My Latin Mass
With rumors flying about a Universal Indult I wanted to take a moment to talk about my experience with the Tridentine Mass.
Who goes to the Tridentine Mass? Well, it's certainly not just nostalgic old people. It is the young. It is small families. It is large families. It is growing in-between families. It is also devout elderly. It is people who travel great distances for what they consider a glimpse of Heaven.
Sure, but it is still a small amount of people, right? This Sunday I attended a 9:30am Low Mass. Nearly every pew was full. The rear of the Church has recently been renovated to accomodate folding chairs. They were almost full and there were still people standing in the back.
But the Latin is Boring and who can understand it. I don't find it terribly difficult to follow (and this from someone who had four years of Spanish, lived in Spain for 8 weeks and still can't understand more than five words!). It isn't boring, it's dynamic and sounds beautiful from the mouths of the Priest and the congregation.
Plus there's no participation. Just silence and the clinking of Rosary beads. No one even pays attention. Wrong again. That is NOT the way the Latin Mass is meant to be celebrated. It is important to follow along. Those who attend the Latin Mass should be following along in a Missel or in one of the convenient booklets most Indult parishes have (they're like a Missalette). Yes the first few times you attend a Latin Mass you may be a bit lost. Find a welcoming face, let them know you're new to the Mass and ask if they will help you follow along. I know if you ask me I'll be more than happy to lend a hand! After a few tries you'll be a pro!
Everyone who attends the Latin Mass believes that the Novus Ordo is invalid and the Pope isn't a "real" Pope. NO WAY. There are people like that out there, but there are "mainstream" Catholics who espouse similar views as well. There are plenty of Latin Masses that occur with the full permission of the Vatican and the local Ordinary. (soon there may be a LOT more) The vast majority of people who attend these Masses are obedient to the Pope (more than some Novus Ordo Catholics can claim).
Why not the Novus Ordo? Why can't you just get with the times? There is a beauty in the Tridentine Mass that simply does not exist in even the best, most devout Novus Ordo Mass. I'm sorry to say it. Beauty is objective (not subjective as some would have us believe). Plus, there is something to be said for praying prayers that have been with us for MILLENIA rather than the last, what, 30 to 40 years? Why is Tradition suddenly a bad thing? We all have family traditions that we cherish, why are religious traditions less or even harmful? Think about it.
Who goes to the Tridentine Mass? Well, it's certainly not just nostalgic old people. It is the young. It is small families. It is large families. It is growing in-between families. It is also devout elderly. It is people who travel great distances for what they consider a glimpse of Heaven.
Sure, but it is still a small amount of people, right? This Sunday I attended a 9:30am Low Mass. Nearly every pew was full. The rear of the Church has recently been renovated to accomodate folding chairs. They were almost full and there were still people standing in the back.
But the Latin is Boring and who can understand it. I don't find it terribly difficult to follow (and this from someone who had four years of Spanish, lived in Spain for 8 weeks and still can't understand more than five words!). It isn't boring, it's dynamic and sounds beautiful from the mouths of the Priest and the congregation.
Plus there's no participation. Just silence and the clinking of Rosary beads. No one even pays attention. Wrong again. That is NOT the way the Latin Mass is meant to be celebrated. It is important to follow along. Those who attend the Latin Mass should be following along in a Missel or in one of the convenient booklets most Indult parishes have (they're like a Missalette). Yes the first few times you attend a Latin Mass you may be a bit lost. Find a welcoming face, let them know you're new to the Mass and ask if they will help you follow along. I know if you ask me I'll be more than happy to lend a hand! After a few tries you'll be a pro!
Everyone who attends the Latin Mass believes that the Novus Ordo is invalid and the Pope isn't a "real" Pope. NO WAY. There are people like that out there, but there are "mainstream" Catholics who espouse similar views as well. There are plenty of Latin Masses that occur with the full permission of the Vatican and the local Ordinary. (soon there may be a LOT more) The vast majority of people who attend these Masses are obedient to the Pope (more than some Novus Ordo Catholics can claim).
Why not the Novus Ordo? Why can't you just get with the times? There is a beauty in the Tridentine Mass that simply does not exist in even the best, most devout Novus Ordo Mass. I'm sorry to say it. Beauty is objective (not subjective as some would have us believe). Plus, there is something to be said for praying prayers that have been with us for MILLENIA rather than the last, what, 30 to 40 years? Why is Tradition suddenly a bad thing? We all have family traditions that we cherish, why are religious traditions less or even harmful? Think about it.
posted by kori at 3:36 PM
3 Comments:
Beautifully put, Kori. And I love your parish's web site!
Thank you!
well said. there is something beautiful about the Holy Sacrifice that you can't find in the best Novus Ordo. It's the 1900+ years of organic growth VS less than 40 years of a fabricated liturgy.
God Bless you
When we lived in Palo Alto, the Latin Mass was always well attended. (Vespers were also popular too. I miss it!) However, I have to add that those who decide to attend this type of mass will be more involved than those who are just attending to fulfill what they consider to be a boring obligation.
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