Latin Mass Appeal [An End To "Banality" and "Chaos" ?]

NYTimes ^ | November 29th 2009

[notaliberal]

It’s in my parish also, but I refuse to participate. I go because I am in the presence of Our Lord and that satisfies me. I go because I want to receive the Holy Eucharist and that connects me with our Lord Jesus Christ in the most personal way. Try it again, just focus on Christ on the Cross and what he did for you—it’s worth it!

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Excellant points.

[230FMJ]

Thanks for the encouragement. I just Googled “Latin Mass” and found where it is being done several Sundays a month in a city about an hour from where I live. I will try again in that setting.

[notaliberal]

For a time I was very upset at the Church and thought of giving up, but then the thought of not receiving our Lord in Holy Communion—I just couldn’t give it up. That’s when I made up my mind that going to Mass was just “for me”. I block everything else out. i want to go to Mass and be in His presence and talk to Him.

[pepsi_junkie]

The church made a major mistake in dropping the old ways back in the 50s and 60s. Consider it from a simple marketing perspective. The Catholic church was a "brand name" and it was distinct from the other denominations (i.e. it was differentiated) because it was the one that was ancient, the one with the timeless ceremony, the almost mystical overtones. The priest was an object of awe, above the fray, the mass something unlike anything else, and it provided a connection to a hundred generations of Catholics stretching back to the time of the Apostles themselves. That was the Catholic brand.

Then in the 50s and 60s the Church said all that was bunk, the way the other churches did it was better. If the timelessness of the mass meant nothing, then what of the teachings? Were they too just a passing fad? Within a single generation, the church became something different than what it was, it lost its brand and its differentiation and then it lost much of its flock, many not to other faiths but to disillusionment and disinterest.

The question is, can the genie be put back in the bottle? We've had a couple of generations raised with no connection to the ancient ways, will they be drawn to them or repulsed. I vote they will be drawn, people long for a church that says "We know best!" rather than one that says "What do you think?" but that's just my guess.

[blackpacific]

Demographically, the latin mass is making a come back.

Whenever we travel, we look the 1962 version up on the internet. Una Voce USA is a good source of info. You can pretty much predict what you will get.

Can’t say the same about the nervous ordeal.

[Cicero]

I would love having the Latin Mass, but there are no churches that have it around here.

When we lived in Connecticut, we had the St. Pius X schismatics next to us for a while. Nice people, beautiful Latin Mass, but I still felt the need to stick with the One Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church.

[murron]

Fortunately, there are 3 Latin Masses that I am aware of in my area. One Church has a Saturday evening Mass at 5:30, which is the one I usually go to, and there is a 7AM Mass at another Church, and a 9:30 at another. It’s so nice not to have to give the sign of peace, among other things.

[Ann Archy]

Oh PLEASE try another Catholic Church.....you owe it to yourself....AND GOD!

[NTHockey]

Bugnini is to the Catholic Church what 0bambi is to America. Both are destroyers; NOT builders.

Not since Cramner has one man (Bugnini) done so much harm to the Catholic Church.

[Steelfish]

Hats off to you. I can’t bring myself to attend the usual parish Church Mass. It makes me mad. Chatting in Church, a celebrant who speaks about the weather, and an unforbearing cantoress that would make glass shatter.

[Steelfish]

Hats off to you. I can’t bring myself to attend the usual parish Church Mass. It makes me mad. Chatting in Church, a celebrant who speaks about the weather, and an unforbearing cantoress that would make glass shatter.

[notaliberal]

I agree with you completely. A book that helped me turn inward and avoid the distractions (it is sometimes difficult to do) was reading the life of Sister Faustina. I keep it at my bedside and when I need uplifting I read passages from her book. It reminds me God is love and merciful.

What affected me most was when she described how hurtful it was to God that people were ignoring Him during Mass and after receiving Holy Communion. She talks about how she desires souls to come to know God and to see that He created them because of His unfathomable love and goodness.

I would recommend that book to anyone who is dismayed about the Church today because it will give you a new perspective, especially about your relationship with God. It put me on a completely different path.

[steve86]

My brother who has been away from the church for a long time emailed me this article today. Encouraging...

[Steelfish]

I do have her book. Mel Gibson used it for his “Passion of the Christ”

[notaliberal]

I did not know that he used her book for his movie.

[redhead]

"I’m not sure what I had hoped to find, perhaps a connection with the faith that so powerfully sustained me in my youth. I was not prepared for the Hippy-Dippy-Touchy-Feely Folk-Fest that I found. I haven’t been back."

"We took the kids to Midnight Mass about ten years ago. It was very embarrassing. Haven't been back."

How very sad. I hope you won't stop coming altogether. Have you explored the Byzantine Rite? It is still "As Catholic as the Pope," but the ritual is ceremonial, reverent, and rich, even though it is in English. (Byzantine rite has always been in the vernacular, I understand) Lots of "smells and bells..." Look for a Byzantine Catholic parish in your area, and give it a try. The Christmas season sould be especially beautiful.

Don't give up.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Where were the ushers?

If you've got any, buy them a copy of the GIRM and make sure you let your pastor know what you witnessed. No excuse for that garbage.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Gibson used

as the basis for The Passion of the Christ not the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska.

[Steelfish]

I stand corrected. You are right.