That seems to be the standard party line against having Latin in the liturgy. So why don’t we understand the Mass more now than we did back then? (Many more think it’s a meal now.) Where is the evidence that the vernacular was such a wonderful success? I don’t know about you but I don’t find “one in being with the Father” very understandable.
I’m too ill now to do any research. That’s why I worded my post the way I did, without links (I usually provide links). It’s my own experience and what people have told me that I have based this on. It’s certainly not scientific research and as a scientist I’ll be the first to state that. It’s my opinion, nothing more. I apologize if I didn’t make that clear.
I understand the Mass much more now than I did when it was in Latin. Unfortunately there are a myriad of confounding factors that I can’t tease out. Has my knowledge of the Mass improved because it’s in English or because I’m older or because I once left the Church and came back or because I am actually participating in it instead of just attending? I’m sure all these factors play a part.
I’m sure studies have been done but I can’t search for them right now.
Not even “Dominus vobiscum”?
Nope. When I was a teenager I knew what that meant. I didn’t know the
Kyrie Eleison was Greek. Of course when I was very young I thought the Holy Spirit was a parakeet and Mary was full of grapes, so I didn’t have the English down very well either (oh, I hope I don’t get banned for that because I love the Holy Spirit and Mary so, so much, but it’s true).
I know what you mean there. When I was passing by a place of worship I thought they were signing “Bringing in the Cheese.”
What did I know as a kid?
I’ll get banned; you’ll just get an infraction.
I thought they were bringing in sheep!!
I left too but probably for reasons far different than yours.
I want to say that I have nothing against TLM. If we had one in my parish I would probably attend. I take that back. I
would attend. I’m trying to learn Latin; not just because of the Mass but because it’s a beautiful language, many of its words form the basis for English and Spanish words, and because so many people consider it a dead language.
What bothers me is the tension and hostility and now I’ve been part of it for blowing up at a banned member who can’t even respond. I guess I just don’t understand the importance of things like gold chalices and Communion rails. They are disciplines and can be changed. And as a woman I admit I would feel as if I were being treated in an inferior way if I were told I couldn’t go up beyond the Communion rail except to clean. Having to wear a chapel veil for so much of my life and having been smacked so hard across the face because I lost mine is one of the reasons I left the Church. The emphasis wasn’t on Communion but covering the top of my hair (while the rest flowed down my back), listening to words I didn’t understand, cowering in the Confessional while I lied to the priest about sins I never committed and then wondering if the lies were absolved in this Confession or if I had to come back (and the priest knew who I was anyway).
I apologize - I’m going off topic. But I do have a question. Do traditionalists want a closed Confessional or do they accept an open, face-to-face Confession? I haven’t seen this addressed.
It is not the position of the Catholic Church. You are a prime example of why such conflict exist, by the way. This “My Mass is better than your Mass” attitude does nothing but cause dissension. Most Catholics get their instruction from the bishops, priests, the Vatican and not YouTube.
