RANT!!!

[stmaria]

No they weren’t. While the priest was WRONG to suggest kneeling was a mortal sin, the Church’s instruction was to stand. And if one kneeled, they were not to be denied communion BUT counseled after Mass on the importance of following the Church and not one’s ego. Sadly they never repented of course as their egos would not allow it.

The whining and crying became so acute that the Church backed-off and allowed them to have their way

 

[Karin5]

I have never experienced the Latin mass. Can someone who has explain why it is better than what you call NO? Are the translations of certain prayers from the Latin not accurate? I have ben to mass in Italy and France where I could not understand everything being said. How does one understand the mass if it is in Latin? I can tell that many of you feel very strongly about this, and I would love to understand better. thanks!

 

[JRKH]

Karin5,
You’ve asked a somewhat complex question in the middle of a rather heated discussion but I will try to answer you as well and sucinctly as I can.

I have never experienced the Latin mass. Can someone who has explain why it is better than what you call NO?

The Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) is the Mass that was used for centuries before the advent of Vatican II and the changes that followed on that. The Mass was said in Latin and was virtually identical throughout the world. These facts alone create a strong attraction. One could go to church anywhere in the world and know what was happening.
The other thing about the TLM is that there is a reverence about it that many find uplifting. The language, the music, the “smells and bells” all add to this “otherworldly” tone that lifts one out of the hum drum world.
A word of advise - the TLM is not for “sissies”. It is generally longer than the N.O. and there is more kneeling. Once you kneel after the Sanctus, you stay down until after communion.

As for the N.O. (Novus Ordo), if properly executed it is also beautiful and uplifting. However there is a lot of room for variation and thus confusion not just between countries but between diocese. I think that the N.O. gets a bad wrap from some because it is a very visible sign of deeper problems within the Church.

Are the translations of certain prayers from the Latin not accurate? I have ben to mass in Italy and France where I could not understand everything being said. How does one understand the mass if it is in Latin?

You have hit the nail on the head here. When one goes to another country how does one follow the Mass? Years ago you could buy one missal and take it anywhere.
There are differences in the Prayers, basically there are fewer in the N.O. than in the TLM. Also there are variations available to be used. As for the accuracies of the translations I cannot say although I understand that there are issues with some of the translations.
As for understanding the Latin Mass, you can look on the internet for websites that walk you through the TLM, the prayers used etc. In addition most churches that offer the TLM will have prayerbooks available for those who don’t have a missal. These will all have the Latin on one side and the English on the other. Following along is not difficult once you’ve been exposed a couple of times.

I can tell that many of you feel very strongly about this, and I would love to understand better. thanks!

I hope you’ll take a look at the TLM yourself and judge it on it’s own merits. If you are like most you’ll find that you like it - Not to the excusion of the N.O. but certainly on par with it.

James

 

[Titus1728]

Luckily for me I am able, when my work schedule allows, to go to a monastery that offers both the N.O. the way it was intended to be celebrated and the TLM. The N.O., when done properly, is very inspiring although still not, IMHO, up to the standards of the TLM.

I have had people say to me, “but how can you understand what’s going on if the mass is in Latin?” Haven’t these people ever heard of translations? The missal has english on one side and latin on the other. Not that difficult.

 

[brotherhrolf]

Sneaky language, Latin. You listen to it enough and then you begin to see that there are a whole bunch of words in English that have :bigyikes: these big Latin roots.

 

[CatholicCajun]

Brotherhrolf I have a question for you. Did or do you attend the church in Kenner I think it’s called Our LAdy of Grace, but I could be wrong on the title. I have a couple of customers who travel from down here to there every Sunday. Anyway was just wondering. Have a blessed day.

 

[Brenda_V]

I have never experienced the Latin mass. Can someone who has explain why it is better than what you call NO? Are the translations of certain prayers from the Latin not accurate? I have ben to mass in Italy and France where I could not understand everything being said. How does one understand the mass if it is in Latin? I can tell that many of you feel very strongly about this, and I would love to understand better. thanks!

I just wanted to address this little bit of your questions as a PP answered the others pretty well (with the exception that the NO or now called the OF (Ordinary Form) changed tradition not Tradition - yes there is a difference which actually deserves a different thread). I too have attended Mass in France, Italy and Holland after V2 and even as a child I was able to follow along as the parts of the Mass are not different, just different languages so the same could be said for Latin with the exception that in every country where you attend Mass the parts of the Mass will be said in the same language. The only part that I could not “understand” were the readings (except we had a missal we followed along in so we knew what they were) and the homily which is only a part of the Mass.

Sneaky language, Latin. You listen to it enough and then you begin to see that there are a whole bunch of words in English that have :bigyikes: these big Latin roots.

Brenda V.

 

[Karin5]

thanks all for your replies. Much appreciated.