Why is Latin Mas always far away?

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well guys, I tried to attend a Latin Mass within my diocese, found a church about 2 hours away and tried to drive there. It was so far and in an unfamiliar place, I couldn’t even find it. (not everyone has GPS).

Back then, even a poor, barefoot person without a car could walk to a Latin Mass. Now transportation and a full tank of gas are required to make it there. My question now is, why is what was once commonplace, now only a luxury for those who can afford to travel?
 
and before anyone gets mad at me and thinks I’m saying only rich people can afford to go to Latin Mass, that isn’t what I mean. I mean why are the parishes that offer it so far spaced apart? Why isn’t it readily available for everyone? Why is it only something “special” I think it should be as available as the other form of the Mass. Please don’t be offended as I am not probably saying this right. I tried to delete my OP and rephrase it but I can’t.
 
I would think it is this way because in the USA there are a lot of other religions popping up left and right. I don’t have statistics but Catholicism is probably not as popular as it is on other countries.

For example, in Mexico and probably most of Latin America, there are many Catholic churches and all within walking distance. Where I visited (Mexico) there were at least 6 Catholic Churches within a 10 mile radius (and all of them have many people).
Most of those churches are small and not as nice as the one in the USA. Only a select few are those big and nice Cathedrals you see on TV.

So to answer your question, I would say because of the people, or the lack of people that are Catholic. If there were Churches within walking distance most would be empty. At least on my local churches if I go any time of the week that is not a Sunday, there are only a handful of people. Imagine how Latin mass would be.
 
Extraordinary Form Masses require that quite a bit of organization takes place, and quite a bit of money gets spent, before they can be worthily offered. The vestments are a little more complex and ornate, there are altar cards and frames that hold them, and so forth. For a Missa Cantata, a schola (specialized choir) has to be assembled and trained. Plus, a lot of priests from the late sixties on did not have to take Latin to get into seminary, or learn it once there. Additionally, some churches modified their interior design after Vatican II and got rid of communion rails, put in a stationary altar facing the people. More modern churches never had the accoutrements of communion rails or ad orientem altars to begin with. With these changes, it’s difficult to celebrate an EF Mass, which I could describe as “strictly choreographed.”

I finally worked up the nerve to ask our pastor if he would consider applying to the bishop for permission to celebrate the EF Mass (he is in his early seventies, and graduated from the seminary I believe in 1971, being ordained shortly thereafter.) For what it’s worth, he has a wonderful baritone voice, as I’ve noticed when he does English language chant, and our church, while in a small town, was built in the late 1890s and could be described as a mini-cathedral. The altar rails were left in place, and the ad populum altar is movable.

Father X’s initial reaction when I asked this question? He looked at me as if I had suggested the parish ought to graze sheep on the front lawn! In other words, a mixture of shock and horror.

Then he explained the above logistics to me, and it made sense. He was also humble enough to admit that he has not used Latin in decades, other than those Latin expressions which have become a part of English usage, and has forgotten most of it. Furthermore, our parish is a consolidated parish (a single parish made up of four parishes whose churches were closed by the diocese in the past few years,) and Father also functions as pastor for a parish about twenty miles away. We have a wonderful deacon, who does quite a bit of pastoral work, and Father X does quite a bit of it himself, including spiritual direction, actually visiting the sick in the hospitals (and most of the hospitals are located in the city twenty-five miles south of here,) youth counseling, and is very involved in the children’s catechesis at our parish.

In other words, the poor guy has his plate full. “Full plate” is putting it mildly, I’d say that plate probably looks like a glutton at a free buffet!

Still, he didn’t dismiss the idea entirely: He did say that a few other parishioners have approached him, and he’d entertain the idea if he could get an assistant priest from the diocese who already knew the EF Mass and felt comfortable celebrating it. He thinks that if the parish offered the EF Mass, assuming he gets an assistant priest, it would be like that old movie, “Field of Dreams:” “If you build it, they will come.” He said that he had checked the old EF vestments years ago when he took over the parish and they were dry rotted and mildewed. They didn’t respond to dry cleaning, so he got rid of them (which makes sense.) They would have to be replaced. He said that he found the old altar cards and frames. The frames were intact, but the altar cards had mildewed, and would have to be replaced.

While I’m not holding my breath, I did notice in the diocesan newspaper that seven men are being ordained this year in our diocese (that’s up from three last year.) I have heard that younger priests are the ones who have more of an interest in celebrating the EF Mass, and know that it is now being taught in our diocesan seminary.

Maybe we’ll get lucky.
 
latingirl said:
well guys, I tried to attend a Latin Mass within my diocese, found a church about 2 hours away and tried to drive there. It was so far and in an unfamiliar place, I couldn’t even find it. (not everyone has GPS).

Back then, even a poor, barefoot person without a car could walk to a Latin Mass. Now transportation and a full tank of gas are required to make it there. My question now is, why is what was once commonplace, now only a luxury for those who can afford to travel?
Click to expand...
 
