This is a serious question and I do not mean anything critical by it. Why is there interest in the traditional Latin Mass for people who do not speak or understand Latin?
HI Mountee,
I can only speak for myself here.
I only experienced the Latin Mass once as a child, when our resident pastor walked into church one day and began the mass in Latin. he then announced that he was going to say the mass in Latin for all those who had missed it since the move to the vernacular. I have never forgotten the sense of peace that filled the church that day. Of course I knew no Latin-I was born just after Vatican II.
Fast forward to adulthood.
A few years ago, I noticed that the E.F. was being offered in a relatively nearby city and began thinking that this might make for a good “Catholic field trip”.
Each time our Catholic newspaper noted the next mass, I would think: “one day I am going to go see a Latin Mass.” I figured that I’d best prepare for this in order to get the most from my experience. I bought my 1962 missal online, marked all the right places with the cool ribbons, called a sibling with an invitation to show up, and headed for the city.
WOW!
The mass rolled right over me (I lost track of my place in the missal and the cool ribbons kind of got lost in the shuffle) and when I picked myself back up and met with my bro at my folks’s house for dinner we were both pretty impressed. Mom and dad just grinned knowingly. They had grown up with the Latin mass; they were delighted for both of us.
I’ve been going back at least monthly ever since, and am thinking of dual registering at my Latin Mass parish as well as my local parish.
I can’t say just what captured my heart that day but I can say definitively that I knew I had discovered something essential and that I would be back.
I feel as if I have really missed out by the lack of provision of this mass until recently. The prayers are amazing. The language fosters meditation. the connection between Old and New testament is exemplified in the actions of the priest and those who assist. The sacrificial lamb, the priest (Aaron) at the Holy of Holies, with the people behind him, assisting with their prayers. The sacrifice. The gift of the Eucharist. this mass is profound on so many levels. I draws me to Our Lord in a manner most powerful and iI am filled with gratitude and overwhelmed. Intellectually, I realize that both the E.F. and the O.F. provide a complete sacrament. The fullness of the E.F. is so completely filling; it brings me to tears.
As you can imagine, I am one of the people who is always encouraging others to assist at Latin mass. Just thinking about the difference between assisting and attending can bring me to a meditative halt. Standing behind the priest, joining my prayers with his as he offers the ultimate sacrifice to Our Lord…kneeling to receive that sacrifice…at the Latin mass I sometimes feel as if I touch heaven.
I don’t have the words to explain this mass, but I do hope that you will assist at some point. It is a tremendous blessing to have it available in our community. It is exciting to see all the young families that are assisting and to watch the mass return to neighboring communities. Clearly, it is meeting a need. I hope you will have the opportunity to discover this treasure. May Our Lord bless you and all who seek Him. Amen.
Good stuff!!! I hope it’s the beginning of a trend. 