Pilgrimage on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Summorum Pontificum, Pontifical Mass in Vetus Ordo Mass in Latin, Holy Mass at the Saint Peter's Chair
Posted on 06/04/2025 8:38:16 AM PDT by ebb tide
Pilgrimage on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Summorum Pontificum, Pontifical Mass in Vetus Ordo Mass in Latin, Holy Mass at the Saint Peter's Chair
The Wall Street Journal became the latest mainstream media outlet to pick up on the increased interest among Millennials and Gen Z in the Catholic Church, with many particularly drawn by beautiful Latin Mass liturgies, the Sacred Heart, and the Church’s doctrines. The renewed interest among Gen Z and Millennials in these practices has been covered, with some surprising fairness, by outlets such as the Associated Press and Washington Post.
The business news publication recently highlighted five answers from college students about why young people are joining the Catholic Church. The newspaper runs a weekly Future View section where college students are invited to write short responses to various cultural and political questions.
“What personal or cultural factors are influencing the surge of young people from the U.S., France and the U.K. converting to Catholicism on college campuses?” the WSJ asked.
Respondents cited the beauty of the Catholic Church, the Latin Mass, and salvation as key reasons to join the Church in their responses published last month.
University of Austin student Jacob Hornstein notes that while “In the 1960s, rebellion meant free love and LSD” it is different now. “In 2025, rebellion means going to Latin Mass, not Woodstock,” Hornstein, who is Jewish, wrote in his response.
“Young people are turning to Catholicism to build things that last in a society racked by moral decay,” Hornstein wrote. “The oldest Western church offers something we’ve never had: tradition.”
“Zoomers are drowning in personalized algorithms and have infinite self-actualization,” he also wrote. “What we want is something unchosen—unchanging and outside ourselves.”
Other writers echoed similar themes.
“We live in a world full of abstract art, ugly buildings and vulgar music,” Hillsdale College student Ellie Fromm wrote.
In contrast, however, “Catholicism celebrates its beauty and spiritual allure, asserting that it guides believers to contemplate the Trinity, the Virgin Mary and the saints. The church isn’t afraid. Its beauty is an actualization of the truth sought within the cathedral’s walls.”
Luke Downing, a Catholic student at Baptist Baylor University, cited “a true physical connection to Jesus through the Eucharist.”
He, too, pointed out that Catholicism is an antidote to the problems around us, writing:
Recent disasters—such as the Covid-19 pandemic, wars in the Middle East and Europe, natural disasters, and the surge in loneliness, anxiety and depression—have pushed young adults toward faith. To touch and feel Jesus’ body as he was 2,000 years ago offers people hope that the present turmoil will end, and that there is a Savior and salvation present in today’s world.
A Bucknell University student offered similar insights when commenting on the problems young people face.
“Catholicism, with its call to humility, sacrifice, and authentic community, is re-emerging as a radical alternative—one that doesn’t promise ease but offers meaning,” Troy Monte wrote.
Indeed, there appears to be an increased interest in the Latin Mass, as well as ad orientem Novus Ordo Masses, Communion on the tongue, and veiling, among young people and even older generations.
The interest can be seen in the misguided attacks on tradition as levied, for example, by Bishop Michael Martin of the Diocese of Charlotte. In addition to restricting the Latin Mass, Bp. Martin had a document drafted that took aim at altar rails, Latin in the liturgy, veiling at Mass, male-only altar servers, and even priests praying while vesting. None of these practices were forbidden by the Vatican or the Second Vatican Council. Indeed, the diocese has flourished with vocations thanks largely in part to this focus on beauty and reverence in the liturgy.
Similarly, bishops including Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago has sought to dissuade kneeling on the tongue while receiving Communion and has cracked down on the Latin Mass. Meanwhile, the archdiocese ordained just two men for the priesthood this year – one from St. John Cantius, which offers both the Latin Mass and a reverent Novus Ordo.
On the other hand, younger generations, and some bishops, are taking up the cause of tradition and beauty even as some prelates seek to snuff out what is clearly inspiring conversions and vocations. Priests who serve university campuses, as well as bishops including San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone and Columbus, Ohio, Bishop Earl Fernandes have recently affirmed the importance of reverent liturgies, as reported by LifeSiteNews.
