Attracting people to the TLM

[Blessed_Karl]

Hello everyone. I am a college Catholic who loves the TLM. I have seen several people here who have had threads about “arguments” to promote the TLM. I see people saying you should talk about quo primum and the like. I,however, would like to facilitate a diffrent approach. Don’t take this as an attack on the thread I am referring to in question. The people who were posting there have had good intentions so I am not belitting them.

1. Buy some of these ecclesiadei.org/Booklet%20Missals.htm
   These missals make learning the TLM very very easy. Buy them and stock them out to your churches and have them in prominent places where people can borrow them for the mass they attend. At my church this is what they do and it helped me out quite a bit! I probably would not have been able to pray the TLM as effectively without them and they are of inestimable value.
2. Let people know, with PASSION, about the beauty of the EF! The sense of the sacred, the gorgeous sense of mystery it conveys!

My friends, as I have attended the EF I was drawn in by the incense, ad orientem, gregorian chant, the movements of the priests and altar servers, the communion while kneeling, and the prayers! I find myself loving the last Gospel, Asperges Me, Judica me, and other parts which were cut out of the OF. I do not think the EF is INTRINSICALLY superior but I do think the additional prayers and gestures it has, the externals, better facilitates a connection to the sacred! It better leads one into an atmosphere where of the sacred, a calming of the soul, by which we come closer to Christ.

I say this not to disparage the OF. Mother Theresa, Oscar Romero, and many others were nourished by the OF. Yet I feel that the EF mass is something that really can lead someone closer to Christ with the atmosphere it conveys. Before I knew of the EF, when I solely went to the OF, I always loved Good Friday mass the best. Why? Because of the SOLEMNITY! The solemnity of the OF Good Friday service was beautiful. When I got to the EF it was, and still is, one of my main reasons for loving it so!

I say these things because I see on certain forums a vocal minority of those who also attend the EF (and a few trolls to be sure) who are angry and bitter about it. The people who yell “the OF is an abomination” and other such things PUSH people AWAY from the EF. Are most people who go to the EF like that? No, but there are a minority of vocal ones whose attitude is damaging, not only to themselves, but to others as well.

I hope that people will not be offended by what I have written or think this is trolling. I’ve just observed some of the discussions here and hope this will help people. Sometimes something like liturgy can get peopel riled up, and for good reason. I understand there are trolls who come here to fan the flames so please don’t think this is meant as any sort of attack on those who have started threads on this forum about how to attract people to the EF. I’m simply sharing my thoughts and experiences.

Thank you

 

[Blessed_Karl]

I would also like to further clarify something. I write this post, not merely as advice to fellow attendees of the EF, but also to those who are unsure of the EF.

I feel that I am not a better Catholic simply for attending the EF. I, like everyone else upon this forum, sin quite a bit. I see my position as simply trying to show others the beauty of the EF. If you are someone who is curious then hear my advice and get a missal:
ecclesiadei.org/Booklet%20Missals.htm.

Give the EF a shot (or two would be better). There’s a learning curve but meditate and pray on the beautiful prays the EF contains! The EF has certainly helped my faith for the better. I don’t attend it every Sunday but attend it when I can and I say go for it!

 

[PhanxicoXavier]

I agree! The best way of attracting people to the Latin Mass is the Latin Mass!

 

[ChurchTorch]

My friends, as I have attended the EF I was drawn in by the incense, ad orientem, gregorian chant, the movements of the priests and altar servers, the communion while kneeling, and the prayers! I find myself loving the last Gospel, Asperges Me, Judica me, and other parts which were cut out of the OF…

When you talk about things like incense, ad orientum, sprinkling holy water, Gregorian chant, etc. etc. please keep in mind that these are in no way unique to the EF.

I think the biggest obstacle for the EF is that most people simply prefer the OF. Think about that for a moment. That’s something very difficult to face for someone who prefers the EF and is eager to grow attendance at their local EF. Many will knee-jerk and say that people prefer the OF because it’s shorter (not true), that it’s “easier” (give me a break) or that it’s more convenient (some truth there.) I think some need to consider just how intrinsically beautiful the OF is – even when compared to the EF.

 

[Ockham]

Most people prefer staying home on Sunday and don’t know the EF is available to them.

You make good points Karl. Unfortunately there is a small minority determined to repress the EF in order to maintain their laity roles in the OF.

 

[ProVobis]

I think the biggest obstacle for the EF is that most people simply prefer the OF…I think some need to consider just how intrinsically beautiful the OF is.

Is this why most Catholics don’t go to Church, except occasionally?

Take away communion and you won’t get anybody to show up.

 

[ChurchTorch]

Is this why most Catholics don’t go to Church, except occasionally?

Take away communion and you won’t get anybody to show up.

