Pre-Vatican II Latin Mass to be celebrated during World Youth Day

Published: 2005-07-22

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Apparently for the first time in the history of World Youth Day, young Catholics dedicated to the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass and devotions will have Vatican-approved opportunities to pray with the old liturgies. Organizers of the "Juventutem" pilgrimage said they expect at least 2,000 young people from 20 countries to join their World Youth Day activities Aug. 10-15 in and around Dusseldorf, Germany, before moving to Cologne for the international gathering with Pope Benedict XVI. The movement brings together youth groups from a variety of parishes and organizations operating under the terms of "Ecclesia Dei," Pope John Paul II's 1988 norms for maintaining union with the Catholic Church while using the Tridentine Mass. "We have made it explicit to WYD authorities that we expect our liturgical identity to be recognized and indeed welcomed," said a statement published on the group's Web site, www.juventutem.com. "Inviting us to WYD without enabling us to bring the richness of our own traditions would be like inviting a violinist to a philharmonic orchestra without allowing him to play his instrument," the statement said.

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