POLL: Have You Ever Attended a Traditional Latin Mass?

I attended a Tridentine Mass in 1996 and was totally disappointed. With the priest having his back to us and speaking in a foreign tongue, I did not feel a part of the liturgy at all. It seemed as if the mass was the priest’s prayer and not ours.
I left with the feeling that I had been to a non-event; I certainly did not feel as if I had worshipped.

I am sorry you feel that way. I attend the Tridentine exclusively, after have left the N. O. No contest, in my estimation. I got tired of worshipping in a Protestant-like manner. So much was deleted/edited from the Mass that renders the N.O. to greatly resemble Cranmer’s Anglican Mass. A travesty. I agree with Scott.

The solemnity of the Mass is not present at the Novus Ordo – the Novus Ordo is like “show biz”, clapping, noisy,CONSTANT singing – no time for private meditation – at the Tridentine Mass one could hear a pin drop, I felt something “special” was occurring – the reverent procession to receive Holy Communion was inspiring.

Simon, that’s a common complaint, especially among people who have just attended one Traditional Latin Mass. But consider this: Until 1970, all Masses and Divine Liturgies were celebrated with the priest and the congregation facing in the same direction–in other words, with the priest leading the worship, usually in the direction of the east (if architectural considerations allowed). Today, Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics continue to celebrate the Divine Liturgy ad orientem, and the rubrics for the current Mass actually presuppose ad orientem celebration (though provision is made for facing the people for pastoral reasons).

The question, then, is this: Is the traditional form, East and West, worship? If so, might the problem lie instead with us modern folk, who perhaps don’t understand fully what it means to worship?

Yes I did attend the traditional Latin Mass. It was lovely and reminded me of my childhood. Yet as magnificient as it was I always would refer to the Holy Spirit sending Jesus’
Apostles out into the world with the gift of tongues. So that every nation and every person could understand the
word.. The Body and Blood of Christ Jesus was celebrated but not in Latin.. I am also afraid that my grandchildren would not feel as warmly about the not understand the Mass and Feeling removed from the Alter of God. Jesus sat ‘amongst’ his beloveds not with his back towards them.
He walked with not apart. I think that would be a huge set back in trying to reach out.

I am also afraid that my grandchildren would not feel as warmly about the not understand the Mass and Feeling removed from the Alter of God.

This is a common fear, but from my experience largely an unnecessary one. My seven children, for instance, have no trouble understanding what is going on during the Traditional Latin Mass (and that includes, in his limited way, my three-year-old).

Jesus sat ‘amongst’ his beloveds not with his back towards them.

Jesus offered His Body to His Father before offering it to His disciples. While the priest acts in persona Christi (in the person of Christ), he isn’t Christ, which is why the posture of leading the entire congregation in facing toward the East, toward God, very quickly developed—by the second century, at the latest.

Don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying that the Church was wrong to allow for the celebration of Mass facing the people (though I prefer traditional ad orientem celebration). But understanding why ad orientem celebration developed, and remained the universal posture for almost 2,000 years, is important for understanding the liturgy, both historical and current.

If so, might the problem lie instead with us modern folk, who perhaps don’t understand fully what it means to worship? Scott

Are you saying that those of us who attend the N.O. do not know how to worship? I hope not……!

The Latin Mass was all I knew until I was 20, I remember as a child thinking, “why is Father moving his elbows so much and why is he mumbling?”and trying to keep up with the Missal (red side/black side) for a child was almost imposable. I also know now, what was really never fully explained to me. I understand clearing and worship fully.
I pray they do not change the Mass……

Pat, my remark was a question to Simon, who said, “I left with the feeling that I had been to a non-event; I certainly did not feel as if I had worshipped.” I pointed out that ad orientem was the posture for worship for almost 2,000 years. If we find ourselves uncomfortable with the posture of worship employed by all Christians, West and East, for that long, might it not be worth considering whether the problem lies with us rather than them?

Just food for thought . . .

The traditional mass i s a beautiful thing, where the priest leads the faithful and everyone faces the tabernacle where Our Lord is. It is not a social event where everyone faces each other and ‘feels good’. It really is the only way to properly worship God and to offer the Most Holy Sacrifice of Jesus Crucified, to Him. I am really excited that more people will be able to attend these masses in the future.
Plus the Latin is great. It’s not hard to follow a missal and having one universal language means you can go to a mass anywhere in the world and it is exactly the same!

I attended a traditional Latin Tridentine mass as a child when my Catholic friends dragged me along but was annoyed with it. I did go to several novus ordo masses in Latin and found it much more involving. However, the point of the vernacular is to involve people and not exhibit the essential separateness of the priest — a separateness which may have in some way contributed to the sense among vulnerable priests that they had rights other humans didn’t have rather than responsibilities other people didn’t have.

I was going to write a comment, but after reading Natalie’s will simply state that I agree with her.

I must disagree with Natalie. The Mass is a social event in the best sense of the word. We are coming together as a community to join in worship. It is a common prayer. I attended many latin Masses in grade school and was very happy that the Latin was dropped. There is nothing inherently holy about Latin. People should understand the words they are praying. So I say keep the Mass in the vernacular.

In the ’50′s I attended a Catholic women’s college which was staffed by Dominican priests and nuns. I loved the Dominican Mass, it was in Latin, but there was also participation by the congregation. To me, it was the best of two worlds.

I think two different Masses gives people a chance to display what that already feel which is they are better than those other people.

Every Sunday at 10:OO I am at the Latin Mass here in Rio de Janeiro at the St. Benededict Monastery with Gregorian Chants,it is a wonderfull experience, also for the tourist that visit the Church of Our Lady of Monteserrat.
The monks also had recorded some CD’s.
Tomorrow we will have St. Benedict Mass in Latin.

I am 40 years old and have been catholic for 20 years now. Although I have never been to a Latin Mass, I have seen videos of it on the internet. I empathize with the beauty and reverence I see in it. It makes me wish that our ordinary Mass had those same elements of sacredness and reverence. I can’t say I agree with having everything in Latin since the vernacular is easily accessible to everyone in my parish, including (and most importantly) my kids. The Mass (both old and new) is supposed to be when heaven touches earth and we, if only briefly, are a part of that wonderful miracle. So, in a nutshell, I’ll take everything except the Latin!

The Mass (both old and new) is supposed to be when heaven touches earth and we, if only briefly, are a part of that wonderful miracle. (Todd)

It is interesting that you make that comment. I was raised Lutheran, but would visit Catholic relatives. I vividly remember being taken to Mass at St Michael’s in Chicago. To me it seemed like a vision of heaven with the beauty-the high altar,white & gold vestements, statues, incense, chanting, kneeling…
I eventually became Catholic in the 1980s. Recently, I have atteneded the Latin Mass (Tridentine) a few times and it still seems like a glimpse into heaven for me!! The beauty, the quietness, draws one towards God.

Laten Mass should be put behind us once and for all. Local language should always be used. I did not understand the laten Mass when I was an alter boy. Because most people didn’t understand laten either, people at that time turned towards saiding the rosary as the mass was being said. People should say the rosary regulary but not when the profound pray of the Mass is being celebrated. I pray that those in infulential positions in our churches do no throw there powerful influence around to influencing the Priest to learn laten so the Mass can be said in that ancient language.
God blessing to all!

The Tridentine Mass emphasised that the Mass is the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. The Novus Ordo is more of a Protestant-oriented “meal” and social event. Mind you, as a 56 year old priest of the Catholic Charismatic Church, I do not have the skill to say the old Mass, even though I was an altar server for many years. I am awaiting the new English translation of Novus Ordo rite I to see if that might serve my purpose.

I was raised a Roman Catholic, and attended many a Latin Mass, and my thoughts were this is very spiritual. I just loved it! I am now a anglican Bishop. God bless.

Bp. Benjamin James,ThD, OSF-TOR

I am a practicing Catholic that largely grew up in the post Vatican II mass. I have attended Tridentine and Novus Ordo masses in Latin as well as the obviously vernacular Novus Ordo masses. I prefer one of the two Latin versions , but vernacular can be nice as well, although I am not really into the folksy Kumbaya type masses. The Tridentine mass offers a certain mystical, holy and sublime experience that is often lacking in the Novus Ordo masses. Remember the mass is first and foremost the renewal of the Christ’s sacrifice on cross. It should be a sublime experience. Having the option of the Tridentine mass is a wonderful thing…and it’s not hard to follow in an English/Latin Missal. Deo gratias!

I attended a couple of Tridentine Masses in the past few months because I was aware of what the Holy Father was likely to be doing. I was very impressed with the sense of the sacred that the Mass imparted. I also think that for the Mass to be helpful to the faithful they will need to be much more catechised than is the norm now. All things considered I would be happy to see both forms of the Mass widely celebrated enabling the Church to be all things to all people that by all means many might be saved.

When my husband and I were able to travel abroad, the Latin Mass would have been welcomed and that is the only time I would ever think of attending one.

As a child, I’m 82, I wished I could be an altar boy and SEE what the priest was doing. Little leaflets showing the priest celebrating Mass were not enough. I recently attended a Latin Mass and it left me cold and angry. I will never watch another one. There was no warmth nor sense of participation. I just WATCHED the back of the priest as he preformed in a fogeign tongue. I’ve had four years of Latin and attended Catholic schools through college so I am comfortable with Latin but the Latin Mass is not for me.

This is what it means to truly worship. The priest stands at the Altar of God and offers the sacrifice to him from all of us. We sometimes get caught up and say I didn’t get anything out of it. But, if we truly understand we know true worship is not about us but all GLORY TO GOD! MASS is to worship.

I love the Latin Mass. I feel that when the priest has his back to us, he does not become the center of the service. There have been some priests that are so theatrical that they take away from the whole reason for the Mass.
I hope that we can experience the Latin Mass again real soon.

I became suspect of the New Order when, I found out that a priest had to get permission to say the Traditional Latin Mass. If something is Holy and Sacred in the past it is still Holy and Sacred. Why was it being denied. The New Order
does not reflect my Catholic upbringing.

Praised Be Jesus Christ.

