Tridentine Mass Attractions

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alexl437

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Hi guys,
I’m putting together an article and it would really help me out if I could get some ideas as to what attracts people to the Old Mass.
Thanks
 
A reverent, sacred atmosphere that’s absolutely heavenly.
 
I really can’t say. I prefer Mass in my own language.
But there are PLENTY of TLMers here.
You’ll get all the responses you need. 😎
 
alexl437 said:
it would really help me out if I could get some ideas as to what attracts people to the Old Mass.

Thanks
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The silence of the event, able to hear yourself think.

Especially when you are talking about Latin Mass back in the day, when all Masses were Latin. The Low Mass was the overwhelming favorite, top of the hit parade, in the 1960’s. I don’t remember going to any High Masses as a kid.
 
I like to dress informally but on special occasions, I like dressing up. There is something about having a special place, where only worship happens, rather than using a multipurpose room.

There is also something about having a special language for liturgy, be it Latin or one of the Eastern Church rites…the language that our predecessors used for centuries, in many different lands.

The current OF Mass translation from I think 2011 is a big improvement over the earlier OF. In other words, it reflects more of the supernatural, God-orientation of the EF.

If the EF preferably high Mass, were offered in every parish and Catholic school at least once a year, it would raise the level of understanding of liturgy in general, and improve participation in the OF.
 
The article you are writing would not be complete unless you experience it for yourself. Have you attended one? Compared and contrasted the EF and OF? Just for fun visit an Eastern Catholic parish, too. It is a blessing to explore one’s faith, it will open your eyes and your heart to all God has to offer.
 
You know what you’re getting with an EF Mass. (same goes for the Ordinariate Use).
 
For those of us who know at least some Latin, it’s a chance to see how Latin was used by the Church for centuries.

For those of us who had Catholic parents, grandparents etc., it’s a chance to experience worship as our ancestors worshipped. This to me is not “hip and trendy nostalgia”, it’s an actual connection to my now-deceased forebears.

Latin Masses are also often (though not always) celebrated in old, very ornate churches that somehow survived all the modifications of post-Vatican II, so you get to see the large, high altar actually in use.

The services are more geared towards ritual, history, and well, worship, than with trying to connect with modern people or with trying to encourage people to “build a relationship with God”. It is a different emphasis. Frankly, in some ways I would call it “advanced Catholicism” because you need a depth of knowledge and interest to appreciate what’s going on during the ritual, especially with it being in Latin. It’s not the type of thing where someone could just walk in off the street and have a clue. There is definitely a feeling of being among one’s “tribe” of devout Catholics when you go to a TLM Mass; the Christmas-and-Easter Catholic set are probably not going to attend.
 
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and if the ‘ChriEasters’ show up, they’re expecting a dead relic as opposed to the vibrant, alive, young enthusiasm that is at the TLM
 
TLM’s aren’t always vibrant, alive and young.

Some of them are more like obscure jazz clubs that only the in-crowd knows where to go and when to go and what to wear when they show up so they look like they belong there.
 
Hereiam said:
Its hip and trendy in its old school nostalgia.
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It’s literally anything but. If the Church would support abortion, gay marriage, and other liberal ideas, then a ton of youth and younger people would be joining like crazy. My friends make fun of me for being a traditionalists, if it was cool, I would be the most popular guy in school.
 
That’s true

However, the movement is growing, and the ones that I have attended have had majorites under 35
 
I think what Hereiam meant is that the ritual and the church looks all retro and stuff.

People could be attracted to attend it once or twice because they think it looks so cool, even while they set aside or ignore all the Church teaching behind it.

Of course, the kind of hipsters who think it is all neat to have “Mad Men”-style Mass will probably freak out and leave when they see the Catholic families who dress and behave more like the Amish showing up for the TLM.
 
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dallas_r said:
It’s literally anything but. If the Church would support abortion, gay marriage, and other liberal ideas, then a ton of youth and younger people would be joining like crazy. My friends make fun of me for being a traditionalists, if it was cool, I would be the most popular guy in school.
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The question was what is the attraction (presumably to each of us), not why is the attraction as I see it as wrong or misplaced. You didn’t answer the question, you only faulted my opinion…so answer the question rather than deviating from the intent of the thread…What is the attraction for you?
 
I was attracted to the Latin mass because of the emphasis on silence and contemplation. The Latin also adds another beautiful element, where you know the Latin the priest is using is the same Latin that St. Padre Pio used or even that St. Francis De Sales used, or that St. Faustina heard.

The reverence also reflects beauty to me because reverence is true and through it I witness Faith.

The traditional aspects of the mass (incense, kneeling at communion rail, priest taking his hat off at the name of Jesus, the “okay” hand sign so as not to drop a crumb of Jesus, and other little rituals) help to bridge the gap between the natural and the supernatural world and brings meaning to the Latin mass. So desperately we often crave meaning in our lives, and so easily can we find it in the Latin mass.
 
The TLM isn’t more reverent because of the format, but rather, because of those who attend such Mass.

Before Vatican II when the TLM was the ordinary, Mass in everyday Parishes were no more reverent than the NO is today.

I attend the NO in the vernacular at the Monasteries nearby. They’re more reverent because of the people who go out of their way to attend.

I have no delusion that placing the TLM in most Catholic Parishes would some how bring about more reverence. If anything, people will stop attending and seek out Mass in the vernacular.

Jim
 
The thing that brings to the Latin Mass is the quiet, and reverent way of Worshiping Our Lord.

JimR-OCDS you are sadly mistaken the TLM has strict Rubrics to protect the Faith and Liturgy.

Sad to say most Novus Ordo Parishes are filled with non stop talking
 
JimR-OCDS said:
The TLM isn’t more reverent because of the format, but rather, because of those who attend such Mass.

Before Vatican II when the TLM was the ordinary, Mass in everyday Parishes were no more reverent than the NO is today.
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Generally agree, except for the fact that I think people were more reverent in general during the 1960’s and before. I’ve seen pics of football and baseball games back in the day, the spectators wore ties and jackets.
 
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