How can I get a Latin Mass started at my local Parish?

[Granatelli]

Certainly there are a shortage of priests today and that can cause a problem. But, although a priest is supposed to grant the EF when requested does not mean he himself has to say it. If his schedule does not permit, he can get another priest to say it. In my diocese, we have a retired priest that says the EF at one of the diocesan locations where the EF is offered. The priest can also enlist the help of the FSSP, or other order priest who can say the Mass. Some typically OF order priest have been learning to say the EF Mass. If the priest is not sure how to work it out, he can go to his bishop and the bishop can go to Rome if need be.

I don’t think this is a question about dropping the OF for an EF. I don’t think anyone is saying that should happen. Although, I am sure there are some who think it should happen. This should also not be about not providing the EF due to the OF.

It’s not easy to find priests around here to celebrate the EF because they are already extremely busy and the existing EF Masses have small attendance.

 

[Granatelli]

Costs are another issue and that can be handled with both of those options. If the OF community is supportive, they will subsidize the EF Mass. If the EF community is strong enough, they won’t need the financial help.

Charity and trust and good-will are needed on all sides.

I fully agree with your comments but let’s reverse things for a moment. Let’s say a group of EF enthusiasts (with the local bishop’s approval) goes and buys a gorgeous old Episcopal church building and prepares it for the celebration of the EF Mass.

Once they are up and running the bishop decrees that one or two OF Masses will also be celebrated at the new parish.

I wonder how the EF enthusiasts would feel about that?

 

[malphono]

I fully agree with your comments but let’s reverse things for a moment. Let’s say a group of EF enthusiasts (with the local bishop’s approval) goes and buys a gorgeous old Episcopal church building and prepares it for the celebration of the EF Mass.

Once they are up and running the bishop decrees that one or two OF Masses will also be celebrated at the new parish.

I wonder how the EF enthusiasts would feel about that?

Maybe it’s just me, but that reference to “EF enthusiasts” seems to be a “bit” (and maybe just a tad more than a “bit”) of a pejorative. This business of considering those who prefer the EF to be some sort of freaks has gotten very old very quickly. I, for one, have had more than enough of it.

 

[Granatelli]

Maybe it’s just me, but that reference to “EF enthusiasts” seems to be a “bit” (and maybe just a tad more than a “bit”) of a pejorative. This business of considering those who prefer the EF to be some sort of freaks has gotten very old very quickly. I, for one, have had more than enough of it.

Please don’t be so defensive. There are most certainly EF enthusiasts, at least in my diocese. They make their desires very clear. The thought that they are “some sort of freaks” is fully a projection on your part.

After Summorum Pontificum was released our brand new bishop almost immediately began EF Masses throughout the diocese. Here locally he could not have chosen a better parish (location, physical plant, existing Mass schedule and an enthusiastic pastor.) Almost immediately those who had been clamoring for the EF for a long time immediately began talking about a “parish of their own.”

That rather confused me as the EF was to be celebrated in a beautiful parish that holds 400 people and it seemed like it would take some time for them to fill it. Even then there was room on the schedule for a second EF Mass but the old clamoring for the EF was replaced by a clamoring for their own parish.

I was only curious about what their mindset would be if they had realized their dream of their own parish and the bishop would have added OF Masses to the schedule?

 

[bcra]

when i was a child all my friends did not understand the latin therefore it was totally useless i could name over 1000 catholics who dont know any part of latin unless you are a doctor or priest it is totally useless i do not know what a priest is saying in latin and my child hood friends are not even listening to the mass and im talking about the whole community going to mass the priest might as well not say anything because no one knows what he is saying. kids walk out of mass because or dont go because they dont know anything about latin. i think mass is better understood in yuour native tongue so you understand american do not understand latin

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

It’s not easy to find priests around here to celebrate the EF because they are already extremely busy and the existing EF Masses have small attendance.

I am still waiting for a reference where it says that “a priest is supposed to grant the EF when requested”.

No where in the document in question does it say this. It is the bishop who is to make allowances for it, not individual priests.

 

[gmcbroom]

Granatelli, I suppose the parishioners that attended there own EF church wouldn’t mind if they had an NO Mass too,because they would have what they wanted their own EF service. Now, however, the priest might mind. Afterall, it is alot of work, being a priest, now just imagine doubling or tripling the workload and you would have one exhausted priest. True its a labor of love; but everyone has a breaking point.

 

[jonpd]

when i was a child all my friends did not understand the latin therefore it was totally useless i could name over 1000 catholics who dont know any part of latin unless you are a doctor or priest it is totally useless i do not know what a priest is saying in latin and my child hood friends are not even listening to the mass and im talking about the whole community going to mass the priest might as well not say anything because no one knows what he is saying. kids walk out of mass because or dont go because they dont know anything about latin. i think mass is better understood in yuour native tongue so you understand american do not understand latin

Understanding Latin is not really necessary to attend an EF Mass. For one thing much of the Mas is said silently, especially in a Low Mass, and generally the people are not expected to make many (or any for Low Mass) responses, for the few that are made they are quickly learned. Every EF Mass I have been to has missalettes available with the Mass in Latin on one side and English on the other which can be used to follow along.

 

[pnewton]

Do you intentionally try to twist words, or do you just not read carefully?

I did not twist your words and I read carefully. I just wanted clarification. I did not assume that your understanding of the term is universal.

 

[Granatelli]

Granatelli, I suppose the parishioners that attended there own EF church wouldn’t mind if they had an NO Mass too,because they would have what they wanted their own EF service. Now, however, the priest might mind. Afterall, it is alot of work, being a priest, now just imagine doubling or tripling the workload and you would have one exhausted priest. True its a labor of love; but everyone has a breaking point.

You use “EF” (nice) and “NO” rather than “OF?” Weird.