Yes, I have attend Latin, I enjoy the Latin Mass, don’t have to worry about people Receive our Lord in the hand, No Eucharistic Minsters, No Alter Girls. If you are every in Chicago go to Saint John Cantius.

God Bless

It seemed as if the mass was the priest’s prayer and not ours? FYI – It IS the priest offering the sacrifice of the mass to God. Priest’s have always offered the sacrifice and always will. A true priest will offer that very sacrifice whether you (or anyone at all) is there or not, like it or not. If you’re not comfortable, just go back to your protestant like service, and enjoy.

I agree with Jason and believe that we need to be open to this action by the Holy Spirit to advance our love of God through this greater form of praise.

(The traditional Latin Mass) is the most beautiful thing this side of heaven. It came forth out of the grand mind of the Church and lifted us out of earth and out of self, and wrapped us round in a cloud of mystical sweetness and the sublimities of a more than angelic liturgy, and purified us almost without ourselves, and charmed us with celestial charming so that our very senses seemed to find vision, hearing, fragrance, taste, and touch more than ear can give.
–Fr. Frederick W. Faber, 19th century, Oratorian priest
at the Brompton Oratory, London, close associate of Cardinal Newman

I am 70 years old. I attended a Tridentine Mass last year. It supported my desire and love for the present Ordinary Form of the Mass. Even if the Mass were to be celebrated “ad orientem” with priest and people facing the same direction, why not in English?

Prior to Vatican II, most people did not follow Mass with a missal but just said their own prayers (hopefully). Also, only a minority of people attend a High (sung) Mass on Sunday. Usually all but one Mass were Low Masses.

I grew up with the Latin Mass and we still particpated. Our book was in Latin on one side and English on the other. We used to sing alot of the songs in Latin. It still meant alot and you still were there to pray and worship our Lord at the Last Supper.

the catholic church is being attacked by forces outside her walls. the latin mass is the army that will defend her.

In 1972 during the newly-established CCD High School program in our rural parish, several of us seniors asked our priest if he would say a Latin Mass so that we would be able to see the differences between the English and Latin Masses.
He refused.

Since St.Mary’s in Rockford hosted the Latin Mass, I have discovered true reverence, sense of the sacred, and a welcome and much-desired emphasis on the Mysteries taking place at the altar.

Distractions are at a minimum and predispose the mind and soul to attentive worship.

May God bless Bishop Thomas Doran for his support of the Latin Mass in Rockford!

We had a priest (Fr. Schumacher) straight out of the seminary at Holy Name in Sheridan, Wyoming several years ago. Fantastic!!!If it is possible please offer it more often in parishes, please do.

the Latin mass allows more time for contemplation within the service and not just spouting words by rote – almost like the times table when you were a child. You could go anywhere in the world and be able to participate fully and not feel ‘ foriegn ‘. I think one Sunday mass should be in Latin – morning, evening or the Saturday evening one and that should be implemented by Pope Benedict all over the world.

I had participate last Sunday 11th here in Rio de Janeiro where I live at the Monastery of Saint Benedict the Latin Mass with Gregorian Music by the Monks and the assembly.The Conventual Mass every Sunday at 10 am is in Latin and Portuguese.
If a Catholic visit Rio must go there, the Monastery was built in 1590 and it is a National Monument, also if you appreciate Gregorian Music is the place to hear it.
From the last 4 years I only go to this Mass with my wife and now we will go to classes of Gregorian Song in the Monastery from next month to help the monks to have a more beatiful celebration.

I’ve never been to a Latin Mass let alone a Tridentine one. I’m curious I’ll admit. I have to say though it’s difficult for me to not be put off by the attitudes of those who prefer the Latin to the vernacular Novus Ordo. There seems to be a lot of ‘holier than thou’ and ‘better than you’ and ‘clearly my worship is superior because my sacrifice is greater/more holy/more reverent/whatever’. Quite off-putting to say the least.

Whatever happened to “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”?

I addended Latin Masses regularly growing up. When we were in Rome in the mid 80′s we had the privelege of attending a Papal High Mass in St. Peter’s. The Mass was in Latin and the homily, given by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, was in Italian! It didn’t matter that I speak neither language, it was a truly moving experience.

I am a traditional catholic and I agree with the comment we think we are holier than thou. It is so hard not to. At Latin Mass Jesus is adored and cared for – not one piece of Him falls to the ground. I know I will only receive Jesus from the consecrated hands of the priest not some ill clad woman or the man down the street with dirty finger nails. Then too I will have time to prepare myself for the great coming of Jesus onto the Altar as opposed to rhyming off prayers that seem a little protestant like. At our Church in Cork, Ireland the steeple bell is rung across the city at the Consecration of the Mass. This is the Mass that called and formed the greatest saints of the Catholic world. But our lovely priests are always standing in the pulpit and warning us that we need not think we are any better than the novus ordo crowd, that unless we do the Will of the Most High God we will not enter heaven.

Some of the comments surprised me, I guess because of my love of the Latin Mass. Latin itself is not holy, and those attending don’t think of themselves as ‘holier than thou’ ~ quite the contrary ~ praying the Latin Mass makes one more humble. The prayers all through the Latin Mass are so rich, and yes, there is more reverence throughout the Mass. When the Novus Ordo replace the Traditional Mass so much was removed ~ and sorely missed.
Our pastor, Fr. Manuppella, Merchantville, NJ held a series of instructions for all interested before bringing the Latin Mass at St. Peter’s Parish as soon as he was able. We have a Latin Mass at noon every Sunday ~ and yes,it is ‘heavenly’

I converted from the Anglican community to the Catholic Church at an F.F.S.P. parish.
I fell in love with the Tridentine Mass. So very reverent. Between the language, the music, and the rituals it becomes obvious that a great miracle is taking place.
To have the priest leading us rather than facing us just makes a lot more sense to me.
And you needn’t care about kneeling to receive the Lord of the Universe. You receive in the same way it was done for centuries, and is still the norm of the Church.

The Latin Mass allows one to worship God. It allows one to have a private moment with a present God and not be bothered by hugging and kissing and shaking hands with those around. If you merely want a social event with your fellow Catholics, then the post 1970 vernacular is for you. If you would like to humbly worship before Almight God, then the Latin Mass is perfect.

I participated in the Latin Mass as a child – I am now 61 – and several times since then. I had some Latin in Catholic High School many years ago. Also, I have participated in Masses in Spanish. All of them are beautiful – especially when I am focused.
Herbert

As a child, Mass was said in Latin, it was difficult for me to adjust to the current Mass. After a few years, I finally became accustomed to the new Mass; however, I felt then as I feel now, the Latin Mass feels more sacred to me. I am 62 years old and find that I still do many small things today that I did during Mass long ago, i.e., pound my fist to my heart during the consecration, stay kneeling until the consecrated bread is locked into the tabernacle, old habits die hard.

I have been to the Latin Tridentine Mass in Pittsburgh, Pa., hundreds of times and love it. I was one of the original members who helped to get this Mass in Our area.

I went to St. Paul’s Cathedral School in the 1950′s. So my first experience of the Latin Mass was in that beautiful Cathedral. I have looked for churches in Pittsburgh that offer the TLM and haven’t found one. Would you mind telling me where you go. I am so heartsick to not be able to worship God in this beautiful way.

I have belonged to The Latin Mass Society for about 40 years, and they have played a great part in bringing back the Tridentine Mass. I attend the Latin Mass whenever I can and fortunately there is a Latin Mass both in Brisbane and in Sydney, and increasingly now all over the world. I endorse everything that Natalie has said so succinctly. As for the Latin, all you need is a prayer book with your native tongue down one side and Latin on the other to understand and follow the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

As a baptized Catholic at the age of one I grew up with the Latin Mass and thoroughly enjoyed it until Vatican 11 did it best to try and destroy it. I was lucky on my motorcycle travels to find the Latin Mass in Kingman Arizona during the late 1990″s and early 2000′s. When the Pope asked for the Churches to return to the traditional Mass all my parish priest said was that he would leave the Church if made to say the Latin Mass. Please pray for our parish.

I was raised with the Latin Mass and loved it, especially High Masses, and have missed it ever since the change. I finally had an opportunity and attended one a couple of years ago and found it to be quite a disappointment. With the priest turned around, and trying to keep up with the English translation instead of just listening I left with an empty feeling.

Very mystical, very reverent seems more so than English

i attended a Latin mass after 1970s. It was in a small town in Malaysia – i was teenager then in the 1980s actually. It was the funeral of a much loved old priest. The mass was totally sung in Latin.

I was moved to tears. It was a feeling rather than a tangible logical thingy. Can’t explain it. MAybe it was bcos the older folks in parish got together and all their memories came flooding back? Maybe it was collective mourning for a much loved priest? Or maybe it was the rhythm of a sung Latin mass that evokes deep emotions and solemnity? Or maybe it’s all three?

Whatever it is, it cannot be logical -bcos being Malaysian and a teenager then, obviously i don’t understand Latin. And it was my first (and only) experience of a Latin Mass.

But I am grateful i had that chance to experience it.

I converted to Catholicism in 1995 and did not find out that the Latin Mass has different prayers than the new Mass until I finally experienced the Latin Mass in 2004, it actually made me angry that such a reverent and beautiful Mass had been stolen from the faithful.

Our priest says that since he is facing the same way as us (ad orientem) because he is leading the worship in the direction of God. You wouldn’t want a bus driver to face you when he is driving!

Since I was born in 1965 I must have attended the Tridentine for the first four years of my life, but unfortunately I have no memory of it at all. And it is not available now where I reside. The pope’s motu proprio is wonderful for people in America who have access to the Tridentine Mass (and just about everything else under the sun). You can choose whether you want to go to it or not. But it doesn’t do the rest of us any good, I’m sorry to say. Please try to be thankful that you have a choice!