Maybe for the same reason the Catholic Church felt it was necessary to replace the Extraordinary Mass with the Ordinary Form of the Mass? " "

 

[ChurchTorch]

The Catholic Church felt that it was necessary to introduce a Mass format that was closer to the Mass of the early church with the promulgation of the Mass of Pope Paul VI. The Catholic Church did that for a reason. I’ll defer to the wisdom of the Catholic Church anytime.

 

[At_Trent]

"In recent times, even in materialist North America, the growth of the Church was magnificent with the liturgy being kept in Latin. The attempts of the Protestants have failed, and Protestantism uses the vernacular. We ask again: Why the change, especially since changes in this matter involve many difficulties and great dangers? All of us here at the Council can recall the fundamental changes in the meaning of words in common use. Thus it follows that if the Sacred Liturgy were in the vernacular, the immutability of doctrine would be endangered.
The introduction of the vernacular should be separated from the action of the Mass. The Mass must remain as it is. Grave changes in the liturgy introduce grave changes in dogmata."
James Cardinal McIntyre addressing the Second Vatican Council.

Take a look around.

 

[At_Trent]

Maybe for the same reason the Catholic Church felt it was necessary to replace the Extraordinary Mass with the Ordinary Form of the Mass? " "

Some may have wished to replace it, but they failed. Deo gratias.

 

[SpiritusSanctus]

Maybe for the same reason the Catholic Church felt it was necessary to replace the Extraordinary Mass with the Ordinary Form of the Mass? " "

The TLM never got replaced. It still exists today and is making a comeback. As At trent said, Deo gratias.

 

[m134e5]

I see on certain forums a vocal minority of those who also attend the EF (and a few trolls to be sure) who are angry and bitter about it. The people who yell “the OF is an abomination” and other such things PUSH people AWAY from the EF. Are most people who go to the EF like that? No, but there are a minority of vocal ones whose attitude is damaging, not only to themselves, but to others as well.

These types of people are part of the reason I no longer go to the TLM.

Whenever I go to a church, or follow a certain catholic speaker, I think about whether or not I’d be comfortable with my non-Catholic family members and friends hearing what they have to say and seeing how they act. I want them to experience good witnesses for the Faith- not bad ones- and I want to be around others who are good examples to me who will help make me a better example to others.

 

[puzzleannie]

I agree! The best way of attracting people to the Latin Mass is the Latin Mass!

I agree, the best way to promote for the parish is to organize an excursion or pilgrimage to a church within reasonable distance that has the EF, especially if the site is noteworthy for other reasons to attract people to the trip. Once experienced, never forgotten. As an individual, invite key people in the parish who are opinion leaders to accompany you when you attend the EF, and make it a point to participate and attend diocesan boards and functions where this can appropriately be brought up and discussed and promoted. In other words, support those places where the EF is celebrated now, financially and every other way, most important bringing people to Mass–in other words, the same way you get people to fall in love with Mass in general.

The most important factor in gaining support for EF in your parish or diocese is exhibiting love for the Mass in every licit form, and obedience to the magesterium. You need to win over people who would fall in love with the EF if they attended, but up until now, have been repulsed by those who cry “Oh she attends the OF, off with her head.” Every word and action that attacts the OF, attacks your bishop, attacks the leadership of the Church over the last 40 years is a nail in the coffin of the EF, and is also the main reason it took so long for the option to become available. To him who has ears, listen.

 

[Blessed_Karl]

Thanks to everyone who posted!

me134, I am sorry for what happened to you. I can assure you that whereI attned the TLM people like that do not exist. Have you tried going to another parish? I hope it doesn’t color your perception of the importance of the EF.

Frankly I hope that some of the people whose problematic attitudes chase people away from the TLM will become ever more insignificant than they already are. As more people become attracted to the EF I am sure that these people will become ever less prominent.

 

[EasterJoy]

"In recent times, even in materialist North America, the growth of the Church was magnificent with the liturgy being kept in Latin. The attempts of the Protestants have failed, and Protestantism uses the vernacular. We ask again: Why the change, especially since changes in this matter involve many difficulties and great dangers? All of us here at the Council can recall the fundamental changes in the meaning of words in common use. Thus it follows that if the Sacred Liturgy were in the vernacular, the immutability of doctrine would be endangered.
The introduction of the vernacular should be separated from the action of the Mass. The Mass must remain as it is. Grave changes in the liturgy introduce grave changes in dogmata."
James Cardinal McIntyre addressing the Second Vatican Council.

Take a look around.

As I pointed out in another thread, this is also a good argument to have never let the Bible reach lay Catholics in the vernacular, let alone to have printed inexpensive and widely available Bibles, so that Holy Scriptures could be unchained from the ambo.

Too late.

 

[Blessed_Karl]

As I pointed out in another thread, this is also a good argument to have never let the Bible reach lay Catholics in the vernacular, let alone to have printed inexpensive and widely available Bibles, so that Holy Scriptures could be unchained from the ambo.

Too late.

Why make this into a debate about Latin? Please stick to the topic at hand.

