Bringing a non-Catholic to the Latin Mass?

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curiousgrace

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Is it a wise idea to bring a non-Catholic work colleague to the traditional Latin Mass if they are interested?

I can confirm that they are not serious about becoming a Catholic as they are meddling with yoga (which some Catholics may believe nothing is wrong with), and hold some new age beliefs regarding the universe etc.

I am concerned that the traditional Mass will be a bit too much for them at first. I was thinking I could bring them to the Norvus Ordu, however, they do want to attend the community I attend.

I don’t want to drive a potential Catholic away but at the same time I don’t know If I am handling this responsibly enough with the appropriate amount of reverence for God.

Your thoughts?
 
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Bring them! Bring them!

Why in the world would you not?

I wouldn’t worry about it being “too much for them”. It is very peaceful and very cerebral. It’s not an intense experience at all.
 
They might just love it! Let the Holy Spirit do His work!
 
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Of course you should bring them. Curiosity can be a sign that the Holy Spirit is leading - it was for me. I remember listening to someone on one of the Catholic radio programs and they said they thanked God every day for making them curious. We’re in no position to know/guess/judge what a person is ready for or whether they are serious about becoming Catholic. God tells us his word will not return to him void - they certainly will encounter the Word at Mass.
 
Yes, it is a wonderful idea. Explain to them what is going on, and take them to both the Extraordinary form mass and the Ordinary form Mass.

Just be mindful we are all on our journey home in different ways. Meddling with yoga is a step towards the ’ why are we here etc’ discourse. New Age beliefs, hopefully experimental thought processes that will be rejected in time for Truth.
 
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I’d say that if they expressed interest in going to Mass, and interest specifically in going with you to the place where you normally go, I would go with that and let the Holy Spirit work.

Don’t worry about the yoga and new age stuff right now. Conversion is a process and it takes time for people to come to the Catholic perspective on certain things sometimes. Just take them to Mass and answer any questions as best you can.

If the person seems totally turned off by the Latin and such, then you might suggest going to the Ordinary Form Mass at a different parish. But since you are your colleague’s personal connection to the Catholic Church, I’d start with taking them to where you normally go.
 
It is certainly wise to bring the person in question to a Latin mass.
 
Bring them! Showing curiosity and interest is a good sign that the Holy Spirit is doing his work.
 
I’d take them but make sure to have a translation. I am the type that gets it hard to focus when I don’t understand, even if I can see that other aspects are beautiful.
 
I used to semi-regularly attend Latin Mass, so I’ll just offer my opinion. But, I would have the same hesitation that the OP is having. Its interesting to think, however, that in the history of the Church, converts going to Mass would’ve only gone to a Latin Mass prior to the Norvus Ordo.
At the same time, I can’t say I’ve ever seen a picture on Facebook from a Latin Mass parish saying, “Look at our 18 new Catholics, 4 of whom were baptized this Easter!”. I just saw a bunch of those, but again, despite knowing plenty of Latin-Mass goers, it doesn’t seem like their parishes make lots of new converts.

So, I would just take them to a reverent N.O. Mass, personally. 45 minutes of kneeling and flipping pages of Latin that took me dozens of Latin Masses to get a handle on, I would say is an intimidating/ intense service. Especially if they’re Protestant or w/e, and they just sing songs and listen to a sermon.
 
curiousgrace said:
Is it a wise idea to bring a non-Catholic work colleague to the traditional Latin Mass if they are interested?
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I think it depends on how they would act on the Mass. If they don’t act nor dress irreverently, and you could be morally sure they would not try to communicate, normally I think you should bring them. Unless they have so much prejudice against latin Masses that seeing one would not help, but on the contrary they would just talk of how they have been on an odd place with very retrograde people and a priest who appears to not care for them as he does his function turned back. But, as I said, I think this normally will not happen. Anyway, consider recommending them good books on catholicism, I should like to suggest Chesterton. I think this could be better for conversion than Holy Mass. Problem nowadays with it, in my opinion, is that catholicism in many places is identified with far-right politicians and bourgeoisie. I think Latin Masses are seen as a kind of bourgeois elitism (or even aristocratic elitism), unfortunately. Get sure they won’t think this. By the way, I think Bernanos is also very good in these subjects. And good books on Middle Ages, especially Régine Pernoud.
 
I’d have them watch a youtube video on an introduction to the Latin Mass to see if they are really interested. It seems like folks who attend only the Latin Mass are so passionate about its appeal they think that anyone else attending will be instantly captivated and just blown away by its reverence and beauty. On the one hand, it won’t hurt to bring them; but on the other, they should know what they’re in for, so that’s why I suggest they look into it beforehand.
 
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