po18guy
Well-known member
It just struck me that the reason for animus between TLM and charismatic types might be envy, snobbery, or even a sense of competition, if you will. I note that both movements had their genesis at approximately the same time.
Some charismatic types display a much more flamboyant faith, which may engender a perception of superiority. Indeed, flamboyance for its own sake must be avoided. To some, this behavior seems disrespectful - this much has already been mentioned in this thread. But, these are charisms of the Holy Spirit, after all. The people in Jerusalem at Pentecost thought the Apostles were drunk! (Acts 2:13-21). Indeed, the Spirit working through the disciples also made them spectacles during Jesus return to Jerusalem (Luke 19:37-40). But, the gift of healing, a powerful charism, was obviously one of the more spectacular gifts, and was to be used freely (Matthew 10:8).
TLM types counter with a form of Mass which is venerated, being rooted in antiquity, and which requires the study of, if not the mastery of, an ancient and foreign language. However, TLM was purposefully set aside so that the meaning and purpose of the Mass might be made more clear to the average believer. It is a very sober, ordered and respectful means of bearing witness to the Sacrifice - at least for those who understand Latin.
I see the TLM movement as a reaction/rejection of the physical appearance of some Charisms. No one has ever explained how mass in a language which only the privileged few understand is more meaningful to the entire Church. How is a simple poor person supposed to learn Latin in the Peruvian Andes, or in Sri Lanka? This gives me the impression that TLM is an elite movement. Indeed, how are we to attract converts or reverts by insisting that they learn another language? Why would a searching protestant have any reason to look deeper into Catholicism? I see no benefit to the entire Church from this. As well, some use the charisms as an exclusive means of worship, which is also to be condemned.
I do note that the Holy Spirit gave the gifts of language to the Apostles, so that those devout men gathered in Jerusalem could understand the Gospel. The Spirit did not give those men the ability to understand Aramaic. If Latin is good, would not Aramaic, Jesus’ native language, be even better?
This being personal opinion, I expect to be briskly countered on these points, perhaps by both sides.
Some charismatic types display a much more flamboyant faith, which may engender a perception of superiority. Indeed, flamboyance for its own sake must be avoided. To some, this behavior seems disrespectful - this much has already been mentioned in this thread. But, these are charisms of the Holy Spirit, after all. The people in Jerusalem at Pentecost thought the Apostles were drunk! (Acts 2:13-21). Indeed, the Spirit working through the disciples also made them spectacles during Jesus return to Jerusalem (Luke 19:37-40). But, the gift of healing, a powerful charism, was obviously one of the more spectacular gifts, and was to be used freely (Matthew 10:8).
TLM types counter with a form of Mass which is venerated, being rooted in antiquity, and which requires the study of, if not the mastery of, an ancient and foreign language. However, TLM was purposefully set aside so that the meaning and purpose of the Mass might be made more clear to the average believer. It is a very sober, ordered and respectful means of bearing witness to the Sacrifice - at least for those who understand Latin.
I see the TLM movement as a reaction/rejection of the physical appearance of some Charisms. No one has ever explained how mass in a language which only the privileged few understand is more meaningful to the entire Church. How is a simple poor person supposed to learn Latin in the Peruvian Andes, or in Sri Lanka? This gives me the impression that TLM is an elite movement. Indeed, how are we to attract converts or reverts by insisting that they learn another language? Why would a searching protestant have any reason to look deeper into Catholicism? I see no benefit to the entire Church from this. As well, some use the charisms as an exclusive means of worship, which is also to be condemned.
I do note that the Holy Spirit gave the gifts of language to the Apostles, so that those devout men gathered in Jerusalem could understand the Gospel. The Spirit did not give those men the ability to understand Aramaic. If Latin is good, would not Aramaic, Jesus’ native language, be even better?
This being personal opinion, I expect to be briskly countered on these points, perhaps by both sides.