What can a group of young Catholics assisting or attending the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM)seriously do at World Youth Day? Why should they even bother attending given the sacrilege and scandal which has accompanied previous World Youth Day's? Surely they could achieve far more and provide a better example by offering the sacrifice of the Mass in their TLM communities, rather than give their silent support to a modern Church which has become derailed by ecumenism, liberalism and secularism?

I admit these criticisms of Juventutem have some validity but before critics start throwing stones they should take a serious look at the glasshouses they have built around themselves because for the vast majority of Catholics the TLM is only ever associated with fundamentalism, legalism, sentimentalism and schism. Now there is nothing wrong with upholding tradition and truth or observing rubrics and rules, in fact Catholics should be encouraged to do so. However it must be realised that many young Catholics have neither been educated in nor experienced them firsthand. World Youth Day provides an opportunity, one of many, to extend an invitation to young Catholics to experience the TLM, learn about what the Catholic has taught for generations and immerse themselves in authentic Catholic culture. It also serves to give them encouragement in being signs of contradiction, and stand up against the forces which are destroying faith, morals and worship. All this without them worrying about the canonical status of Juventutem or being asked to submit to one of the other popes who is floating about.