I have never accepted Vatican II’s move to the vernacular Mass. The Trinidentine Mass is the reflectionof the ancient rites and the sacrament instuted by Jesus and the Apostles. As Pope Benedictus Sextus stated, the Latin Mass was never abrogated under Vatican II because it is forbidden to emliminate the ancient rite. This is why Catholics are all over the place with their beliefs. They pick and choose which commandments they will obey and think this is ok. It is not acceptable to use birth control, to have an abortion, to lie, to steal, to commit adultery–no matter what the circumstance. You cannot choose what you will and will not do. As for the Mass, it is a sacred sacrament and the priest should be facing the tabernicle which should be behind the altar. The priest is a representative of Christ and therefore should be facing the tabernacle as one of the celebrants of the mass–the other celebrants being the congregation. Today many parish have what I call circus masses, they have plays, mimes, and whatever other nonsense all to say they are trying to attract the people to come to church. If you have to give up the sacred Eucharistic celebration to get someone to church–forget it! That is Satan winning the battle.
Pax vobis cum.

I attended my first Latin Mass as a teenager. At first I found it very foreign and didn’t appreciate it very much. But the more I went and the more I learned, I found out that there is a theological significance and purpose to every action and prayer going on at the Altar (and not just thrown into the Mass-like the handshake at the Novus Ordo).
As I grew deeper in my Faith, I discovered the reasoning behind all the reverence, kneeling, holy music, and receiving Christ on the tongue. It IS because Jesus Christ is LITERALLY made present at the Consecration and should be the focal point of all of our attention. Even a Muslim told this Priest I was listening to off the internet, that if he really thought that God was present on the Altar, as all Catholics supposedly believe, he would not be behaving in such a lax, irreverent attitude (as witnessed in most Novus Ordo churches).
So I often find myself almost concluding that the Traditional Latin Mass and the Novus Ordo are 2 different religions with two different theologies and focal points-one God centered, and the other more man centered. Though, I DO NOT fall into the error of Sedevacantism, where they say that all post-Vatican II Popes are invalid Popes, and what they lead is not the True Catholic Church. It still is the Catholic Church, and the Novus Ordo Sacraments are still valid-granted proper form, matter, and intention.
You probably can find a Latin Mass in your area with a quick google search. Hope you all come to discover and love the Mass that formed and fed so many Saints. Our Lady of Fatima, Pray for Us!

I love the Traditional Mass. I find the modern Mass to be a dumbed down, watered down version it, to go along with the dumbed down, watered down version of what passes for the Faith since a certain “non-dogmatic pastoral” council all but destroyed the Faith handed down from Jesus and His apostles, Catholicism “Lite,” if you will.

I have attended a traditional Latin Mass both in many years past and in recent years. In both cases it was extremely disappointing! Certainly doesn’t help one recognize the presence of Christ. Christ really connected with the people. The Latin Mass absolutely does not. Let us go forward, not backward. If we want to be authentic, maybe would should celebrate the Mass in Aramaic.

I was born and raised after the Council, and grew up with guitar “Mass”, tie-dye vestments, ugly burlap banners with banal sentiments, and church buildings stripped of their beauty. Through the grace of God, I found a Traditional Mass a few years ago, and have never been back to the Novus Ordo Protestant abomination since then. I hope that I will live to see it relegated to the dustbin of history, where it belongs, along with the horrid “music” and wretched “theology” it has spawned.

I am only 22 years old, and so never knew about the differences between the Novus Ordo and the Tridentine, or even the existence of the latter. Now all I prefer is the Traditional Latin Mass with its sense of reverence, rich prayers, and the fact that it was this Mass that enriched the spiritual lives of countless Saints, whether they were in the congregation or at the altar.

What I cannot understand is the HOSTILITY people have towards the TLM, clergy and laity alike. It’s one thing to not prefer it like many here have commented, it’s another thing to oppose its existence, use, and freedom (even though as the Holy Father says, it was never abrogated). I think that the best way to smooth out the fear of the TLM is to structure the rubrics of the Novus Ordo in such a way that it is celebrated more reverently in the ways the Saints imagined it, and the prayers enriched with stronger expressions of sacrifice, the Real Presence, and the like. The shenanigans that go on in many parishes need to go, not just involving the Liturgy itself (though it is key), but the presentation of Catholic teaching as well.

I am a recent convert to Catholicism having been confirmed in 2009. I have been studying The Church for almost a decade now and the thing that confuses me is there are obvious strengths for both the new and traditional masses. yet it seems that no one does an English translation of the traditional mass which to me seems an obvious step.

Scott,

As you invited people to talk about their experience, there’s been a lot of talk in these comments about feelings, and a fair amount about symbolism. Some people here have very strong reactions to one form of the Mass or another, positive and negative. But there hasn’t been much in the way of addressing the questions you raised in comment #2.

I start with the assumption that any form of Mass approved by the Church is as valid a form or worship as any other. However, I suppose as I continue to think about this, certain forms might be more appropriate at certain times or in certain circumstances. My next step is to think it must be OK for the people to have some influence over which form of Mass will be generally used locally. (Though this seems a little strange–how much local influence is there supposed to be? Could a parish–just a run-of-the-mill parish in a run-of-the-mill town–like the one I grew up in simply stop using vernacular forms altogether and move exclusively to the Tridentine or even some other form?)

I found your other question very interesting. The one about understanding fully what it means to worship. What does the Church teach about what it means to worship? How does the fact that there are various forms of the Mass fulfill worship? Does the Church recognize other forms of worship that are not the Mass? (I’m thinking here of praying the Rosary for instance.) Or are these kinds of things considered something other than forms of worship?

SM

Born and raised with the Latin mass, and I love it more the 2nd time around. I left the novus ordo 2-1/2 years ago – driven away by the lack of reverence, noise, anything-goes dress code, & what I thought were uninspiring prayers and liturgy. I now attend the traditional Latin Mass every Sat. and Sun. in a lovely old church. I feel I pray (lift mind and heart to God) much better there. I like extra-ordinary worship. I have a missal with beautiful prayers that I can say before and after Mass – it’s very quiet there after the novus ordo parishoners leave. Deo gratias!

The folks here who don’t get the TLM are the victims of poor Catechesis which is the fault primarily of the Church but also your own fault.

I, too, am a post VII Catholic and was poorly Catechized. What I did know was that I couldn’t bear the N.O. Mass for one more second. I got tired of the irreverence, the altar girls, the extraordinary ministers of communion and gaggle of lay people traipsing about the sanctuary, the pop music, everyone dressed like they were going to a barbecue, and that horrible “sign of peace.”

That’s not “participating in the Mass.” That’s worship of self. Participating in the Mass in the TRUE sense of the term is to PRAY throughout the Mass along with the priest and meditate on the Sacrifice at Calvary you are about to witness.

The Holy Ghost led me to a liturgy I didn’t even know existed. I’ll never forget my first TLM. I didn’t want it to end. My Sunday obligation went from a reluctant labor ending in disappointment to a deep joy and highlight of my week.

I Catechized myself thereafter and learned more in a month than I’d been taught in twelve years of post VII Catholic schools. And I learned the Liturgical Latin. It’s not a “foreign language.” It’s the universal language of Holy Mother Church and has been for millenia. Learning it is a snap.

Those of you opposed to the Mass of All Ages better get used to it. It’s not going away. In fact, in a generation or two I’d say the new Mass will probably be left on the ash heap of history as an embarrassing leftover from the Church’s foolhardy flirtation with the heresy of modernism.

Just say NO to the Novus Ordo.

I attended the pontifical EF in Wash DC in May, my first EF Mass. I realize it was a high Mass, so not every EF Mass would exhibit the same characteristics, but here are my observations for what they’re worth: 1) the Latin is inherently superior to the vernacular because it embodies an essential continuity and underscores apostolic succession. I used a bilingual missal and had no problem following. 2) I found the EF to offer more time for prayer and prayerful reflection; 3) the chant, polyphony, and sacred music were far superior to any OF Mass I have attended in my 45 years (and my parish has an excellent choir and organist). They tap into a reverence that typical hymns and sacchrine, Protestant duties can’t touch. 4) when the priest, ad orientam, raises the host and the chalice toward the crucifix, we are trully reminded what the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is all about (and it ain’t hand holding and coffee and donuts); 5) how could the OF have possibly excluded taking the host on the tongue while kneeling at the communion rail? This seems the only appropriate way to take communion. All these and other elements produce a level of spiritual seriousness and profound humility that I have never witnessed in the OF – needless to say, no grown men in flip-flops, no grown women in sweats, no boys in soccer cleats or girls in tube tops.

The thing is “Lex orandi est lex credendi” –The way we pray is the way we believe. Now when the Protestants left the faith they changed the mass to reflect their faith. The Protestant “worship service” differed markedly from the Catholic Tridentine rite, the Mass of all times, and this reflected the difference in belief. The Novus Ordo was desigmed to bring the Catholic Mass to conform as much as possible to Protestant practices. Many of the changes incorporated in the Novus Ordo were changes that Cranmer had made in order to reflect the Protestant faith. Fact, you can look it up. Many Catholics therefore who have been attending the Novus Ordo, have lost their focus on how the theology of the Latin Mass, a Mass that served to continue the Catholic faith for over a thousand years, reflects the Catholic faith. Their criticisms of the Latin Mass reflect Protestant criticisms and Protestant thinking. Most do not make any effort to understand the Latin Mass as they are content with the Novus Ordo. It appeals to modern Catholics, like Heavy Metal Rock and Roll appeals to the young. The young mob Rock and Roll concerts, and have no use for classical music, because they don’t understand classical music and Rock and Roll appeals to their emotions. There is a law in economics that bad money drives out good money. And bad music drives out good music, as witness the number of stations broadcasting Rock and Roll with those broadcasting classical music. Now some view this as progress. I think it reflects mankinds damaged intellect.

At least in the TLM you don’t that many abuses like there is now in the Novus Ordo (New Mass). The TLM is centered on God, and not man. You also have people in the TLM praying the rosary before Mass, You don’t have to listen also everybody talking and socializing. Most TLM’s I have been to have almost everybody dressed modesty.

i attend the latin mass every sunday. when i first started attending, i nearly cried when i thought about how the beauty of this mass has been lost to most catholics. the novus ordo mass doesn’t have the reverence. anyone who has gone to both and compared them, would have to admit to this. it’s interesting to note, also, that the only recently built catholic seminaries in the united states are latin rite only, and they are filled to capacity. the novus ordo seminaries are generally in decline, if not already gone.

