College Age People and The Latin Mass

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Since I’ve decided to eventually begin attending a Latin Mass, I was wondering how often do college aged people attend. Is it typical to find people between 18 and 23 involved in the parishes?
 
I can’t speak for everyone but our parish has a pretty active group of young adults who do things from pancake breakfasts to helping Fr. move from one spot to another (poor Fr.). Sometimes they host plays and organize parish events. Every third Saturday of the month there is a young adults meeting at Church with rosary and sermon held by our priest. Afterwards they hang out either at the Church or at one of the houses of the young adults. They also have other social get-togethers like any group of friends would like bonfires, movies, bbqs, etc.

Oh and yes they have a regular Mass attendance and lots of them are altar servers. We have two currently in the FSSP seminary, so please keep them in your prayers.
 
Yes! The people who want and need the Latin Mass are young people! I, myself am included! 😃

In general: old people hate the sacred Latin Mass while young people are starving for it. When you go, you see many, many, many large young families!

God Bless and praised be the Tridentine Mass and its’ other sacraments!
 
holyfamily1 said:
Yes! The people who want and need the Latin Mass are young people! I, myself am included! 😃

In general: old people hate the sacred Latin Mass while young people are starving for it. When you go, you see many, many, many large young families!

God Bless and praised be the Tridentine Mass and its’ other sacraments!
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In my limited observation (my Latin Mass parish at large) a mix of people come together to assist at Mass. While there are many young people and many young adults with families, the fruits of the Mass are sought by those of all ages, including the elderly. What a blessing to have it regularly available in our area. May you be equally blessed! Amen.
 
C794 said:
Since I’ve decided to eventually begin attending a Latin Mass, I was wondering how often do college aged people attend. Is it typical to find people between 18 and 23 involved in the parishes?
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Yes, it not at all uncommon. 🙂 In fact, it’s more common than some people might think (or want to admit). 👍
 
holyfamily1 said:
Yes! The people who want and need the Latin Mass are young people! I, myself am included! 😃

In general: old people hate the sacred Latin Mass while young people are starving for it. When you go, you see many, many, many large young families!

God Bless and praised be the Tridentine Mass and its’ other sacraments!
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“in general: old people hate the sacred Latin Mass” :eek::::tsktsk:

The reason you might find people of the “baby boomer” generation (ie, those “old people”) not really caring for the Mass in EF is often because of their own childhood/youthful experiences that were less than positive. What you have as far as reverence in the EF today was not the case for many 40-50 years ago.

Please keep in mind that Mass is Sacred, regardless if it’s the EF, the OF, or it’s celebrated as an Eastern Catholic Divine Liturgy.

As far as the OP’s inquiry - the Una Voce community in my area seems to include a nice mix of different ages.
 
Thanks for the replies. That’s good to know. So I do have some more questions; they’re kind of off topic, but I think it’s better to ask in this thread, rather than start a new one. So what about clothes? Should I buy a suit or would black slacks, a white button-up shirt, and a tie suffice? How much will the latter fit in at a Latin Mass parish? Specifically that one in Seattle.
 
holyfamily1 said:
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In general: old people hate the sacred Latin Mass while young people are starving for it…
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my experience is different. young people aren’t in the least interested, while older people are mostly indifferent.

I haven’t met any who hate the latin mass.
 
C794 said:
Thanks for the replies. That’s good to know. So I do have some more questions; they’re kind of off topic, but I think it’s better to ask in this thread, rather than start a new one. So what about clothes? Should I buy a suit or would black slacks, a white button-up shirt, and a tie suffice? How much will the latter fit in at a Latin Mass parish? Specifically that one in Seattle.
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A suit isn’t needed though, recommended. Black slacks, a white shirt, and tie will suffice. 👍
 
Fairwinds said:
my experience is different. young people aren’t in the least interested, while older people are mostly indifferent.

I haven’t met any who hate the latin mass.
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I don’t know where you live… 😃 Every single Latin Mass I have attended has been filled with a majority of young people. 🤷
 
I have noticed that of the young people who are already attending Mass of their own accord and who already have a well-founded spiritual life–and I realize there aren’t a lot–many of them are interested in the EF.

From my own perspective, what turns off the most college-aged students is a perception of a “corny” Mass experience, where priests and others end up treating us like three-year-olds. I think they think they’re “relating” to us or something, but it often just ends up with people laughing behind their backs. Rude and uncharitable, yes, and I don’t make excuses, but I understand it completely. I especially notice this in Newman Centers and other college parishes/ministries. It is often perceived as a mixture of condescending and funny, and it is a turn-off. The EF offers a welcome and guaranteed respite from that. On the other hand, I also find that attending pretty much any regular parish in the vicinity is also a solution, and that is what I often do.
 
