Why do you think the Gregorian High Mass is so beautiful?

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Mike5575

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Hello people, I live in Pensacola, FL and there is only one Traditional Catholic Parish in town. For the last couple of months I have been going there every Sunday and even try to make it there on the weekdays sometimes. I am not a Catholic. I am due to get Confirmed next month, and I have fell in love with the Latin Mass. My friend invited me to his Parish, and it was HORRIBLE! After going to some psuedo Catholic/Protestant hybrid of a service with pianoes, violins, and even a little clapping, I never want to be exposed to that kind of Mass again! Although, I understand of course that the Mass is done by a validly ordained Priest, and the real presence of Christ still exists in the Eucharist, but still. That’s just wrong! Catholics are not protestants!

Anyways, I wanted to ask you guys what makes the High Latin Mass so wonderful? Is it the fact that its a rite that has been perfected through the centuries, or is it simply the language being used, or both, or something else?
 
For me it’s the reverence I experience and the fact that it is done ad orientum.
In addition:
The Gregorian Chant makes the Mass almost heavenly.
The language is special as it is reserved for Mass, not just our everyday language. (Even the old Anglican service used older English which made the vernacular special for church worship.)
I say it’s a combination of many things. For me it is THE Mass in that it has been celebrated for about 1500 years.
 
It’s everything, every little detail. Everything is about reverence towards God, in the Eucharist. I totally agree with everything you’ve said, and I’m so happy that you’re converting 🙂 What parish was the happy-clappy Mass at? I know one parish in Pensacola, St. Joseph’s, actually has a liturgical dancing team(internet hear-say). The bishop cares not. I would write him a letter ONLY praising the TLM there, no complaints or anything about other parishes. The more of these he gets, the more he’ll get the picture. Fr. Z actually posted this bishop’s rebuttal of Summorum Pontificum on WDTPRS. The bishop pretty much contradicted everything the Holy Father said. It just makes you wonder how Fr. Perez got there!

But back to the TLM: it’s just that people care, and the Mass helps them to care more… just the theology of the Mass, every genuflection and incensation, every motion of the priest… the Mass tends to, these days anyway, draw the more devout, but even if it didn’t, this Mass alone would MAKE them all devout. I love everything about the TLM, dialogue Mass or not. It’s just so awe-inspiring. Somebody else posted on CAF that it was like they could hear the heartbeat of the Church, that all the illusions had been stripped away.
 
Mike5575 said:
For the last couple of months I have been going there every Sunday and even try to make it there on the weekdays sometimes. I am not a Catholic. I am due to get Confirmed next month, and I have fell in love with the Latin Mass.
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Just as a historical note, a few prominent non-Catholics were partially responsible for keeping the Latin Mass alive. Shortly after the introduction of the New Mass, many petitioners, including Agatha Christie, wrote to the Pope to preserve the Old Mass. When he noted her name, the indult was granted to say it in England.
 
I think it is because Gregorian chant, in some way, exists outside of human culture, while using human voices in such a way as to elevate us to a plane outside of ourselves.

I come from the African American Protestant Church tradition (I am a convert). While I will always cherish my former worship experiences, I must say, for myself, nothing matches the Gregorian High Mass. While admittedly European in origin, it transcends culture in such a way that integrates voice and song so as to draw men and women from all backgrounds in the Church in unity. It eliminates frivolity while simultaneously refreshing the soul in a manner that edifies the individual while harmonizing the Church so that we truly embody one faith, one Lord, one baptism…

But I still enjoy a good rip-roaring African, African American or Spanish Mass where the congregants sing at the top of their voices to praise of His glory…:clapping:
 
ljubim said:
It’s everything, every little detail. Everything is about reverence towards God, in the Eucharist. I totally agree with everything you’ve said, and I’m so happy that you’re converting 🙂 What parish was the happy-clappy Mass at? I know one parish in Pensacola, St. Joseph’s, actually has a liturgical dancing team(internet hear-say). The bishop cares not. I would write him a letter ONLY praising the TLM there, no complaints or anything about other parishes. The more of these he gets, the more he’ll get the picture. Fr. Z actually posted this bishop’s rebuttal of Summorum Pontificum on WDTPRS. The bishop pretty much contradicted everything the Holy Father said. It just makes you wonder how Fr. Perez got there!