I have never seen a missal for the Tridentine Mass that does not include an English translation on the opposite page. Some, used to the novus ordo Mass,who have visited my EF Parish, complain that the EF is “too long”, “No community spirit”, “The people there are snobs”. This shows their thinking-it’s all about man, not God. I heard an OF priest lecture the people to not call him a “priest”. He is a “presider” and it is a “Community meal” not a “sacrifice”. That must be why they think “guitars” and “happy songs” are appropriate. Latin is a “dead language” and used by the Church for that very reason. Meanings change in the vernacular. Take the word “Gay”. It sure doesn’t mean what it used to. The key word in many of these postings is “Reverence” which is what seperates the two forms, in most cases and it trickles down to the behavior and attire. I have never met an EF devotee who thought they were better than others. Rather they are profoundly grateful for having found the EF Mass and wish more could experience the same joy!

It is hard for me to understand those of you who comment that you grew up with the Old Mass, but who now love the N.O. and practically hate the Mass of your youth! I can only think of what St. Thomas Aguinas said about the impossibility of loving what one does not know. You people must not know that what you so readily dismiss is actually the re-presentation of the Sacrifice of Calvary in a ritual guided, developed and nurtured by the Holy Ghost Himself over the course of at least 1,500 years!

As Cardinal Ratzinger himself admitted, the N.O. is a “fabricated”, on-the-spot liturgy composed by man with the help of 6 protestants! There you have it: A true form of God- oriented worship as compared to a celebration of self. For me the choice is a no-brainer. On Sundays God commands me to worship Him and the best way to do this is by attendance at the Old Tridentine Mass. All of my children feel the same way.

Vatican II said all of you were to be taught the Latin Responses and the Ordinaries in Gregorian Chant. Bluntly you were robbed of your heritage. The Vernacular Mass was never intended to supplant the TLM. It was for missionary work in Africa. HH Pope Benedict XVI is a much more charitable pontiff he will not take the NO Mass away in one blow. It hurts very much if done like that I know. Slowly the NO Mass will be fixed and in a hundred years this division will be gone and Latin will be spoken in the Roman Rite once again.

I was born in 1942 so I grew up with the Latin Mass which I love and miss. You could go anywhere in the world and you felt immediatley at home although the “sermon” would be in the native language. I was an altar boy from ’51-’56, so I answered for the congregation in Latin to the priest’s statememts. I was also a Master at funerals. I hope to see parishes offering at least one traditional Latin Mass on Sundays while still offering English or whatever the language of the parish for the other Masses.

The nervous disorder needs to go, it has caused enough harm to the church. With lack of of vocations, Catholics not believing in the True Presence, and not to mention all the Catholics leaving the One True Faith. The Mass is not a social event or a supper it is the unbloody sacrifice on Calvary. It is so true lex orandi lex credendi, the way you pray is the way you believe. The NO is more protestant than Catholic.

Those who have complained about the Latin Mass almost always talk about how they feel–that they feel that they are not involved, etc. Worship is not about feelings–it is about the most appropriate way to worship God. Having experienced both rites on a regular basis, and having worked hard to participate in each, I have come to the conclusion that the older form of the Mass–in Latin and with the priest facing East, toward God–is the objectively better form.

This does not mean that I think that I am holier than anyone. That the rite is better has little to do with the people who assist at that rite. I know that I am a poor sinner who needs forgiveness and repentance. The older Mass has helped me to understand that much better than the new form, and this is one of the most important reasons that I think that it is better.

Unlike most commentors, I am a little different. Since the age of 3 or 4, I have hardly attended an OF Mass. My parents left the local parish in the early 70′s, I think Communion in the hand was the death nell (that was years before it was officially approved). My Parish priest at the time was the only one in the parish who sympathised (he gave me a bronze statue of St Paul which is still on my desk as I write) But he felt he had to obey his bishop (which according to Pope Benedict was not the case at all). So my parents sought out old retired priests still saying the Trad Mass. My parents believed that the guitars, extraordinary ministers and other abuses of the OF were a mockery and so refused to attend it at all. Sometimes we went 6 months without Mass, but even so, by the time I was about 14 and Masses were almost weekly again, I had learned the Latin almost by heart, and knew the meaning of all the prayers (although the depth of meaning in the Traditional liturgy is something else.. you can never plumb the depths of it)- Having a Mass in Latin is not an obstical to understanding except to those with no desire to find out.
The only OF Masses I have attended have been funerals. The last one I attended had so much back patting at the beginning, that I felt God was only present insofar as He is ‘present in the congregation’. It was a shame because there was a little separate chapel off to the side of the church where God really was present, and it would have been a simple matter to invite Him along. I didn’t like the thought of Him being left out so I got up and spent the rest of the service in quiet prayer with Our Lord, something I could not do in the main church because of all the noise. Maybe it is because I am not used to thinking about God in an environment where everyone is making a din about how wonderful they think they are, maybe I’m deprived because I’ve been conditioned to think that ‘God speaks in silence’. Perhaps the noise and the English are no obstical to finding spiritual meaning in the OF, and maybe I just need to look a little harder, but there it is, this cradle ‘Latin Mass’ Catholic can’t stomach the OF.

Our priest had a wonderful comment that made sense of it all to people that were new to the TLM. “If you were flying in a plane or driving on a bus wouldn’t you want the pilot or driver facing the same way so that we all go to the same destination safely and on time”? It sure made sense to those who had never been before and for those of us who had been, it made us understand even more why our Mass was that much more special

Post 1970 and the Tridentine Mass is what brought me back into the Church. I am 41 and had only heard and witnessed the sorrow of a family member who was greatly disturbed for life that the Tridentine Mass was suppressed. Thanks to her memories my Catholicism was preserved and through her memory I have found the Mass for me. I feel she is there with me at Mass and would be happy that someone in our family has returned to the Mass. Everyone else has fallen away. The new theology is empty for them all. I understand why, now that I have the comparison.

Post 1970. I am 41 and have returned to Mass precisely for the Tridentine Mass. Witnessing a family member’s lifelong agony at its’ suppression I was always curious what it held. Though she is no longer here to go with me I feel she is there at every Mass I attend. Happy from beyond. The new theology saw my whole family fall away. I am the only one left who practices and I go to the Tridentine Mass. A little lonely, but so I think the Mass may feel the same.

English speaking people have a hard time with Latin. Most Western European countries’ languages are rooted in Latin. For a French, an Italian or a Spanish or Romanian, it easy to follow a Mass in Latin. I find the Gregorian Chant majestuous, the music is “out of this world.” The New Order was designed so people would understand the Readings and the Prayers, therefore feel part of it.
Americans have a hard time learning foreign languages, ( worse even in the case of a “dead” language as Latin). Because everyone else speak English to them, it is unnecessary to learn, say Spanish, or Italian, or Urdu. I
want to understand the Rite, but I also participate joyfully in the singing of “Credo in unum Deum.” Try it!

I attend the Latin Mass when there is one I can attend. I love the reverence and Gregorian Chant. The more I attend the Latin Mass the more I love it. The weekday Novus Ordo Mass is fairly reverent depending on the priest who says it, but the Sunday Mass is on many occasions like attending the theatre where people lounge cross legged in the seats or jig about the guitars and drums, and birthdays and anniversaries are announced as if that is the most important thing in life. So I prefer to attend the Latin Mass the focus is on God, rather than the priest and how he did at golf last Sunday.

I’m an Irish immigrant in San Francisco. I’m disgusted with the lack of respect for choice as shown by our archbishop.

We have absolutely no access to the 1962 Rite in an Catholic church in San Francisco.

For years, I mean virtually 20-years I’ve refused to attend any English version of Mass. I do not believe in the phony baloney of ballet being danced as a way to worship.

The Catholic church in my native Ireland is on it’s wit’s end. — There’s obviously an urgent need to restore altar railings, pulpits and the Tridentine Rite in Ireland’s Catholic churches.

Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTE) Website: http://www.rte.ie/news, reported on 25th July 2010:

“The Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Michael Neary, spoke to pilgrims of the importance of maintaining the faith that had kept the tradition alive through many difficult centuries.

He said that faith was never more important than at a time of much doubt and uncertainty and concern for the future”. Let there be no doubt Dr. Neary, you simply must play an active part in restoring the Latin Mass in every parish and on a weekly basis throughout the Archdiocese of Tuam.

How hard it is to see so many bishops and priests disobeying our Holy Father by refusing to allow / provide the Extraordinary form of Mass according to the Summorum Pontificum motus proprio. I go as often as I can to the Latin Mass but recently have attended the local N.O. When our parish priest is celebrant he likes to end each Mass with a joke- how awful. I can’t get out quick enough ! This past Sunday I had to ask a group of people nearby to cease talking and laughing as I tried to complete thanksgiving. They had their back to the tabernacle – had to be reminded the Blessed Sacrament was still there. This casual disrespect is the result of the flippy theatricals played out around the modern Mass. Our parish priest stopped us having Latin Mass in a local chapel and now is annoyed as we ask for it in the parish church. There are two priests able and willing to celebrate it. Both versions of Mass are legitimate (though some modern Masses are ‘on the edge’) but the reverence and beauty of scripture in the Latin Mass cannot be equated with the kindergarten style of ‘participation’ at the modern Mass. It is sad to read of people not being able to grasp the valuable difference and preferring the touchy feely carry on demonstrated so often – in various forms – at the modern Mass. For some it is as if Sunday Mass is a weekly entertainment rather than the Holy Sacrifice of Calvary where the priest is in Persona Christi.

I have never attended a fully Latin Mass. I am a 5 year ago convert. Honestly, the Latin is nice in moderation, but I really don’t like that much of it. If I can’t understand the language I can’t fully partake in the fullness of the event. Sometimes my particular parishes’ mass is a little dry anyway – If Latin became very much more prevalent I would certainly need to find another parish to attend for my own sake. Just my two cents.

