To the bishops, clergy, and faithful members of the Holy Church under my care, especially our Roman Catholic brethren: Shlama lukh!
Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied unto you from Alaha our Father, and from Maran Yeshua Mshikha our Saviour.
It is with deep reverence and pastoral concern that I reaffirm the importance of the Traditional Latin Mass within the life of our Roman Catholic faithful. Not only is it a beautiful and historical expression of the Roman Catholic Church, but it is also a treasure of the universal Church. The Mass, offered according to the ancient Roman rite, has nourished countless generations, saints, and martyrs; it has formed the spiritual life of the faithful for centuries and remains a shining witness to the continuity of the Christian tradition.
As the Apostle wrote, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). The solemn dignity of the Latin Mass embodies this very principle, uplifting the hearts of worshippers and drawing them to the mystery of the altar.
I therefore solemnly declare that the Traditional Latin Mass will continue to be observed by the Roman Catholic members within my jurisdiction. This affirmation is a recognition that this ancient liturgy remains a vital channel of grace and devotion. As King David said in the Psalms, “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:2). This beauty is manifest in the timeless cadence of the Latin prayers, the profound silence, and the orientation of priest and people alike towards our Creator. Far from being an artefact of history, it is a living form of prayer that continues to sanctify the people of God.
While the Church embraces many rites and tongues in her worship, she remains one Body in Christ. As Saint Paul taught, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:4). Thus the preservation of the Traditional Latin Mass does not divide, but enriches, the one holy Church. It stands alongside other venerable liturgies of East and West, each offering its own distinctive beauty, yet all united in the one sacrifice of the Messiah.
I urge the faithful who participate in the Latin Mass to do so with humility, charity, and devotion, avoiding all spirit of contention. Let this holy rite be a source of deeper unity in the Body of Christ and not of division. May it inspire us to greater reverence, to a stronger commitment to holiness, and to a more ardent love of the Lord who comes to us in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood.
Beloved in Mshikha, let us hold fast to that which is good and honourable. “Stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). The Traditional Latin Mass is not only a cherished inheritance but also a present grace for the Church. As it has nourished generations past, so shall it continue to strengthen the faithful today and tomorrow.May the Lord, who is ever present in the Eucharist, grant us His peace, and may His grace sustain all who worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Given under my hand this day, with gratitude to God for the preservation of the sacred liturgy:
+Mar Mattai Beita d’Mshikha
By the Grace of Alaha
Catholicos Patriarch
8 September 2025