But back to the TLM: it’s just that people care, and the Mass helps them to care more… just the theology of the Mass, every genuflection and incensation, every motion of the priest… the Mass tends to, these days anyway, draw the more devout, but even if it didn’t, this Mass alone would MAKE them all devout. I love everything about the TLM, dialogue Mass or not. It’s just so awe-inspiring. Somebody else posted on CAF that it was like they could hear the heartbeat of the Church, that all the illusions had been stripped away.
Click to expand...
I went to the Holy Spirit Parish. Everything about it was awful. Even the Vestments. They looked like the horrid outome of some 4th Grade Arts and Crafts Class. So… Nope! St. Stephen’s is the Parish for me! Even if I have to drive half way across town. From what I hear, the Bishop is ill. Fr. Perez used to work at the Vatican before he came here. I remember visiting my brother in Illinois. He is a Benedictine Monk who has helped me tremendously in my spiritual journey. We where looking at the different webistes of the Parishes in Pensacola, and we found St. Stephen’s and he was like “This is the one you need to go to!!” Just curious, is it normal for the Latin Mass to be so rare, like it is in Pensacola? I guess it just has to do with the Bishop. Although, from what I heard, Priests can now have the Traditional Latin Mass without the Bishop’s consent, thanks to His Holiness.
 
creationlover said:
I think it is because Gregorian chant, in some way, exists outside of human culture, while using human voices in such a way as to elevate us to a plane outside of ourselves.
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After experiencing Gregorian Chant a few times, the thought came that the only musical instrument in Heaven will be the human voice. Maybe wrong, but it says a lot about Gregorian Chant. The difference between ordinary singing and it is like the difference between an ice cream and a “Dairy Delite” or “Mr Whippy” , or whatever you other folks call the smooth stuff. i`m not knocking ordinary singing, either!

Voted “Something else”. It includes “Both”.
Its greater (infinitely) than the sum of its individual parts. It transcends the temporal realm in a way thats more obvious than with other forms. “The most beautiful thing this side of Heaven”.

Incense! The “Asperges me…”! Half-drowned in holy water! Holy Communion: Sublime! Decent hymns that are thundered out triumphantly, and lift the ceiling of the church!
It raises our spirits and minds and hearts. It makes us want to be more reverent. Theres a sort of ***Highest Common Denominator ***pulling us upwards. For once, we can trust our feelings/emotions. Its not some whip-up-your-feelings Charismatic turnout.

Thanks, Mike, for starting this thread.
And best wishes. Hope you feel the Church`s heartbeat, as i did after a few Sundays of it.
 
SunnaB16 said:
After experiencing Gregorian Chant a few times, the thought came that the only musical instrument in Heaven will be the human voice. Maybe wrong, but it says a lot about Gregorian Chant. The difference between ordinary singing and it is like the difference between an ice cream and a “Dairy Delite” or “Mr Whippy” , or whatever you other folks call the smooth stuff. i`m not knocking ordinary singing, either!

Voted “Something else”. It includes “Both”.
Its greater (infinitely) than the sum of its individual parts. It transcends the temporal realm in a way thats more obvious than with other forms. “The most beautiful thing this side of Heaven”.

Incense! The “Asperges me…”! Half-drowned in holy water! Holy Communion: Sublime! Decent hymns that are thundered out triumphantly, and lift the ceiling of the church!
It raises our spirits and minds and hearts. It makes us want to be more reverent. Theres a sort of ***Highest Common Denominator ***pulling us upwards. For once, we can trust our feelings/emotions. Its not some whip-up-your-feelings Charismatic turnout.

Thanks, Mike, for starting this thread.
And best wishes. Hope you feel the Church`s heartbeat, as i did after a few Sundays of it.
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👍 Well said Sunna!
 