I think the Tridentine mass is beautiful, spiritual, and quite lofty. However, I have a hard time equating that with the Jesus who walked among sinners, ate in their homes, washed their dirty feet, and died a horrible death to redeem us all. Clearly some prefer a high, distant and other worldly sense of worship while others prefer a more immediate, living presence. I understand and respect that. The hateful comments from so many about the NO, however, leave little doubt in my mind that these commenters are anything but followers of Jesus, the Christ. I pray for them daily.

I wonder what the original apostles would think of the Tridentine Mass, in a language few, if any, of them spoke and none of them would recognize and the implication by many traditionalists that they are therefore somehow less Catholic and Christian?

Reading the above comments you can’t help but notice it is the over 50 crowd that is most hostile and reactionary to the Tridentine (Latin) Mass. The young and very young are open and receptive to it and more that willing to get their butts outside the box, not the 60′s generation. Obviously the Catholic church since Vatican 2 has been (deliberate or ignorant) in the cathechising of both the laity and priesthood. If not why the many comments dahh, the priest has his back to the people dahhhh it’s in a foreign language etc ect etc etc. The Mass is completely and wholely WORSHIP ADORATION AND THANKSGIVING TO THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE–GOD. It is NOT a cumbya huggy love fest as popularized by the reactionary post vatican two liberal revisionists. IT IS FOR AND TO GOD ALONE. iN 50 YRS THE NOVUS ORDO SERVICE OF pope paul 6th will be nothing but a bad memory. maybe then the millions that left the Catholic church after the fiasco called vatican two may return or their children will.

How would Jesus feel if he hear the Latin Mass in the Catholic church or the Liturgy of St. Basil in Orthodoxy, use your head, think in terms of history, Jesus spoke Aramaic while he walked the Earth a branch of Hebrew, he said he came NOT to change a dot or tittle of the Law (Mosaic law) in the (Torah). He was an Orthodox and observant Jew and loved his Fathers house The Holy Temple in Jerusalem. NO Jesus the Christ would have NO problem with the dignity of the 4th thru 6ths century Latin Liturgy(codified at the council of Trent) or the Greek/Slavonic liturgy in all their glory and beauty. They are the perfect and beautiful form of giving to GOD what is his, WORSHIP & adoration. The modern Tridentine and Orthodox liturgies are the highest reflection of mankinds love of G-D, as was the Divine worship in the second temple in Jerusalem.

I have always missed the traditional mass. It is much more reverent for me and I miss using my missal. You could go anyplace in the world and the mass was always the same.
I would love to see this return before I leave this world.

I love the traditional Lattin Mass. This is what I grew up with and to me it is much more reverent and solemn. I loved using my missal and the sound of Latin by the Priest and congregation. New Catholics do not know what they are missing. You could travel anywhere in the world and the Mass would be the same. Please bring it back before I leave this world.

Attended traditional holy Mass many times and love the beauty, silence, reverence and respect, plus wearing a mantilla.

How I wish the holy Mass had stayed as it was BUT not in Latin, in the vernacular. We would then have silence, reverence and beauty plus a language we understood.

Interestingly, Maria, the Instruction Universae Ecclesiae, issued today, allows for the proclamation of the readings in the vernacular at Low Masses (not just the repetition of the readings in the vernacular after reading them first in Latin). And in the 1950′s, the Church was slowly allowing (perhaps a better word might be tolerating, since it wasn’t official) the use of the vernacular for the much of the rest of the Mass. That, however, is unlikely to be allowed any more.

I HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING AT MANY A LATIN MASS AS AN ALTAR BOY.THE LATIN MASS MADE PROTESTANTS CATHOLIC AND THE NEW MASS MAKES CATHOLICS PROTESTANT.THE HOLY SACRAFICE OF THE MASS HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A PROTESTANT FRIENDLY WORSHIP.ITS NOW CALLED A EUCHARISTIC BANQUET WITH THE ABOMINATION OF COMMUNION IN THE HAND,HAND SHAKING AND CLAPPING DURING SERVICES.THE NOVUS ORDO WAS CREATED BY THE FREEMASON ARCHBISHOP ANIBALE BUGNINI AND SIX PROTESTANT MINISTERS.

What I always loved about the Latin Mass was that whatever country I was in the Mass was in the same language and understandable. It was an affirmation of our Catholic (Universal) Church. I became an altar boy in 1951 so I was familiar with the translation of Latin. I’m thrilled it’s back.

The Holy Spirit leads us ,The Old Latin Mass I grew up with,
I do not miss it one bit, would not go to one again. Prefer going to my language. You get from the Holy Mass exactly what you put into it through participation. So if you do not understand what your saying or what The Holy Priest is saying how can you receive the benefits.

You get from the Holy Mass exactly what you put into it through participation.

Actually, you get infinitely more from the Mass than “what you put in it.” You receive sanctifying grace, the life of God within your soul, and communion with God through the Sacrifice of Christ, Whose Sacrifice is infinitely greater than the greatest sacrifice we could ever make.

Active participation in the Mass, in both the Extraordinary and the Ordinary forms, is not about singing and responding, in English or Latin. It is about uniting ourselves fully to the Holy Sacrifice that is being made present once again on the altar.

Beyond that, think about what you’re saying, Richard. If your blanket statement (“how can you receive the benefits”) were correct, all generations of Catholics before the reform of the Mass in 1970 could never have received sanctifying grace and communion with Christ through the Mass. Surely you don’t believe that.

Have attended Latin Masses in 2009 and 2010 and really did not enjoy them. Was put off by the people who acted as if I was a “lesser” Catholic because I ormaly attended mass said in the venacular. I support both types to fulfill the needs of various Catholics, but hope there is no more bleed-over to the mass in the venacular from the Latin Mass.

Elisabeth, it sounds like you’re confusing uncharitable behavior from some of the folks you encountered with a problem with the Extraordinary Form itself. Why do you “hope there is no more bleed-over”? What is it that you dislike about the Traditional Latin Mass itself, separate from the people you encountered there?

I was in grade scholl when the change in the Mass came. I have missed the traditonal Mass, but, only because I feel that it is a more respectful way of worship. If we really believe that Our Lord is present in the Blessed Sacrament, then I want to be as respectful as I can possibley be. I love any celebration of the Mass. It will be great to have the traditonal Mass a bit more available.

I discovered the Church in the early 1960s (I grew up in a small southern U.S. town where there was a big Southern Baptist Church and a small Methodist Church) when I moved to a big city and met Catholics for the first time in my life. The first time I entered a Catholic Church and knelt before the Tabernacle, I just knew that God was truly present — what a grace. The Mass was, of course, in Latin. When I finally was able to become a Catholic in the early 1970s, I found the Mass was in English. I have, over the years, attended many beautiful liturgies in the vernacular, but there have been at least as many terrible ones. The innovations that priests, religious and laity seemed to think were allowed now that the Mass was in English were truly scandalous. I am in a parish now where the liturgies are uniformly well done and prayerful; however, there still remains something so much more prayerful about the Latin. I can remember being at a Catholic Sunday Mass in 1962 where the church was completely full and except for the occasional fussing of a baby, there was no noise at all as we waited for the Mass to begin. How I have missed that reverence of God — people seemed to know that He is truly present in His Church. Both liturgies (Latin and English) have their particular beautiful features, but I must say that I am really looking forward to being able to say “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault” and “I am not worthy to have You come under my roof but only the say the word and my soul shall be healed” in the revised liturgy we begin to use at Advent!

I grew up with Mass in Latin, and we understood all that was being said because our parents taught us at home and we listened to brothers’ learning to become altar boys. The Latin Mass was first and foremost as a family and the songs and prayers recited and sang were beautiful and full of worship. The Consecration was (and still is) a time of being swept away in the Spirit (a perfect “high” if you will). Today I would hope that remains the same for each of us, no matter what form we follow. God is the same today, yesterday, and FOREVER more.
PEACE

I also grew-up with the Latin Mass. I agree with all who prefer it. No one mentioned the prayers after mass that was said in English for some reason that was dropped from the new mass. Does anyone know why & is this included with the restored Latin Mass?

I read through these comments with a little bit of a head thrown back in surprise kind of action, at both “sides” of it. I was just confirmed during the Easter Vigil. (I’m 46 years old. Was baptized in 1965 at less than a year old but never attended church until two years ago.) I’ve never been to a Latin Mass but am open to it. I guess, I’m left feeling, after reading all these comments, that either is okay and either doesn’t make a person a better Catholic or a worse one. I guess I’m taken aback a bit by both sets of comments for and against both types of masses. I’m actually sort of saddened by a lot of the comments here. I assumed going into being Catholic that we were all on the same “side”. Universal and all that….

One of the Catechists who taught us during our Breaking out of the Word sessions, (During mass we were taken out to go over that day’s bible passages and ask questions and so on. I’ve been told by Catholics in other areas they did not have this experience and it was wonderful!) encouraged us to attend the Latin Mass that is offered in our area on Sundays in another town. I have not gone yet but hope to.

At 67 yrs old now, I grew up with the Tridentine Mass and have attended a few recently. I love both Masses with the qualifier that the NO is done with reverence and sacredness. I am looking forward to the Vatican II Mass. It will be the perfect blend of both. During the Liturgy of the Word the Priest will face the people. And during the Liturgy of the Eucharist the Priest Will face the back altar leading his flock into the Eternal Now during the words of Consecration. In my opinion the NO at present has too much congregational participation while the EFM has too little. I am anxiously looking forward to Advent 2011 and Beyond!

I have attended two latin masses. I don’t mind the latin at all, in fact I had a latin-english missal which made it possible for me to participate in the mass. However, the one complaint I have is that in both of the masses (different churches, different priests), the priests spoke very quickly, with nary a pause at commas and periods. The result was that I frequently lost my place. I like to at least know which part of the mass we are at. I cannot be fully present (in my thoughts, in my prayers) if I am flipping pages or giving up as hopelessly lost.

