At Most Precious Blood of Jesus Parish in Pittsburgh’s Marshall Shadeland neighborhood, Rev. Canon William Avis spent much of Friday’s noon Mass facing the altar and speaking Latin in a low voice.
Many of the parishioners there said they enjoy the old liturgy as they reacted to Pope Francis’ new restrictions on Latin Mass. He reversed a decision by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 that eased restrictions on Latin Mass, which had been universal until the Second Vatican Council modernized the liturgy in the 1960s.
Among the changes, Francis said bishops are no longer allowed to authorize the formation of any new pro-Latin Mass groups in their dioceses.
But the changes apparently will not affect Most Precious Blood of Jesus.
Late Friday, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh issued a statement that “we have one parish dedicated to the celebration of the daily Latin Mass (Tridentine Mass). In July 2019, Most Precious Blood of Jesus Parish (Pittsburgh) was established as a personal parish to support the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass. Under the new norms from Pope Francis, Bishop Zubik confirms the continued existence of Most Precious Blood of Jesus Parish without any alterations.
“There will be no changes to Masses at Most Precious Blood of Jesus Parish.
“Bishop David Zubik said, ‘With today’s communication from the Holy Father, we remain committed to work for the unity of the Church as Pope Francis implores us to do in his latest teaching.’ ”
A similar was statement was made by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia about its Latin Mass parish.
Pope Francis’ reasoning was that the allowing of Latin Mass further divided the church into more internal conflict. He issued a new law requiring individual bishops to approve celebrations of the old Mass and requiring newly ordained priests to receive explicit permission to celebrate it from their bishops in consultation with the Vatican.
In contrast to some of the highly critical comments against Francis on social media, worshipers at Most Precious Blood chose to emphasize the reasons they chose the parish and its Mass.
They said the parish had become a welcoming community for them, contrary to stereotypes that those who prefer the traditional Mass are overly rigid. Instead, one would find people in the church have a diversity in opinions in lifestyles, said Brandon McGinley, 33, of Brookline.
“I have never felt as at home and spiritually fed that I have at this church,” he said. He has been attending the parish with his family since 2018, and said he thinks the traditional Mass communicates truths of the Catholic faith to his young children through the drama and the language.
But he also said he didn’t think there was any place for dwelling on anger or disappointment in the pope’s new rules. “I think I, and we as a community, love the Holy Father, love the old Mass, and love the new Mass,” he said.
Other parishioners there that day shared the same sentiment, with Brookline couple Mary and Ryan Keane saying they would “keep on keeping on” with whatever rule changes might come.
“I trust in our bishop, I trust in our Pope, trust in Our Lady,” Ms. Keane said, with both of them expressing thanks to Bishop Zubik for his past support of the Latin Mass before the diocese issued its statement
Canon Avis, the pastor, declined to comment after the noon service.
Dave and Mandy Capan, a couple from Bethel Park, said they were both converts to Catholicism. They felt drawn to the old Mass because they thought it had something that was lacking in other parishes.
“It’s the dignity, it’s the solemnity, it’s the reverence,” Mr. Capan said. “It’s the conformity of what we’re doing physically with what we’re doing spiritually,”
The Associated Press contributed.
Mick Stinelli: mstinelli@post-gazette.com; 412-263-1869; and on Twitter: @MickStinelli
First Published: July 17, 2021, 3:42 a.m.