If you want the Traditional Latin Mass in your area, you need to assemble a group of faithful willing to support it and find a priest or priests willing to say the Mass. Ask your local priests and parishioners if there is interest locally.
 
latingirl said:
well guys, I tried to attend a Latin Mass within my diocese, found a church about 2 hours away and tried to drive there. It was so far and in an unfamiliar place, I couldn’t even find it. (not everyone has GPS).

Back then, even a poor, barefoot person without a car could walk to a Latin Mass. Now transportation and a full tank of gas are required to make it there. My question now is, why is what was once commonplace, now only a luxury for those who can afford to travel?
Click to expand...
I realize how lucky I am to be able to walk to a church with latin mass. Really blessed. I think if you live in bigger metro areas (NY, DC, etc) you are more likely to find a church within a more reasonable distance that offers it. As Odile’s priest said, it’s not as “simple” as just celebrating the mass. There are a lot of factors that have to be put in place. However, I believe the desire for the latin rite is only gonna get stronger in the coming years.
 
My suspicion is that, given the circumstances of the present age, the TLM mainly appeals to intelligentsia. The hoi polloi don’t know it, don’t care about it, aren’t interested in it, and will probably get mad if it’s spoken of in their presence, so it falls to the patricians to organize and support them. Natural (Catholic) patricians are rare, so TLMs are rare, and they tend to be city-dwellers, so you tend to find TLMs in cities. For instance, in my diocese, there are three TLMs I’m aware of: two diocesan TLMs in Waco and Austin, and an SSPX mission in Austin. In nearby dioceses, there’s one in Dallas (FSSP parish), two in or just outside Houston (another FSSP parish and an elderly monsignor ordained pre-Vatican II), and I think one in San Antonio.

A secondary factor is age. Where there is preference for the TLM it seems to be motivated mainly by young people, probably an understandable reaction against the excesses of their parents’ generation. In my experience, if I walk into a parish and see an ocean of gray hair, I know I will hear nothing but Haas and Haugen that day; whereas, by contrast, every TLM I’ve been to was filled with folks my age or slightly younger, keeping a half-dozen kids in line.
 
I’ve started going to Latin Mass, I still find it really strange. I’m not pre-1962, that’s why.
 
Im lucky i have 6 (soon 7) latin masses on Sunday that are within 30 mins driving distance or a quick train ride( we also have SSPX and SSPV masses but i dont count them). And there is a fssp parish about 45 mins away buts its impossible to get to during the weekday traffic for daily mass. I live on Long Island and theres alot of churches there are 3 catholic churches in my town and 2 i can see from my house pretty much. I guess it depends on where you live if theres alot of churches there is going to be more EF masses for the most part.
 
disneyfan1206 said:
Im lucky i have 6 (soon 7) latin masses on Sunday that are within 30 mins driving distance or a quick train ride( we also have SSPX and SSPV masses but i dont count them). And there is a fssp parish about 45 mins away buts its impossible to get to during the weekday traffic for daily mass. I live on Long Island and theres alot of churches there are 3 catholic churches in my town and 2 i can see from my house pretty much. I guess it depends on where you live if theres alot of churches there is going to be more EF masses for the most part.
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We have that many in the Chicago area as well. Except for perhaps one or two, the parishes where they’re celebrated had been on the brink of closing down at some time before the EF was offered.
 
ProVobis said:
the parishes where they’re celebrated had been on the brink of closing down at some time before the EF was offered.
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The church i go to is in a similar situation i hear. one of the main things keeping it open is the Latin Mass community.
 
latingirl said:
well guys, I tried to attend a Latin Mass within my diocese, found a church about 2 hours away and tried to drive there. It was so far and in an unfamiliar place, I couldn’t even find it. (not everyone has GPS).

Back then, even a poor, barefoot person without a car could walk to a Latin Mass. Now transportation and a full tank of gas are required to make it there. My question now is, why is what was once commonplace, now only a luxury for those who can afford to travel?
Click to expand...
Many parishes won’t offer the Latin Mass. I tried in my parish with 2 different pastors. They laughed at me and said a resounding NO. I was told we don’t have alter boys who know the Latin Mass or priests for that matter.

One parish here said that they would offer a Latin Mass every Wednesday evening until Easter. I was delighted and with much anticipation attended this Mass only to fine out that it was the English Mass that we have now only said in Latin. What a huge disappointment for me.

We do have a real Latin Mass about 60 mins away.
I like to go when they have what they call their sung Mass. It is a high Mass with all the ritual of pre Vatican II times. What a beautiful , spiritual experience. In my opinion it is just more–if you can understand what I mean.

Just my 2 cents.
 
PaulfromIowa said:
If you want the Traditional Latin Mass in your area, you need to assemble a group of faithful willing to support it and find a priest or priests willing to say the Mass. Ask your local priests and parishioners if there is interest locally.
Click to expand...
I’m afraid I’d be the only one who wants it. I’ve already kind of been ostracized from my old parish because of just wanting more Latin in our hymns! I’m in a new parish now and just getting to know a whole new group of people. There were other, more significant reasons why I left my old parish. I have thought about getting a petition going I just don’t know how.
 