I’ve attended the Latin mass growing up as well as from 2007-2008. What I found was that the Latin mass community in my part of the country was elitist, and critical of the Novus Ordo community to the point of declaring the mass illicit. Unfortunately, although he was aware of this attitude, the priest in charge did not address the issue. I attended on a regular basis for 9 months and found them to be almost “cult like”. Needless to say, I stopped attending the Latin mass.

I grew up with the Latin Mass and have no desire to go back to it.

I have always attended the Latin Mass. And I love it. Pax Vobiscum.

I too grew up with the Latin Mass; I am 77. I have to admit I feel we lost something beautiful and spiritual when we changed to the new mass. Having grown up with the Tridentine Mass, I have never felt the service was complete. It still feels (to me) that something is missing after all this time.

I am glad that people who are not literate can hear the service in their own language – yet I sure do still miss the Latin.

As Patricia said, it did seem a more respectful way of worship.

I grew up with the traditional Latin Mass, the Mass of many of our Saints and the Mass of my parents, grandparents.
The imposition of the modernist, progressive “New Mass” pushed by the aggressive leftist bishops of Vatican ll was extreme and heavy handed. The Latin Mass of the Saints of the church was “banned”, yes banned as if it were pornography. It was outrageous, it was disgraceful.
Statues of our saints were removed or hidden and even the Tabernacle was placed out of sight.

Kneelers at the Altar Rail were also removed to discourage anyone from attempting to kneel to receive Holy Communion on the tongue. I refused then and to this day to accept the Blessed Sacrament in my hand as if it were little more than a cookie or candy. Potato chips get as much respect.

I do not believe that any other Christian regime since The Reformation of Henry XVlll and Elizabeth l treated traditional Roman Catholics as badly as did the intolerant reformists of Vatican ll.

At the time, I could only imagine that in heaven, Blessed Pope John XXlll wept when he saw his beloved Church torn asunder by the very Council he had proposed.

I refused to participate in this bastardization of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and soon realized that I no longer had a Church.

It took forty years, the papacy of Blessed John Paul ll, the election of another one of our greatest Popes, Benedict the XVI, and, at last, tolerance of the true and traditional Catholicism to convince me to attempt to return.

I was in Rome when I finally got the courage to go to Confession, at St Peter’s. It was first time I Confessed my sins in about 42 years. I spent some time in the confessional and I trembled like a child.

When my rather long prayers of Penance had ended, Mass was about to begin.

I attended the Mass and received my second First Communion.

To add to the excitement and joy of that notable day, the Mass was in Latin.

I DID NOT LIKE OR UNDERSTAND THEM AS A CHILD GROWING UP, NOR DO I LIKE THEM NOW. THEY ARE REVERENT, BUT IF YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING WITHOUT A MISSLE, IT IS BORING. THE INCENSE IS OVERPOWERING, WELL I LIKE IT WHERE I UNDERSTAND AND FEEL INVOLVED IN THE MASS. YOU WON’T FIND ME AT ONE 67 AND JUST AS GERMAN AS THE POPE. OUR CHURCH SOLIDLY SAID NO TO LATIN MASSES, WE LIKE THE WAY IT IS.

I was in St Therese’s Basilica in October (after St. Therese’s Feast) with some quiet, respectful tourists soaking up the privilege of being in Lisieux
and on enquiry about attending Mass was so disappointed to learn that we could not hear Mass but had to go to the Cathedral in the evening (we had missed the one at ‘Carmel’ whilst 3 priests proceeded to say Mass in full regalia on different altars displaying all the moves necessary to make the Latin Mass ‘right’ without any recognition at all of our presence. We waited around and prayed quietly.
It was the coldest, darkest experience I have ever had – I am old enough to have witnessed the Traditional Latin Mass . I have trevelled extensively and respect the eclectic celebrations of our rich heritage and embrace all kinds of worship from the Latin Mass celebrated in ‘concert’ form in Salzburg to African Mass celebrations, to Charismatic Masses to the daily Mass I to attend in a little chapel in Bickley Kent and I believe Christ rejoices in them all.

My other experience I have witnessed concerning the Traditional Mass was in Westminster Cathedral, London and it does concern me.
Mass was being said in the Cathedral and during the Mass the ‘Traditional Latin Mass’ priest and servers with great pomp and cermenony (not quietly) came through in the side aisle and proceeded noisely with bells etc. in a side chapel. Why not wait? I wonder if one of the reasons the Latin Mass was stopped was because of lack of respect of the real presence?
The ultimate sacrifice is the ultimate sacrifice and we all need to bend in awe however it is celebrated.

I have attended a Tridentine Mass and on more than one occasion in the last year. Our church now offers the Latin Mass every Thursday evening. I have to say that at first I felt very disconnected as I was born in 1971 and I only know the Novus Ordo. I understand the concept of the priest and the lay people facing east towards G_d, but if I could still only understand what the priest is saying as even the form of the Mass is different. I still do not know what I am supposed to respond to and when only the priest is supposed to say the prayer and not the parishioners. Now if all schools in the U.S. started to teach Latin then I can see but I know that my parents as well as others I know got lazy in teaching the families foreign language and we have not attempted to learn it or any other on our own. I do believe that there are still changes that should be made to the Novus Ordo like when we say Peace Be With You as it should not be after the consecration and other moments in the mass that just don’t seem that they are in the right place but that is not my call. I do enjoy attending the Latin Mass at times but if it replaced the Novus Ordo completely it would be hard for me to stay concentrated on the Mass itself as my mind would wonder, maybe that is why I hear the older women whispering the rosary during the Latin Mass (to keep their minds on prayer and to be mindful of the Holy Trinity).
Your Sister in Christ.

For Ann (#47). I too went to St. Paul’s Cathedral School in the 1950′s and that was the beginning for me of a lifelong love for the Tridentine Mass.
I wonder if we knew one another. I was there in grade school until 1955.
We had some wonderful Sisters teaching us. Sr. Mary Paul was my first grade teacher.
I hope you read this. If we do know one another or parallel our times there please let me know. Were you there when Monsignor Pauley was there.

I was brought up a strict catholic since 1955 The latin was drummed into us,and we were taught in English what the priest was saying. A priest came every year to test our Catechism question`s. Then the new mass came in. It was alright has far has i was concerned,but then it went upbeat crazy. Playing guitars,changing the tune,singing the Our Farther. Young girls wearing immodest clothing. Woman not covering there heads. I have not been to church for 22yrs now. I can`t go because the pope is an anti pope,and has just mixed with other non Catholic leader`s. He is seen embracing the chief rabbi. This goes against the Dogma of the catholic church making him an anti pope. The new mass is not valid,and that all the priests under him are heretics. The seat is declared empty.

I have been attending the Mass of All Time in St Peter’s Church- a grand old Neo-Romanesque structure built from 1853-1939 and love it like crazy.The old mass celebrated at a gorgeous altar, reminds me of my parents and grandparents attending it (dad was an altarboy and grandparents were choristers) in our old parish of Our Lady of Salvation(I mean the Portuguese Gothic building erected in 1595 and not the modernist eyesore that arose on its ruins in 1973)Truly Catholics know not what a beautiful gift we have received from Our Lord in this Mass.This Mass as inspired the highest in man’s artistic achivements- Pipe organ, Gregorian chant, Gothic, Romanesque,Baroque,Neo classical architecture, paintings and what not.The invalid Masonic Pagan Protestant Novus Ordo is a gift of Satan and his minions and is to be avoided at all costs lest it damage our faith and spiritual growth

I converted to the Catholic faith the year before the Holy Father issued Summorum Pontificum. I’d heard a lot of negative comments about the EF; most of the people at the parish at which I converted (most of them born after the Second Vatican Council closed and after 1969) regarded the Tridentine Rite with suspicion and, in a few cases, with outright hostility.

I went to a few different parishes, but all I saw was blatant disrespect to our Lord. The rock masses, the Eucharistic ministers, the Communion resembling trick-or-treat, the Tabernacle being off to the side (or in a different room in some cases!)

In June 2008, I decided to go to the “wicked Latin Mass”. Well, I haven’t been back to a NO “mass” since and would never consider going to one again.

The most common complaint about the Tridentine Mass is that the priest’s back is to the people like he’s ignoring the people. Wrong! He is facing the Lord. Ad Orientem. The Mass is to Him on our behalf, not the other way around!

The reason I don’t attend the Latin Mass is simple. I’m arrogant enough without attending a mass where I’ll get told I’m “holier than everyone else”. I have never attended mass for the social side (seriously? If you think the novu ordus is ‘social’, then you need to attend a pentecostal church – then you will see how to make a service to fit the people).

I can worship fully at the ordinary form, and don’t want to surrounded by those who claim you can’t.

Well, Rachel, at least you understand yourself well, even if you don’t understand what life is like in a Latin Mass parish.

It is night and day where both “versions” of the mass are concerned. For years, we attended a NO mass & watched it get sillier and more laity/priest centered until we couldn’t take it anymore!

Go to a latin mass and find there deep piety and reverence for our Blessed Lord! No altar girls flitting all around the altar; no singing endless verses of banal music, which should be banned by the Vatican as Protestant! No EMs or lectors parading up & down like it’s “showtime” (which I once heard the mass revered to as.)

If you want all that, then go be Protestant. I blame lazy bishops for letting all this insanity go on for decades.

The role of the laity was never intended to be so “altar-centered”. Instead, we Catholics, steeped in the sacraments were to go OUT into the world and evangelize it, so others could see the beauty of our Faith and wish to be like us. But no, let’s all be bosses and tell Father what to do every day! And best of all, let’s be like all the rest of the lost/secular/atheist culture out there; voting for abortion candidates in huge numbers.

We as a Church have truly lost our way and it will be a monumental God-driven task to get us back on track. God-driven, because it will take an act of God Almighty Himself to make us see the light.

I would love it if the Latin Mass was brought back . The Mass had more meaning to it,and I felt closer to God,Jesus,Our Blessed Mother,and all the Saints. I have not been to Church as often as I should. I feel like its not Mass anymore. Made easy so people will come to Mass, is good but not as good as the Latin Mass. I think it was mistake to change. Please bring back the Latin Mass.

