Traditionalists find reverence, calm at pre-Vatican II Mass in Rome

Published: 2007-04-03

ROME (CNS) -- From the tiny church of San Gregorio dei Muratori in downtown Rome, the sound of Latin prayers spilled into the empty street on a Sunday morning. Inside, a priest assisted by two others celebrated Mass facing the high altar, his back to the congregation. The pews were filled to capacity with about 40 people -- an international group of young and old, men and women -- who followed along in their missals. It was Palm Sunday April 1, and not far away Pope Benedict XVI was celebrating Mass for some 40,000 people in St. Peter's Square. But most of the Catholics who filled the church of San Gregorio consider the pope's "new Mass" less satisfactory, and prefer to worship according to the rite used before the Second Vatican Council. "In a word, it's reverence. There are moments of silence in this Mass, which is important. There's no sense of reverence at a papal Mass -- people are eating as if it's a picnic," said Gary Tarizzo, a 46-year-old airline pilot. San Gregorio is one of three churches in the Diocese of Rome where priests have received special permission, called an indult, to celebrate the Tridentine Mass. In a city of more than 2 million Catholics, perhaps 150 regularly attend these traditionalist Sunday liturgies, according to church officials.

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