22 SEPTEMBER 1984, Page 21

Letters

Roman kisses

Sir: Peregrine Worsthorne's suggestion (Diary, 15 September) that French con- gregations at Mass are larger now because young Lotharios hope to pick up a pretty girl at the kiss of peace fits ill with other evidence from pre-conciliar days. Daniel Counihan, the well-known broadcaster and former editor of the Catholic Herald, tells the story of how he was once propositioned in Mexico, in the cathedral, behind the high altar, and on Easter Sunday.

Indeed, Latin lovers (or, if it comes to that, latter-day Cardinal Pirellis) will have less scope for their ungodly dalliance in the sparer liturgy now in force.

Christopher Howse

Editor,

The Tablet,

48 Great Peter Street, 'London SW1