I agree with Simon. I was raised on the Latin Mass. When the priest then turned around and spoke English I was enthralled. I felt a part of the Mass. After all I doubt that at the Last Supper Christ turned His back on the apostles and spoke a foreign language! The Mass is supposed to be a meal, celebrated with your family. At my house we speak to each other, and face each other when we break bread. Private devotions are good, but I feel that any devotion that takes our attention away form what is going on on the altar should be done before or after the Mass. I never want to go back to the Latin Mass again.

Way earlier, one comment was that the Mass is supposed to be a “social event”. If you call the Sacrifice on Calvary, a “Social event”, I suppose it is, to you. But it is meant to be a re-presentation of Christ’s Sacrifice on Calvary. I would hardly think of it as a “community meal” as I have heard many, including some Novus Ordo priests define it. The first Mass was celebrated on Holy Thursday, with ( according to most art works depicting it), Christ and His apostles were all facing the same direction. But Christ commanded us to “Do this in memory of me”, referring to His Sacrifice to be the next day. So many “Catholics” have lost sight of what the Mass is: a celebration/ worship of God, not man!. My first encounter with the Tridentine Mass, I left in total shock and awe. I could not believe we had drifted so far away from the Mass in which I was raised. It took a few visits back and forth with the Novus Ordo inbetween, that I began to realize this. Thank Heaven I have a traditional Mass accessible ( only an hour’s drive away). I am grateful.

Being born in 1937, and Baptized Roman Catholic, the traditional Latin Mass was all that was available. I sure do miss those Masses. They were more Spiritual, and more reverent. One felt closer to God, and closer to the Church. People dressed up in their “Sunday Best,” and it was just beautiful. Since the Novus Ordo, I do not feel like I did when I was young. Seems to me that anything goes today. Ad Libs at Mass, lack of respect for the Eucharist, loud talking in the Church, and kids running around; It makes me wonder if Vatican ll was really opening the windows to let in fresh air. I think opening the windows let let out most of the spirituality, and let in too much nonsense. In my growing up Parish, there used to be standing room only at mass. Mass was held in Upper church, lower church and the Church hall. Maybe 15 Masses on Sunday. Now I see many Churches with low attendance. Was Vatican ll really necessary? Another thing; There were very long lines on Saturday for Confession. Now when I go, there may be 1 or 2 in line, and most times I am first in line. Makes me wonder where the Church I grew up in is heading.
JohnC. Freeport, NY

Both forms of the Mass are beautiful and each Mass is the most important event happening in the world at that moment. It saddens me when people have the “my mass is better than your mass” attitude, as it devalues the infinitely valuable. The recent new translation has gone a long way to remedy some of the shortfalls of the previous translation (it being a more direct translation from Latin), and yet in my experience, the very people who were opposed to it were those who professed a preference for Latin Masses. There is, I think, a certain elitism within some (but by no means all) circles where Latin is preferred. I have attended both and have to admit a preference for the vernacular. I do, however agree that the position of the priest in the Latin mass and receiving communion on the tongue only from the priest’s hands (which I practice anyway) seem far more reverent than the current practice. I love the mass in whatever form, but it strikes me that Jesus used language that people could understand and not a foreign tongue. I don’t see why Latin should hold the monopoly when it comes to reverent worship.

I was brought up with the traditional Latin Mass and have attended on a few occasions since 1970, when there was a specific reason for doing so such as the invitation or preference of friends or relatives. But for the most part I attend the Pope Paul VI Mass. I slightly prefer it from a liturgical standpoint but in reality, I make my decision based on what my parish offers. The language issue is irrelevant to me. I understand Church Latin well enough and I have also on occasion attended Spanish or Portuguese language Masses, languages which I also understand well enough. If I don’t understand the language (German, Slovak, Arabic, Aramaean, Assyrian, for example) I just follow visually and take my cue from what other people do.

I would give anything to have the traditional Latin Mass back again. It was much more meaningful and reverant. I much prefer to have the Priests, Altar Boys back again as it was in the 50, and 60,s. The church today is too much like a Protestant Church, noisy and people talking after they enter the sanctuary, and hymns I have never heard before. I would also like to have the Altar Railing back up and kneel for Communion again. I have never stopped receiving the Eucharist on the tongue.

I went to a Latin mass in the 1990′s at New Farm Church in London – as far as I know they still celebrate this mass on a Sunday. I was surprised when the mass started as I was not expecting the mass to be said in Latin. It was lovely and I could follow it well enough. To my amazement, most people around could do it in Latin without books! I too would love to have the latin mass back again and I am a convert.

I have attended a Latin Mass, but not a Tridentine – it turned out to be basically Novus Ordo with priest facing the congregation, etc.

Easy to participate due to the handouts and my facility with languages, but the whole ambience of it really wasn’t much different from the NO in English, to my disappointment. Especially after it had been promoted in the church bulletin and by parish members for weeks as more-or-less unique.

The experience made me wish I had attended a traditional Latin Mass. Maybe I’ll get that opportunity.

I think we Catholics have lost sight of what it means to worship. Surely, we don’t go to mass just to “get something out of it” !!! This kind of talk (which I am ALWAYS hearing as an excuse not to go) is so backwards! It makes me think that some people are mistakenly going to mass to worship themselves… an utter travesty. I have been to the Tridentine mass. It took time for me to understand exactly what was going on and when certain prayers were being said, but it was beautiful and wonderful. When I was lost as to exactly what was happening I just prayed to my God and offered Him all my sufferings, my annoyances, and my need to be included in exactly what was being said at the alter of HIS sacrifice. I have learned so much about my Catholic faith because I was compelled to learn and research and talk about the differences and comparisons between different forms of Catholic worship.

I grew up with the TLM. In Catholic grammar school, I sung in the choir directed by Sister Rita Concillium S.J.. We sang the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Agnus Dei and other Latin hymns. Now, some 55 years later, I again attend the TLM (High Mass) on Sundays at a nearby parish. Following the booklet provided, I am amazed at the laity participation of the heart, mind and lips at significant parts of the Mass. The booklet explains what the priest is doing and the meaning of his holy actions which are done on our behalf and in which we are to enter into in heart, mind and word (if we so choose). It is so awesome. Believe me, every word and action of the priest is pregnant with a spiritual purpose and power. Now, I have relearned how to follow the Mass and the Holy Scripture readings of the particular liturgical calendar day. The chants and hymns are the best. No “Let Us Break Bread Together On Our Knees”. Thank God

I attend a Mass where my family is often the only English speaking one in attendance. A Latin Mass would be a beautifully “neutral” place to come together to celebrate the sacrifice of the Mass. (Plus, the music for the Latin Mass is phenomenal–way better than the “pop Jesus” stuff).

I was brought up on the Tridentine Mass and, as far as I am concerned, that is the Mass. There is a sense of solemnity about it and a sense of mystery which is completely lost in the vernacular version of the Mass. In recent years it has not been available where I live and often I have attended Orthodox Masses instead to feel that same richness. Fortunately Pope Benedict is doing his utmost to restore some of the beauty of the liturgy which, in my view, is part of the nature of the sacred.

hey! what happened to the option: «I want to do it, but my episcopal conference is disobbeying the Pope and decided NOT to apply the “universal law for the Church…promulgated by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI , with the Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum”»?

The Tridentine Mass has brought me back to Our Lord Jesus Christ. I had become long disillusioned with my faith, disappointed with the Novus Ordo masses I would occasionally attend. It had been so long since I had experienced the transcendent closeness to God that, for me, only comes in the traditional liturgy, which I had loved as a boy. I know God was speaking to me when he called me back to the Tridentine Mass in 2008. Now this Mass has, especially the Sunday High Missa Cantata, become the apex of my life. I cannot relate to those who say “I have to go to Mass on Sunday.” To paraphrase the great St. Bonaventure prayer of Thanksgiving after Communion…”I compass, seek, find, attain, meditate upon and speak of” the greatest gift ever given man, the closest thing on earth to heaven, the beauty and glory of the Latin Mass. All praise to Our Lord Jesus Christ. Deo Gratias.

The Latin Mass should be a true Latin Mass and performed only as prescribed. It should be advertised well in advance, so that Catholics such as my self can stay clear of it. I respect those who adhere to it; but, it should never replace the Vernacular Mass. Hearing and understanding the Word of God is critical. We have many more converts since the Vernacular Mass came because of Vatican II. I don’t know why my soul is greatly disturbed by the Latin Mass. I just pray that I don’t become bitter if the Vernacular Mass is displaced by the Latin Mass. I never want to go back to it again. Yet, I pray that both will have their place in the Catholic Church. We should not put each other down. I just want to get out of their way….and find the closest Vernacular Mass.

I attended the Latin mass for the first time 4 years ago, they gave us a book so we could read along with the priest and, he spoke in Latin.
The Missal is Latin-English and, I started learning Latin. I do love it.
I did attend Latin mass as a small child but, all I remember is I wore
a veil when Mom took me. Now I appreciate it more and I enjoy mass more.

The Latin mass for me is very intimate, brings good memories of the priest who said mass. Attending Latin mass with my mother was one of the few things we both enjoyed and did not argue about. Mom, rest in peace.

I loved the Tridentine Mass. I always felt so blessed and in communion with God. I Was shattered when they changed it in the 60′s. I went to Mass daily for years when my schedule allowed. I wouldn’t dream of wearing jeans or not covering my head. I loved being scared to death going to confession. Respect and Reverence were demanded and received by the churce.
Now there is no such thing as a Mortal Sin, anything goes and the Church bows to the demands of non-Catholics. During the sixties when we most needed stability and sanity, the Church left us hight and dry.
I once loved Mass, First Fridays, Stations, Abstinence, and Penance.
Now you have to drag me to church and I can’t wait to get out.
It isn’t my church any more.
And we ignore the church laws and thumb our noses at the Vatican..
We don’t even say Holy Roman Catholic Church any more. It’s the Catholic Church.
That’s the way it is where I live.

