Talking to MessaInLatino.it on March 25, Cardinal Willem Eijk of Utrecht described celebrating the Mass in the Roman rite as an “impressive and unforgettable experience.” Main points of the interview.
- A few years ago, the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter invited me to confer a diaconate ordination at their seminary in Wigratzbad, Bavaria, but I declined because I was not familiar with the Tridentine Rite. Earlier this year, during a short stay at a monastery of the Institute of Christ the King in Germany, I learned how to celebrate it.
- The Eucharistic celebration at the Grote Kerk in Oss [March 15] was my first Pontifical Mass in the extraordinary form. I found it a very impressive and unforgettable experience.
- The church was filled with devout worshippers - most were young, and there were many families.
- The Tridentine Rite is very solemn and offers many moments of silence, providing ample opportunity for personal prayer.
- The priest celebrates the Eucharist not “with his back to the people,” as is often claimed, but facing the altar - and thus Christ - helping those present to turn toward Him as well.
- Three priests were available to hear confessions.
- There was considerable spiritual interest in this celebration - as shown by the large number of attendees, including Germans and Belgians.
- In recent years, we have seen a growing number of young people joining the Church, including those baptized as children but not raised in the faith, who later -often through social media - come to know and embrace it.
- It is striking that many of them find their way to Christ and His Church through the Tridentine liturgy.
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