Also the Society of St. Jerome, established by Pope St. Pius X, encouraged Catholics to read the Bible. Do you honestly think the Bible was really simply just chained up to the ambo and that the laity could never read it prior to Vatican II?

As far as I am concerned the prayers such as the Asperges Me, Judica Me, Last Gospel and others should never have been taken out of the mass for the reasons I mentioned above. The issue is really organic development which was just abandoned in 1969.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

As I pointed out in another thread, this is also a good argument to have never let the Bible reach lay Catholics in the vernacular, let alone to have printed inexpensive and widely available Bibles, so that Holy Scriptures could be unchained from the ambo.

Too late.

And the point that is interesting is that the Catholic Church has commissioned translations and looked into printing Scripture in the venacular before Tyndale. In fact, it wasn’t that Tyndale was translating that got him into trouble, it was that he refused to have his translations read and approved by the Church before distribution. (Perhaps the Bishops could have helped him with those 7 or so books he had trouble with and so left out. )

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Why make this into a debate about Latin? Please stick to the topic at hand.

Also the Society of St. Jerome, established by Pope St. Pius X, encouraged Catholics to read the Bible. Do you honestly think the Bible was really simply just chained up to the ambo and that the laity could never read it prior to Vatican II?

As far as I am concerned the prayers such as the Asperges Me, Judica Me, Last Gospel and others should never have been taken out of the mass for the reasons I mentioned above. The issue is really organic development which was just abandoned in 1969.

But it the times before the printing press those valuable books were chained to the ambo. Chained there so they couldn’t easily be removed from the church. That way anyone who could read, knew that the Book of the Gospels could be found in the church.

Obviously, after books became less expensive and as literacy rates rose, more and more people had their own Bibles at home (yes, even lay Catholics! ). Eventually, the church did not need to ensure that sacred scripture was available to people by having it out in the church and so the Book of the Gospels and the lectionary could be kept in a sacristy or rectory outside of Mass times instead.

Back to the OP, I do agree that bringing people on a ‘field trip’ to a becautifully said EF Mass is the best way to encourage them to attend. The missals that your parish provides are extremely helpful and they make following along so much easier for people.

That said, don’t be suprised if after attending an ordinary low Mass, people are not bowled over. The low Mass doesn’t compare well to a reverant OF Mass. We attended a low EF for First Fridays one year. It was an evening Mass with the priest and two servers, no music (obviously) and no homily. My husband, who knows some Latin, followed along in his missal. My daughter (who is not your ordinary modern teen–she is discerning a vocation to religious life), read her prayer book. My son fidgeted. We had a great motivation to go, but none of us would have said it was the most beautiful Mass ever.

After that, we heard that a different nearby parish (same distance, differernt direction–neither of these are our home parish) also had evening First Friday Mass. This was an OF. One priest, 2 servers (boys), no music. The priest heard confessions before Mass, gave excellent homilies, and offered a time of adoration also. We now attend this parish for First Friday. The Mass is reverant and beautifully done. My family can better pray along with the Mass, we gain the benefit of having the Word 'opened ’ for us in the homily.

Just one example, but told to let remind you that the “smells and bells” do make a difference and when they are tilted in favor of the OF, it can be very difficult for an EF low Mass to ‘compete’.

In fact, the best way to increase the overal reverance of a parish is to institute a time of Adoration. Organizing Adoration is traditionally a lay role. Even starting with just a few hours a week (from after that Wednesday night EF until say 10pm) can make a huge difference to the spiritual life of the parish.

 

[ljubim]

As I pointed out in another thread, this is also a good argument to have never let the Bible reach lay Catholics in the vernacular, let alone to have printed inexpensive and widely available Bibles, so that Holy Scriptures could be unchained from the ambo.

Too late.

Are you sure you’re Catholic ?

The giant calligraphy bibles of the old days took decades to make. And so were tied onto the table because if they lost it it meant no lay Catholics got to hear the readings for a very long time.

The printing press was invented in 1436, and Luther rebelled in 1517. There were lots of approved vernacular editions put out, and a lot condemned because they were very badly translated. Here’s a few Catholic vernacular bibles to make note of: Caedmon’s in the 600s in Britain, St. Cyril’s in 836, etc.

I really hope you’re being sarcastic because this is one of the false accusations that Protestants throw at the Church to try and justify themselves. If you’re falling prey to their lies, I’d recommend some Catechesis, and fast

 

[ljubim]

Also I’d like to add that I agree with you (OP) about the sharing of your love for the TLM rather than arguments. But we have to remember that some people have seen some very sad OF Masses. I know, just because somebody was traumatized is no excuse, but it helps us understand their passion.

I’m hopefully bringing my friend to the Latin Mass this Sunday if she’s not working! So far I’ve only had the best things to say about it, and she loved adoration when I went once with her (my generation doesn’t get out much when it comes to Catholicism - we’ve really got to discover things for ourselves unfortunately)… so I’m hoping she’ll come, and like it!