On Saturday, January 5, I attended a Latin mass celebrated by Fr. Francis Li. Latin mass is used before the Second Vatican Council. In the past, special permission had to be obtained from the local bishop to allow priests to celebrate. In Hong Kong, it has been nine years in history. Father Li is replacing the deceased Fr. Mencarini PIME to celebrate Latin mass in the chapel of Cheung Sha Wan Catholic High School.



I was hoping to give Fr. Li a hand as he is nearly eighty years of age, and I also know Latin plus I like Gregorian Chant. I planned to help celebrate mass once a month.



However, after the mass, I said to Fr. Li, “I don’t think I can help you!” To say that Latin is too complicated is just an excuse. The main reason is that there is interaction between the celebrant and the faithful in masses after the Second Vatican Council. But in the Latin mass before the Second Vatican Council, the celebrant has to read alone in low voice, and the scripture is also read in Latin by the celebrant. Even the Lord’s Prayer is singly sung by the celebrant.



Here I’m just expressing my own feelings, because for more than 30 years celebrating masses, I have been interacting with the faithful. If I have to push myself to privately say most of the prayers, I cannot as yet manage.



One young participant said to me, “I like the ceremonious and prayerful atmosphere of a Latin mass.” I appreciate his feeling but I also asked myself, "Why can’t he find the ceremonious and prayerful atmosphere in a Cantonese mass?"