I attended the Latin Mass daily for many, many years and I can assure you that the new Latin Mass is in no way comparable to the Latin Mass that I grew up with and loved. It is the most irreverent, mindless recitation I have ever heard when you can hear any part of it at all. And I know for certain that in the Latin Mass before Vatican II the Canon of the Mass was NOT dead silence. We HEARD the words of Consecration in Latin. I could follow every patrt of the Mass. It was NOT a Gnostic “mystery” but is always a deep and meaqningful MYSTERY of FAITH in ANY language.

We attend a latin mass at one of the west coast Order of St Peter parishes whenever we can. A latin mass is so much more prayerful and reverand that a novus ordo mass! Our grandsons serve mass every chance they get and so do their friends. They all love it. Our oldest grandson is now a master of ceremony and our second one is right behind him in the line of sucession. We are very proud of them both. Latin Mass is so beautiful and I thank Pope Benedict for approving it.

i attended a catholic school in the 70′s we even studied latin but later it faded out .in recent times now in my country ,every first sunday of the month , mass is said in latin .this is very interesting ,it reminds me of the good old days and it is spiritually uplifting

I just don’t “get it.” I’ve been to the Tridentine Mass a few times because my brother goes regularly and I go with him. I don’t get why people get all glassy eyed when they speak about the “beauty and dignity” of the traditional Mass.
First of all, it makes the priest way too important. The Eucharist is supposed to be a communal celebration. The traditional Mass makes the congregation into spectators of some mysterious event lead by this ultra special man, the priest. It feels like father could say, “welcome to MY Mass.” There’s no feeling for me of participation. The priest does all the talking, the altar boys (I’ve noticed there’s never girls and this also disturbs me) do all the answering and the choir does all the singing.
I’m happy for those who experience beauty and dignity. What I experience is … I’m glad the church changed the Mass into English 50 years ago. Although I’m totally not impressed with the latest translation of the vernacular Mass … it might as well be in Latin because the way it is written is just plain not understandable.

i’m a recent convert, and one of the reasons i love being catholic is the latin mass. i live near 3 different catholic churches, and the one i attend most offers 2 tlm a week, with a total of 14-15 masses total each week. the main reason that i’m willing to travel out of my way is the latin mass. somehow the “praise and worship” masses just don’t “do it” for me. it’s also very nice to see the number of children present at the tridentine, reciting along with everyone else. it took a little hunting around in the pews to find the “right” pages, but i found that i follow along much better by just listening.

I have been attending Traditional Latin Mass at the Chapel of the Maternal Heart of Mary in Sydney for the past one year. There are a few things that I prefer about the Traditional Latin Mass (in no particular order of merit):

1. The universal use of Latin. One could walk into any Catholic church and participate in the same Mass. In centuries past, with hand Missals not being the norm, it may have been difficult for people to follow the Latin Mass. But nowadays, Missals are readily available. At the Sydney chapel, copies of the Order of the Mass and translations of the Readings of the Day are available at the entrance. Even with the Novus Ordus, parishioners are encouraged to own Missals, and these days many churches even have the texts projected onto LCD screens.

2. The sacredness and solemnity. I have experienced Novus Ordus Mass where too many liberties are taken by the Celebrant – not just in the Homily, but also in modifying the words of the Mass itself. The personality and charisma of the Celebrant then becomes the focus. Also, I find that the Homilies in Traditional Latin Mass tend to focus on inner spiritual development, whereas those of the Novus Ordus place more emphasis on Christian life in a secular world. One could argue that this means the Novus Ordus is more ‘spontaneous’ and ‘in touch with reality’. My response to that would be that there is already enough ‘secular reality’ in our lives 7 days a week, and that Holy Mass every Sunday (and other Days of Obligation) provides that ‘check-and-balance’, the regular return to our inner spiritual self and in touch with God.

I recently attended Orthodox Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady in Sydney. The entire Liturgy was in Greek, except for the Lord’s Prayer, the translation of the Gospel Reading and the Homily. To me, the language factor did not obscure the sacredness and beauty of the Liturgy.

Not only do we attend the Traditional Latin Mass, my husband and I were married in a TLM ceremony and both of our children received their baptism rites in Latin.

It’s great and I’m so glad that we can attend without the secrecy anymore. When I got married in 2006, our Archdiocese didn’t exactly approve of TLM wedding Mass and it was more of a “don’t ask, don’t tell” sort of thing. A year later, we had to have our daughter baptized in a neighboring Archdiocese because the priest who said our wedding Mass didn’t do Latin baptisms. Thankfully, by the time our son was born in 2010, we were able to return to the parish where we were married for his baptism.

As a 58 year old Baby Boomer I have a certain nostalgia for the TLM. I remember going home from Mass at the age of 5 and teaching myself to play the Kyrie on the piano. I stll know that melody. I also remember kneeling at the Communion rail. Both lovely memories, But that is about all I remember. I recenlty attended a TLM mass for the first time in 50 years and I can say I am no longer nostalgic. I was so disappointed. I assume it was a low Mass since there was no music. Everything seemed so cold and impersonal to me. Even the reading of the Gospel. I now understand why the Church thought it necessary to change. Perhaps the Holy SpIrit in His wisdom knew that many of us who need to be Catholic also needed a new way to worship. Blessings to all my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I am an aging (58 year old ) Baby Boomer who has always thought of the TLM with nostalgia. One of my earliest memories is going home from Mass at the age of 5 and teaching myself to play the Kyrie on the piano. I still remember that melody. I also remember loving to kneel at the Communion rail with all the grownups. Until last weekend, I had not been to a Latin Mass in over 50 years. I went hoping my heart would be touched, but I was so disappointed. Since there was no music, I assume I atteded a Low Mass. I felt cold the whole time. Even when the Gospel was read. On a positive note, the turnout was impressive and the reverence shown by the congregation was like something I had never seen, even among the small children. I can see where our Church has a need for this type of Mass, but I now understand why the Church had to change. Perhaps the Holy Spirit, in His wisdom, knew that many of us, who need to be Catholic, also needed a new way to worship. Blessing to all my Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

I am 64 years old and went to catholic schools. I was never able to adjust to the new mass. I don’t like it, I don’t enjoy it and I don’t like all the singing and the songs. sorry

Five years of comments, wow. The first time I attended a traditional Latin mass was at Holy Rosary in Indianapolis in 2001. I couldn’t get it out of my mind for two weeks. I’m hopeful since the release of Summorum Pontificum that it will become more and more widely available and have an effect on the way the Novus Ordo is celebrated. That, after all, is BXVI’s wish. Those who have stated that they don’t want to see the return of Latin are being short sighted, in my opinion. “Nobody will be able to understand what is going on.” Well, you learned English didn’t you? You can learn Latin. All the other major world religions have their sacred languages. We have ours, too. And I’ll take Gregorian Chant over Marty Haugen ditties any day.

I am a recent convert and love both masses for different reasons. I love the reverence, elaborate formality and silence of the Tridentine mass. This week i attended one in New York that included a choir singing One of Schubert’s masses. Growing up playing classical music I knew the music, but it was a revelation to hear it ‘performed’ in the actual context of a real mass. It was fantastic. I love long periods of silence (as a congregant) in the tridentine mass, where i can simply kneel in mediation and not have to remember dozens of responses. I speak several Latin laguages and know some Latin, so it’s not too difficult to follow along. When there is a response in Latin that I dont yet know, I say the words softly to myself in English or Portuguese instead.

At my parish church they only have the new mass, but i also enjoy that. It’s warm and engaging and I enjoy the singing.

I never take communion in the hand and have not yet met a priest who has a problem with it, even when everyone else holds their hands out. I just keep my hands folded and close my eyes.

I also enjoy attending mass at as many different churches as possible, especially when traveling to a city with many Catholic churches. Our Saviour and St. Agnes in New York City do beautiful Latin masses, and many churches in London offer Tridentine masses, too.

I attend the Traditional Catholic Mass exclusively. The Vatican II mass was co authored by six Protestant ministers.

I disagree with CJ #12. The Traditional Latin Mass is not a social commng together. It is the worship of God alone.

I believe the new mass needs to be done away with. Lets go back to the the mass before Vatican II. I do attend the Latin Tridentine mass, St. John Cantius Church in Chicago. I have attended Vatican II masses in the southern states and mass seemed so foreign to me, Seemed to me the quiet reverence to attune with God was missing. When asked about this form of mass I was told that it was designed to bring in the new younger crowd. Why all this catering to the young? Shouldn’t the young be catering to God? I don’t understand girls serving on the alter and women on the alter either. I would like to see the old latin masses re-instituted in all our Catholic Churches.

The trouble with the new mass has been the intent of the Bishops and priests to show the youth they are cool. Guess what? You’re not cool. Like my son says if I want cool I’ll go to a rock concert.” Young and old don’t need cool, they need Holy. The Tridentine mass is holy. Man and what is cool changes, the church is timeless. It doesn’t change, it is a rock, steady and sure. It is Truth. People will always seek the Truth.

Yes: I love it! It is a heavenly experience!

Those of you who seem hostile to the Mass of our forefathers need to remember that many died to preserve the Latin Mass. The English martyrs suffered greatly for its preservation. Do not lose it!

if catholics really knew what mass was about than its a no brainer on what mass should be offered up to god.. the traditional latin mass has 100% focus on god who is present in the tabernacle and the sacrafice is offered up to him facing him at the alter, in the old testament the preist didnt sacrafice the lamb facing the people but faceing the ark,

Have recommenced practising the Tridentine Mass. Did it as a boy in the 70s, both as a server and chorister, having been educated through the Irish language under the Christian Brothers. Don’t know what has drawn me back exactly, but I find it far more spiritual than the modern day People’s Mass. For people who find themselves “left out”, I would say that one needs to study what is going on in the Mass and the parts played by the Priest, the servers and the congregation as the Mass is a lot more intricate, and more “involving” than most people suppose. There are many books available online which explain the Tridentine step by step, and being able to pray and sing in latin comes with practice and persistence (meaning you have to keep going!)

why does the alter boy kiss the priest hand and also his hat during high mass or latin mass what does it mean thanks joyce