Rorate Caeli

“In Portugal, the dogma of the faith will always be preserved”

Once again Paix Liturgique has commissioned a Harris poll to gauge interest in the Traditional Mass – this time in Portugal in anticipation of the Popes visit. The poll was taken from April 29 to May 6 from a sample of 1433 people over the age of 18 living in Portugal. 950 of these considered themselves Catholic. Here are the results:

Question 1: Do you attend Mass?

Weekly: 11.7%
Once a month: 7.6%
On major feast days: 12%
Occasionally (weddings, etc.): 68.7%


Question No. 2: In July 2007 Pope Benedict XVI said that the Mass could be celebrated both in its modern form known as "ordinary" or "Paul VI" - in Portuguese, with the priest facing the faithful and Communion being received standing – as well as in its traditional form known as "extraordinary" or "John XXIII" - in Latin with Gregorian chant, the priest turned toward the altar and Communion received kneeling. Were you aware of this?

Yes: 26%
No: 74%


Question 3: Would you consider it normal or abnormal if the two liturgical forms were to be celebrated regularly in YOUR parish?

Normal: 44.7%
Abnormal: 40%
No opinion: 15.3%


Question 4: If Mass were to be celebrated in Latin with Gregorian chant in its extraordinary form in YOUR parish, without replacing the "ordinary" in Portuguese, would you attend?

Responses only from regular attendees (weekly and monthly)
- 29.5% would attend weekly
- 24% once a month
- 14.2% for major feasts
- 23.5% occasionally
- 8.8% never

Paix Litrurgique notes that there are currently only two regularly scheduled traditional Masses in the entire country. One extra-parochial Mass at Fatima and another offered by the SSPX at Lisbon.