YOUTH TAKING THE LEAD IN RETURN TO TRADITION AND SOLEMNITY
A youth movement for Catholics devoted to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman liturgy is planning to attend World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia.
Juventutem derives its name from a Latin word for “youth” and is a multi-national organization dedicated to the daily sanctification of young Catholics through traditional devotions and liturgy.
Pope Benedict recently advocated a wider use of the Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite) in the Church, following the issuance of his Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, which became effective September 14, 2007.
Devotion to this Extraordinary Form of the Roman liturgy is growing among young Catholics, who have discovered the rich treasures of the Church, many of which have been downplayed, or even largely discarded, for three decades by bishops and priests of the 60’s generation.
Now, a new generation has discovered the great devotions of the Church, its Sacred Catholic Music and its rich liturgical heritage.
One of the most surprising news stories to come out of World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany was the presence there of a large group of young Catholics, numbering in the thousands, who were worshiping God using some of the oldest rites in the Catholic Church — including the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (formerly known as “Tridentine”).
This multi-national group called itself “Juventutem“, a word which appears at the beginning of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, at the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, with the invocation of the Priest, followed by the response of the altar server:
(Priest): “Introibo ad altare Dei.” (I will go up to the Altar of God)
(Altar Server): “Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.” (To God, who gives joy to my youth)
Newspapers and magazines covered the story of these dynamic young people who were so devoted to the ancient traditions, music and devotions of the Catholic Church. Cardinal Francis George (USA), Cardinal George Pell (Australia), Bishop Fernando Arêas Rifan (Brazil) and Archbishop Raymond Burke (USA) were among those Church dignitaries celebrating liturgies and leading devotions for Juventutem in 2005, which were often attended by WYD pilgrims coming from other groups to participate in the beautiful Masses and experience Gregorian chant.
Although 2005 was the beginning of Juventutem, much has happened in the intervening three years. It is now not unusual to hear of a group of people devoted to the classical form of the Roman liturgy in the Catholic Church.
In July of 2007, Pope Benedict issued his Motu Proprio entitled Summorum Pontificum, in which he clarified that the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Roman Rite takes two forms - the Forma Extraordinaria (Extraordinary Form, formerly called Tridentine), and the Forma Ordinaria (Ordinary Form, formerly called Novus Ordo).
The Holy Father stated that one reason for the issuance of Summorum Pontificum, in fact, was the widespread devotion to these liturgical forms by young Catholics throughout the world.
“Immediately after the Second Vatican Council it was presumed that requests for the use of the 1962 Missal would be limited to the older generation which had grown up with it,” the Holy Father wrote in his letter to bishops accompanying Summorum Pontificum, “But in the meantime it has clearly been demonstrated that young persons too have discovered this liturgical form, felt its attraction and found in it a form of encounter with the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist, particularly suited to them.”
Juventutem and other groups devoted to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite are not the curiosity they once might have been in 2005. Indeed, the number of young Catholics seeking more tradition and solemnity in the Mass through its celebration in the Extraordinary Form, has grown dramatically.
Juventutem has now become an international youth movement whose goal is the daily sanctification of Catholic youth through Roman traditions. A contingent of Juventutem members will meet this summer in Australia for WYD 2008, and the organizers plan a 2-week long schedule of religious and cultural events.
Juventutem USA has organized a WYD 2008 group package, led by Rev. Fr. Denis Buchholz of the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest. This priestly order, founded in 1990, is entirely devoted to the liturgical forms of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Fr. Buchholz was part of Juventutem at WYD 2005 and is currently pro rector of Old St. Patrick Roman Catholic Oratory in Kansas City, MO. The schedule of events includes daily Mass according to the Extraordinary Form; Lauds, Vespers, and Compline on most days; catechesis and rosary; attendance at the Papal Mass; and of course, some days to explore Australia.
All Catholics aged 16-30 are welcome to join the group, and Una Voce Central Alabama strongly encourages young Catholics in the Archdiocese of Mobile to become a part of this growing, exciting organization of youth who are finding more fulfillment in their spiritual life by recapturing the best, most solemn devotions of the Roman Catholic Church.
For more information on joining Juventutem USA in Australia for WYD 2008, please visit www.juventutemusa.org.