I’ve noticed A LOT of young people where I am are interested in the Latin Mass, even though it’s not widely offered here (that’s changing) we had a Solemn Sung High Mass not long ago and it was PACKED standing room only 75% was young people, that was such a blessing. Most of the older people don’t want to admit this is happening but the Latin Mass is gaining popularity amongst the younger generations. We even have a newly ordained priest that will start offering it regularly soon! I pray often that this continues! :blessyou:

:bigyikes: EL Chupacabra :bigyikes:
 
We, too, have many young students and families at our FSSP parish. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the children/young adults outnumber the rest of us. I mean, my wife and I have 6 kids, and we’re one of the “medium-sized” families.

We also have several college-age students in the seminary - 3 in the FSSP, 1 diocesan, and 1 discerning the ICKSP. Many of the diocesan seminarians from around the country who visit Creighton University during the summer also attend our parish. I think a big draw to our parish for college-aged students is the number of parish organizations we have - Young Adults Group, Altar Society, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Singles Night, etc.
 
Fairwinds said:
there’s nothing but complete disinterest in latin masses here.
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What part of the country (or what country, if not U.S.) are you from? I know the FSSP gets requests from all over the world to bring their apostolate to their city, but they don’t have enough priests to satisfy all those demands. Una Voce also assists people in bringing the EF to their town, and they get numerous requests from all over the world as well.

I know there is a group in Mississippi that has been making requests (to Fr. Z and Rorate Caeli, as two examples) to get the EF down there. It’s a grassroots effort, but from what I’ve seen, they’re getting a pretty good sized group together.
 
youngtradcath said:
from my own perspective, what turns off the most college-aged students is a perception of a “corny” mass experience, where priests and others end up treating us like three-year-olds. I think they think they’re “relating” to us or something, but it often just ends up with people laughing behind their backs. Rude and uncharitable, yes, and i don’t make excuses, but i understand it completely. I especially notice this in newman centers and other college parishes/ministries. It is often perceived as a mixture of condescending and funny, and it is a turn-off. The ef offers a welcome and guaranteed respite from that. On the other hand, i also find that attending pretty much any regular parish in the vicinity is also a solution, and that is what i often do.
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Exactly. :clapping:
 
larsont7 said:
We, too, have many young students and families at our FSSP parish. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the children/young adults outnumber the rest of us. I mean, my wife and I have 6 kids, and we’re one of the “medium-sized” families.

We also have several college-age students in the seminary - 3 in the FSSP, 1 diocesan, and 1 discerning the ICKSP. Many of the diocesan seminarians from around the country who visit Creighton University during the summer also attend our parish. I think a big draw to our parish for college-aged students is the number of parish organizations we have - Young Adults Group, Altar Society, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Singles Night, etc.
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I think what you said sums it up pretty well. Parishes that strive not only for the sanctification of souls (which the FSSP clearly do) but, also for inclusion of young people in the parish, more often than not succeed. You have proved that when 1) a parish has organizations that strive to include young people, while sanctifying them, succeed in having youthful parishes, and that, 2) parishes that strive for sanctification ultimately produce many, many, many more vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.

But, I have also noticed that with the FSSP who are more “missionary” style priests - they travel to parishes to sacrifice the Holy Mass, therefore are often incapable of being involved in a parish (youth group, altar society, etc), by virtue of the rubrics and sacraments of the '62 books which show the importance of the priest; the FSSP parishes and apostolates often produce many, many more religious vocations and priestly vocations. In short, in places where the '62 sacraments are said/used many more religious/priestly vocations are inevitably often the result.

I know many will strongly disagree with the second paragraph of my response but, it’s true.
 
As of a couple of months ago I decided that I was going to attend only the TLM, I’m in my early 20’s. I can say that there are a lot of young people that go.
 
You will find young persons at most EF Masses.

In my area, however, the young adult population tends to attend OF Masses.
 
From what I have read, it is quite common for young adults to attend the Latin Mass, and I am very happy to know this, as I am myself on a journey toward tradition. I just wish there was a parish within reasonable distance that offered the TLM (I live in the South in a rural area).

At first, it was really a mystery to me and a grand irony that it is usually the older persons at my parish, that seem the most resistant to tradition, at least in my experience, whether it is traditional formulation of doctrine and social teachings, or liturgical tradition. One would imagine that in this day and age of obsession with modernization, “generation me”, relativism, subjectivism, and all other sister philosophies, the youth would have an aversion for the Latin Mass, but thanks be to God, many embrace it.

Can someone elabortate on the hunger for the Latin Mass? I have been doing a lot of reading and studying about the loss of our tradition which is being recovered, but I would like to further explore the details of why the Latin Mass is attracting so much of the youth, what are your opinions on what first draws them? Is it the beauty (which speaks to the soul)?
 
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