Last night's Papal Mass in the Berlin Olympic Stadium made me realise that maybe I've been a bit too harsh on the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales!

Berlin's Olympic Stadium during last night's Mass

Because my internet connection was playing up last night, I was only able to watch parts of the Papal Mass being broadcast live from Berlin. What I was able to see, though, made me fear the worst for the Catholic Church in Germany. If it wasn't for the Pope's presence at the Mass, the whole spectacle wouldn't have seemed very Catholic at all. Compared to the Catholic Church in Germany, then, I am beginning to think that the Church in England and Wales - for all its modernism - is far more in tune with the mind of the Pope when it comes to liturgical matters.

Coat-hanger Crucifix

The first thing that struck me whilst watching the bits that I saw from Berlin was the bizarre altar cross that had been provided for the Papal Mass. Surely, all liturgists throughout the world know that the Holy Father would prefer to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries ad orientem, but for convenience's sake Pope Benedict XVI is happy to offer Mass before a large crucifix instead. When he was here in the UK, it is known that Mgr Guido Marini insisted that the altar be decorated with a substantially sized crucifix for the Papal liturgies. Thankfully, it seemed as if the Pope's wishes were granted, and the Mass he celebrated at Westminster Cathedral, for example, was done so before an enormous silver crucifix - even if this was only provided at the last minute. Those watching the Mass from the Olympic Stadium in Berlin might have been shocked, therefore, to notice the "crucifix" that had been provided for the Pope. It seemed to be no more than two bits of thin metal welded together - more coat-hanger than the Cross on which the Saviour of the world was crucified!

Another thing I noticed whilst watching last night's broadcast from Berlin was the awful music provided for the Mass. Although there were some nice German melodies from time to time, most of the music seemed to have been of the extremely dated 1970's electro-acoustic variety. This is a real shame, considering that Pope Benedict XVI is known for his love of music, especially the music of Bach and Mozart. We can only hope, then, that those who have planned the liturgies for the rest of his time in Germany will have set the other Papal Masses to the work of one of these two great composers. In his writings as Cardinal Ratzinger, the current Pope has made it abundantly clear that there should be no room for pop-type music or synthesizer-led clap-trap within the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It's about time, then, that those in authority in the Church began to embrace the mind and will of the Holy Father when it comes to such important matters.

Put away your rebellion!

Of course, the only vestments worthy of a Papal Mass at last night's celebration were the ones worn by the Pope and his ministers. Many of the German Bishops seemed to be wearing Star Trek costumes - although, to be fair to Dr Spock, the chasubles worn last night would have been too tacky for the sci-fi show. Needless to say, most of the prelates present at the Mass were also wearing their pectoral crosses over their chasubles -  in direct contravention of the Caeremoniale Episcoporum instruction, "The pectoral cross is to be worn under the chasuble, dalmatic, or cope, but over the mozzetta" (61). The only ones who weren't rebelling in this matter yesterday seemed to be the Cardinals. Maybe they've learnt from their time in Rome that such "spirit of Vatican II" type dissent is just plain rude when attending a Papal liturgy. Thankfully, though, most of the Bishops of England and Wales conformed to this liturgical norm when they concelebrated Mass with the Pope last year. I have also noticed that, bar a few old lefties, most of our Bishops here in the UK have now adopted the correct way of dressing for Mass all the time, wearing their pectoral crosses under the chasuble or dalmatic (which Archbishop Nichols also often wears). I must also say that, at least in London, most bishops in England now make the effort to wear vestments that actually reflect Christ's triumphal glory, as opposed to those polyester chasubles that became all the rage in the gaudy 1970's.

Sadly, there were girl (or were they women - I couldn't see very well) altar servers at the Pope's Mass in Berlin last night. Bizarrely, they seemed to be wearing grey sacks, as if they were some kind of medieval hermits. Of course, their presence was a signal to the Holy Father that the German Bishops do things differently to the Bishop of Rome. This liturgical slap to Pope Benedict XVI's face seemed to imitate some of the more rebellious shenanigans of last year - when altar girls were all over the Holy Father during his open-air liturgies in the UK. Although it is true that bishops have been given the authority, since 1994, to allow girls to serve at the altar, it is well-known that the Bishop of Rome only allows boys and men to assume this ministry. It would therefore only be courteous to do as the Pope does during a Papal liturgy!

One of the saddest elements of last night's Mass from Berlin's Olympic Stadium was the way people received Holy Communion. I only saw two people receive the Host on the tongue, whilst the vast majority seemed to snatch Communion directly from the hands of the priest giving it to them. Of course, those receiving Communion from the Pope are required to kneel and receive on the tongue - though I spotted one rude and rebellious older man sticking his hands out as he semi-knelt before the Holy Father. Needless to say, the gentle Pope Benedict XVI placed the Host in the man's hands. It's probably true to say, though, that most pontiffs throughout the Church's history would have had the man removed!

Watching what I could of last night's Mass made me grateful for the fact that when it comes to matters liturgical the Catholic Church in England and Wales isn't as bad as the Church in other parts of Europe. Maybe we traditional Catholics here in the UK have been a bit too harsh on the Bishops of England and Wales - for it seems that things could be far, far worse! I am also aware of the fact that if it were not for the powerful traditional lobby here in the UK, many of last year's Papal liturgies could have ended up being just as bland, rebellious and depressing as what was on offer during parts of last night's Mass in Berlin. I know one thing for sure, if it weren't for the presence of the Pope at the Olympic Stadium yesterday, I doubt very much that many objective observers would have known that the Mass being offered was actually a Catholic one!