OraLabora said:
You also asked the same question on another thread, so I answered there:

Why is the Extraordinary Form Mass always far away?
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How did that happen? I am the dumbest person on earth for asking this question twice. By the way, allow me to mention I WAS involved in music ministry at my old parish for 3 years and did try myself to suggest things and be pro-active. I really am offended that you would assume I just sat on my behind and demanded a better liturgy instead of trying to change it myself. I’ve been there and done that, didn’t work.
 
latingirl said:
well guys, I tried to attend a Latin Mass within my diocese, found a church about 2 hours away and tried to drive there. It was so far and in an unfamiliar place, I couldn’t even find it. (not everyone has GPS).

Back then, even a poor, barefoot person without a car could walk to a Latin Mass. Now transportation and a full tank of gas are required to make it there. My question now is, why is what was once commonplace, now only a luxury for those who can afford to travel?
Click to expand...
Back in the day there were heaps of horses - everyone who wasn’t walking rode on horseback or in horse-drawn vehicles to get from place to place. Now most people who want to ride - or even see - a horse have to travel to rural areas and/or spend a lot of money to do so.

Come to think of it, can’t remember the last time I saw a milkman either - few if any places in my part of the world deliver milk anymore.

Things change 🤷
 
Where we live, there are no priests with an adequate grasp of Latin to celebrate a Latin Mass. Also, since our few priests all cover several parishes and driving all over and already covering more Masses per week than normally permitted (with permission from the Bishop, of course), there is no time for them to take the workshops necessary in order to learn HOW to celebrate the Latin Mass, which I understand is a requirement before priests are permitted to do this.

Where we live, when our priest is sick, we have a communion service. There is no other alternative. And we already have communion services on our priest’s days off and vacations.

Further, none of our parishes have the required assistance. Only one parish has “fairly” reliable altar servers. The rest have none. And only one parish has a fairly reliable, though untrained (musically) choir and organ. Our parish has no organ, no choir, etc. We have no paid choir directors who would know how to read the music and teach it to the one or two folks who may show up for choir practice.

We have no incense in our parishes - no one is trained or available to assist with that.

We have folding chairs placed very close together without kneelers so kneeling is strongly discouraged as it tends to result in collapsing chairs, clatter and occasionally injury.

Of course, up until recently, most of our parishes were mission parishes (we still have more than 1/2 mission churches). And in the old days when the OP references people able to walk barefoot to a Latin Mass, we had no parishes within walking or driving distance for anyone. And people throughout the Western USA “in the good old days” were used to go weeks or months between traveling padres arriving in town to say Mass, perform weddings, etc.

We have one Latin Mass that is about 2 hours away. I’d have to get my disabled son up at 3 a.m. in order to drive there over a dark mountain pass. I would dearly love to try it – I’ve never been to a Latin Mass in my life! But it is just not going to be possible any time soon. Maybe some day.

OP - I feel your pain!!! I was so excited about the re-introduction of the Latin Mass, but unless I watch one on TV, it looks like I’m in the same situation as you are. Frustrating, I know.
 
Phyllo said:
One parish here said that they would offer a Latin Mass every Wednesday evening until Easter. I was delighted and with much anticipation attended this Mass only to fine out that it was the English Mass that we have now only said in Latin. What a huge disappointment for me.
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But at least it’s a good start. I would show them support for trying. It’s not easy reintroducing Latin in the Mass.
 
latingirl said:
well guys, I tried to attend a Latin Mass within my diocese, found a church about 2 hours away and tried to drive there. It was so far and in an unfamiliar place, I couldn’t even find it. (not everyone has GPS).

Back then, even a poor, barefoot person without a car could walk to a Latin Mass. Now transportation and a full tank of gas are required to make it there. My question now is, why is what was once commonplace, now only a luxury for those who can afford to travel?
Click to expand...
When the EF was the only form, all parishes had it.

Now the OF is the (as the letters stand for) ordinary form.

There is no way of telling what most people want, because a very large number of them have never been exposed to the EF.

However, there is evidence that where the EF is offered, only a very small segment of those within a reasonable distance attend it. Part of that may be due to many attending the OF having no knowledge that the EF is offered reasonably close by.

Part of that is undoubtedly due to many simply preferring the OF.

Part of that may likely also due to people wanting to attend Mass with others whom they have come to know, and consdier as part of their family, if you will. People can become very attached to a parish. If they have to go to another parish, thank you they will stay in the one they are fgamiliar with.

For those who particularly prefer the EF, I have heard comments that they cannot understand why ogthers are not also attracted to it.

It may not be the best of analogies, but if one referred to music, in any given area where there is a symphony, only a very very small part of the population will attend. Why? Most don’t have a strong appreciation for the type of music most symphonies play.

So also, some are very attrated to Latin; and others do not want to attend a Mass that is in all Latin. That is not to get into a side issue of whether or not parts of the Mass, even in the vernacular, should be recited in Latin; the point is, they do not wnat to attend a Mass that is all in Latin; and that is probably more impoprtant to them than orientation, or specific rubrics, or canon said, or other issues.

And that is not likely to change, as the number of people who want a Mass in the EF seem to be a small minority.
 
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