[Mershon]

More and more converts and young people in the heart of the Bible Belt are finding their way to Tradition. "If you build it, they will come! They most certainly will come!"

[B Knotts]

I think the Tridentine Mass would be fairly popular if it were offered in a "wide and generous" manner.

Sure, not everyone likes it; but it has a beauty and reverence that can't be beat, IMO.

[B Knotts]

so long as it doesn't replace the Mass in the vernacular

This is somewhat amusing. It is a common belief that Mass in the vernacular is the norm.

That may be true in practice, but as far as I know, the Novus Ordo, in Latin, is the current norm. Mass in the vernacular was always supposed to be an option.

[siunevada]

The caution stems from concerns that use of the old language might be seen by some as an attempt to return to pre-Vatican II theology.

I heard this same thought expressed in my own parish, rather vehemently, that the "theology" of Vatican II was different than what came before.

Not wanting to get into a heated dispute at that time, I calmly expressed my disagreement with the statement and we moved on. What say you, Catholics? Did Vatican II express a a different theology?

I've read a few of the documents and I don't see it.

[Pyro7480]

I took a look at the parish's website, and their new church isn't bad for something that was finished last year. It looks like they will get stained glass in there eventually.

[Between the Lines]

I wondered why you changed the title of this article. Then I found this letter you wrote to the Diocese Report.

Dear Editor:

While the Deep South has been used to the conservativism of Bible Belt Baptists and fundamentalists of other denominations, a new "traditionalism" is rising within the borders of South Carolina.

With only 3 percent of the entire state of South Carolinians declaring themselves to be Roman Catholic, there is an influx of Yankee (Northern) transplants and a steady stream of local converts (several young men who have decided they want to become Roman Catholic Priests) spurred on by the visits of Catholic apologists/converts Gerry Matatics, Steve Wood and Scott Hahn (all three former Presbyterian ministers), over the past couple of years. This stream of Catholics from the North and from within is also being geometrically multiplied by the burgeoning Hispanic population, and has the Greenville, South Carolina Catholic population approaching 10 percent, not including many of the Hispanics who are not officially registered in their parishes.

This stream, which started out as a trickle, and is becoming a flood, speared six local Bob Jones University-affiliated churches to hold a four-day anti-Catholic conference back in February 2003, in which they brought in six ex-Catholic Priests and seminarians to innoculate their congregations against the horrors of "the whore of Babylon." As a result of the publicity surrounding this conference, another young man in his early 20s, a youth minister at another local Protestant Church, has recently been inquiring about becoming Catholic because he is discerning a call to the Priesthood as well.

In the midst of the everyday anti-Catholic environment has emerged a growing movement of traditional Catholics whose numbers are difficult to calculate, but have included from 130 to over 200 attendees at five traditional Latin Masses over the past year and a half.

Now, this traditional Catholic community moves forward, and perhaps the irony is that the "spirit of Vatican II" that every Catholic in his 40s and 50s and above was brainwashed with over the past 40 years, is perhaps really and simply a return to traditional Catholicism. These Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina-based Catholics will get the opportunity to attend the traditional Latin Mass (pre-Vatican II liturgy) on a monthly basis (third Sunday of every month) in Blessed Trinity in Greer, South Carolina at 5:30 p.m. Father Mark Fischer, a Priest with FSSP, who is based in an Atlanta-area Latin Mass community, will make the monthly trek up to the Greenville-Spartanburg area, and will also hold catechesis classes beginning at 4:30 p.m. through 2003. This Holy Mass is being celebrated through the gracious permission of His Excellency, Robert J. Baker, and Father Steve Brovey, Pastor of Prince of Peace in Taylors and Blessed Trinity in Greer.

Of course there are lots of older folks that attend this liturgy, but what is interesting is that there is an ever-increasing number of younger people and especially young families--BIG families--who were born after the Mass was changed to English and the Priest began to face the people, rather than offering sacrifice turned toward God.

All this in the heart of Bob Jones University territory. Perhaps "the spirit of Catholicism" in its "old-time religion" fits into the landscape in the Deep South much better than anyone could have ever imagined. God works in mysterious ways!

Written In Memory of Cardinal Pie of Poitiers

Mershon
Taylors, South Carolina

[Unam Sanctam]

Please note that mass at this church is offered by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, which is in full communion with the Holy Father. It is so important that those seeking out masses according to the Tridentine rite ensure that those churches are in full communion with the Successor of Peter, otherwise they are not fully Catholic.

[Maximilian]

Thanks for this interesting article that shows the Latin Mass can be popular even in the heart of the Bible Belt. I know that the Richmond diocese has 2 parishes that are Tridentine only, one in Richmond and one near Virginia Beach.

This case is very interesting for the fact that a normal New Mass parish just decided to start offering the Latin Mass. The article doesn't really explain what got that started.

[GenXFreedomFighter]

I just *dragged* some folks from my young adults group to see their first Tridentine Mass this past Sunday. Thought I'd try and plant a seed.

[ELS]

Thirty-five-year-old Robert Fromageot, a member of the Atlanta-based Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter

First of all, the FSSP is based in Elmhurst, PA, not Atlanta, GA. Fr. Fromageot is the pastor of a parish in Atlanta (St. Francis de Sales, I think). Secondly, I know Fr. Fromageot from his previous assignment. He is a very faithful and devoted priest. Those congregants are blessed.

[nickcarraway]

ping

[ultima ratio]

This account repeats an error regarding the SSPX. The Pope never "excommunicated" Archbishop Lefebvre. He announced that an excommunication had taken place latae sententiae and was automatic--that is, it had resulted from the Archbishop's act of disobedience. The Pontiff himself had no direct involvement. What makes this more complicated than is at first apparent, however, is the fact that Canon Law provided for exceptions for disobedience which incurred no penalty--one of which the Archbishop properly evoked. The Pope was therefore incorrect in his assessment of the Archbishop's status.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Jonathan Arrington, a 21-year-old Greek major at Furman University, leads the Gregorian chant from a high loft at the back of the church. A die-hard Southern Baptist until converting to Catholicism three years ago, Arrington said he feels a connection to centuries of Christian faith in the Latin rite.
------

Gerry Matatics is responsible for this conversion. The story is here http://www.gerrymatatics.org

I wonder if Jonathan is entering SSPX or FSSP seminary?

[TheStickman]

We started attending Mass at this church a few months ago. We haven't attended the Latin Mass yet but are hoping to soon.

As someone who had never attended Mass till about 3 months or so ago I can only say I don't know if I would have felt as drawn to attend regularly if the Mass was celebrated in Latin only. I like understanding what is being said. So as a person who's converting, I hope the vernacular is never removed from the Mass.

Just my 2cents.

[TheStickman]

Waving *hi* to you from our end of Taylors:)

[thathamiltonwoman]

I wish I could go to a Tridentine Latin Mass where I live but my bishop will fight it tooth and nail.

[Diva]

Then he begins to sing the liturgy from the Roman Missal of 1962.

Detroit's Cardinal Maida has given the Indult and starting in September there will be 2 places where the Tridentine Mass will be offered. As yet I don't think a formal announcement has been made or a decision as to where the Masses will be Celebrated just that there will be two.