’t stupid – they know the Church cannot allow funeral Masses to become a blank canvas for mourners. They will, however, find this move hard to fathom. I appreciate the bishop is trying to enrich the funeral Mass but this seems extreme and will harm the Church.
Graeme Morrison
Chryston, North Lanarkshire
SIR – I am aware that many Catholics are expressing concern about the statutory guidelines which the government is proposing in its Relationship and Sex Education for all children (UK news analysis, April 5).
As a long-retired deputy head of a Catholic comprehensive school which was initially under the direction of the Dominican Sisters, I am reminded of one of the most impressive and far-reaching statements made by the then head, Sister Anthony, OP. She was responding to a question from a visiting inspector who asked her what she considered to be the strength of the school.
Her quick reply was “Relationships”. This one word summed up the care and concern the staff were expected to show to the children as well as one another. This involved the spiritual, emotional as well as academic care for the fully human person. I believe this is the hallmark of a good Catholic school.
While I am sure that our bishops, and in particular Archbishop Malcolm, who has overall responsibility for Catholic education in England and Wales, are working to support our schools and promoting Catholic teaching as a model for education in sex and relationships, I am nevertheless concerned for the many Catholic parents who have to send their children to state schools because of a shortage of places in our own schools.
Brexit has dominated the media for so long that the proposed statutory guidelines may have been missed by many parents, and hence they may be unaware that some of the elements of these proposals could be seen to be contrary to Catholic beliefs. Also, parts of the guidelines leave open the possibility for teachers to advance their own agenda.
I hope that the Catholic media will do their part by publicising the moral issues at stake, thus helping parents to take on their rightful role as “first educators”.
Kath Howell
Loughborough, Leicestershire
SIR – When reading “Message from hell” (Letter, April 5), we must realise that the Church has never declared that a particular soul is in hell (not even Hitler’s, though I don’t rate his chances) or that a message has or can come from there. Thus we must treat the pamphlet from which the story of this damned soul is taken as a work of fiction.
The most important task in this life is to try to work for God to realise his kingdom on Earth in our personal lives and in the world as a whole. This means living in the love of God and our neighbours. Those who realise God’s kingdom in this way will be welcomed into his kingdom in heaven.
Francis Beswick
Stretford, Greater Manchester
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