Mike5575 said:
I went to the Holy Spirit Parish. Everything about it was awful. Even the Vestments. They looked like the horrid outome of some 4th Grade Arts and Crafts Class. So… Nope! St. Stephen’s is the Parish for me! Even if I have to drive half way across town. From what I hear, the Bishop is ill. Fr. Perez used to work at the Vatican before he came here. I remember visiting my brother in Illinois. He is a Benedictine Monk who has helped me tremendously in my spiritual journey. We where looking at the different webistes of the Parishes in Pensacola, and we found St. Stephen’s and he was like “This is the one you need to go to!!” Just curious, is it normal for the Latin Mass to be so rare, like it is in Pensacola? I guess it just has to do with the Bishop. Although, from what I heard, Priests can now have the Traditional Latin Mass without the Bishop’s consent, thanks to His Holiness.
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Unfortunately Traditional Masses are still relatively rare. It is much easier to find one now then in past years but there are still vast areas where you cannot find one at all. Many Bishops still actively oppose them. While a Priest no longer needs permission to celebrate one it is good to remember that if a Priest ticks off his Bishop he could be in for a very very uncomfortable time. Bishops as a general rule don’t like their personal wishes being ignored. Since many of todays Bishops were in the forefront of the ecumenically driven agenda of the 60’s and 70’s, it is easy to see why they oppose the Tradional Mass as much as they do. For them, it is a step backward.
 
Mike5575 said:
I went to the Holy Spirit Parish. Everything about it was awful. Even the Vestments. They looked like the horrid outome of some 4th Grade Arts and Crafts Class. So… Nope! St. Stephen’s is the Parish for me! Even if I have to drive half way across town. From what I hear, the Bishop is ill. Fr. Perez used to work at the Vatican before he came here. I remember visiting my brother in Illinois. He is a Benedictine Monk who has helped me tremendously in my spiritual journey. We where looking at the different webistes of the Parishes in Pensacola, and we found St. Stephen’s and he was like “This is the one you need to go to!!” Just curious, is it normal for the Latin Mass to be so rare, like it is in Pensacola? I guess it just has to do with the Bishop. Although, from what I heard, Priests can now have the Traditional Latin Mass without the Bishop’s consent, thanks to His Holiness.
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Oh I’m not familiar with Holy Spirit. I know what you mean about awful vestments… one parish I went to had a plain white stole, decorated with primary colored handprints. :confused: Same story there!

Lol, for TLM’ers, halfway across town is nothin’ 😃 They don’t make this bumper sticker in vain… kellerbooks.com/si/9038.html

The bishop was ill earlier this year, but I think he’s pretty much recovered.

That’s really interesting about your brother, did he convert himself too? Perhaps he’s been praying a lot for your conversion too 🙂

Yeah TLM’s can be pretty rare 😦 Like the above poster said, the bishops, in the majority, just don’t like them. But then we look at the newer bishops and see that Benedict is changing things. There are a few very good bishops in the U.S, like Chaput, Finn, and the new one in CA (I can’t remember his name)

Check out Summorum Pontificum for more info about you last few sentences 👍
 
The_Reginator said:
👍 Well said Sunna!
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Thanks, comrade!

Last Sunday, during the Asperges, there was another thought:
“This is the Catholic Church i want to be with.” There was an intense feeling of gratitude to God, and to Pope Benedict.

The solidity and strength of the Solemn High Mass are well represented by the majestic white marble High Altar.
 
LOL I love that sticker ljubim. So true.

New bishop you’re talking about is probably the Most Rev. Jose Gomez.
 
ljubim said:
But back to the TLM: it’s just that people care, and the Mass helps them to care more… just the theology of the Mass, every genuflection and incensation, every motion of the priest… the Mass tends to, these days anyway, draw the more devout, but even if it didn’t, this Mass alone would MAKE them all devout. I love everything about the TLM, dialogue Mass or not. It’s just so awe-inspiring. Somebody else posted on CAF that it was like they could hear the heartbeat of the Church, that all the illusions had been stripped away.
Click to expand...
Well said. It has definitgely made me more devout!

So glad you’re taking this route Mike. You’ll encounter many anti-TLM Catholics but let that not discourage you. The times are changing. God bless!
 
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