I hold no animosity towards any catholic who seeks a reverent "catholic" liturgy. It is for that reason that I have continuously posted the link to the the 22 different liturgies that make up the Western and Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church. I do have a problem, however, with those who claim to be catholic, and have the opportunity to attend one of those 22 liturgies, but defer to attending mass at an SSPX Chapel. In so doing, they have removed themselves from the Magisterium. There is absolutely no excuse when, in their own community, there are other options that include a very orthodox and reverent 'in communion with Rome' liturgy.
There seems to be so much focus on the "Old Latin Mass". Recall that Jesus Christ was a Jew. As Mel Gibson suggested in his film, there is a strong possibility that Jesus understood and spoke Latin; ultimately, however, his native tongue was Aramaic.
It is from Jewish roots that the church of Antioch sprung. In fact, the church of Antioch was founded by St. Peter and it was there that the terms "Christian" and "Catholic" were first used. The first Christians were Jews and entire communities came to accept Jesus as the Messiah. Evidence from archaeological studies of Maronite church buildings show that they had earlier been synagogues.
To this day, the Maronite Church retains its Jewish roots more than any other Catholic rite, as evidenced by its use of Aramaic/Syriac and by the prayers which remain faithful to Semantic and Old Testament forms.
As most of us realize, the Church began in the East. Our Lord lived and died and resurrected in the Holy Land. The Church spread from Jerusalem throughout the known world. As the Church spread, it encountered different cultures and adapted, retaining from each culture what was consistent with the Gospel. In the city of Alexandria, the Church became very Egyptian; in Antioch it remained very Jewish; in Rome it took on an Italian appearance and in the Constantinople it took on the trappings of the Roman imperial court. All the churches which developed this way were Eastern, except Rome. Most Catholics in the United States have their roots in Western Europe where the Roman rite predominated.
Hence my inability to understand why the great emphasis on the old Latin Mass, when there is something far closer to the liturgy instituted by our Lord. If someone can explain this to me, I would be most appreciative. I grew up with the Old Latin Mass. Had I been exposed to the Maronite liturgy back then, I would have embraced it over the Latin Rite.
Kind of like a Heinz 57 or Baskin and Robbin's 31 flavors, huh?