Madam, - Leo Talbot (July 19th) refers to the "dialogue Mass". Unfortunately it was not permitted by Archbishop McQuaid, despite its widespread use in England and on mainland Europe.
Another reason why our old heritage was so easily abandoned in Ireland was that, unlike elsewhere, there was no tradition of a Sunday High Mass such as all large churches had elsewhere. Here it was restricted to a very few places, where Gregorian Chant all too often was not sung well and the tradition of classical polyphony, which was widespread elsewhere and which Pope Benedict's brother maintained so superbly in Regensburg, was completely unknown. In short, in Ireland we had no idea what a treasure we were throwing away.
Would it surprise your readers to know that a daily High Mass and the divine office was the reason why Westminster Cathedral was built in the first place? - Yours, etc,
OWEN KELLY, Portlaoise, Co Laois.