Ping
Advice: When seeking Theological counsel on any religious beliefs or activities, avoid The Wall Street Journal.
I, too, discourage "kneeling on the tongue while receiving Communion. In fact, I discourage it at all times, LOL.
I can vouch for the fact that it is the young who are bringing back the TLM. My wife and I regularly attend the Ordinariate Mass, and occasionally the TLM. I asked my son and his girlfriend to attend with us once. They got married last month in the TLM! Praise be to God! They're hooked.
Spiritual creatures long for mystery, beauty, reverence, awe, sacred, holy, goodness, divine…. Not profane, man-centered nonsense. The me centered, hippie generation novus order is in its death throes. That’s why spineless Judas bishops are in such a desperate frenzy to attack the true worship of God.
The eternal cannot be destroyed.
The Tridentine mass was a modernist invention of the 16th century, we need to go back to the Greek mass of the 2nd century AD
I suspect that the tendency in many evangelical churches to emphasize emotion over doctrine, worship conducted with loud, rock type music with so called 7-11 songs (Say the same 7 words 11 times), and sermons reduced to Ted Talks with a few Bible verses thrown in is driving many young people away from these churches. The traditional wing of the Catholic Church is attracting some of these young people.
You aren't going to have much luck finding "the Greek mass of the 2nd century AD," since that was during the persecution, and not much survives in the way of detailed sources on the liturgy of that time.
Parts of some of the older Eastern liturgies, like the Liturgy of St James of Jerusalem, are probably from the 2nd Century, but there's no evidence AFAIK that that was ever the common usage in Rome.
The Good Old Society of St Pius I rides again!
Spiritual creatures long for mystery, beauty, reverence, awe, sacred, holy, goodness, divine…. Not profane, man-centered nonsense. The me centered, hippie generation novus ordo is in its death throes. That’s why spineless Judas bishops are in such a desperate frenzy to attack the true worship of God.
The eternal cannot be destroyed.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Well said. As a “Cradle Catholic” and devout traditionalist I recently transitioned to attendance at a nearby Orthodox Chapel where the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom is celebrated. And I just read a report this morning that there is a growing number of Catholics fed up with the Novus Ordo who are also transitioning to Orthodoxy. If/when a Tridentine Mass Society sets up shop within 20/30 miles of my home I may return to worship at their Tridentine Mass.
The Tridentine mass was a modernist invention of the 16th century
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Wrong, although read my post 11 in response to post 5.
My wife and youngest son often attend Latin Mass at a nearby parish in Irving. On the rare occasion I join them, I’ve noticed two things: one, the place is packed; and two, there are many young families with multiple children. That alone should send a message to cardinals and bishops, and of course, Pope Leo.
Gee, I praise the Latin Mass, the Sacraments, and the beauty and reverence of the Catholic Church, and I’m neither Gen Z nor Catholic. I also revere the rosary, Mother Mary, the saints, and many other miracles of the Catholic Church, in fact the Catholic Church itself.
FTA: Similarly, bishops including Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago has sought to dissuade kneeling on the tongue....
%%%%%
Love the traditions of the Church, but I am not familiar with “kneeling on the tongue.” I’ll pass, thanks.
Matt Lamb, seek an editor very quickly!
Yes!
why the Church would want to bury a link to its early liturgy, its early beginnings, not to mention voiding a liturgy in a unifying language for a worldwide congregation, mystifies. and look at the division Francis’ move seems to have caused. Jews are united by Hebrew in liturgy, whether they speak it or not.
Apologizing for this slide:
Another “modern” practice I am fed up with is the use of lay people for dstributing Communion. I am in a very small parish in a semi-rural area, and we have one priest and one deacon. The church is never full even on Christmas and Easter, so it is not as if the priest is not able to distribute Communion to all.
The priest gets into position to distribute Communion in front of the altar alongside a lay person. If the deacon is present, he is usually distributing with the Cup.
I try to guess when I come into church which side the priest will stand on. Unfortunately, he varies it in a pattern I have not been able to discern. So I have taken to switching lines when necessary.
Sorry for the slide, but I just wanted to gripe about that.
Good. The cartoon network article, headline and opening blub would lead one to believe that the WSJ article is about the Latin Mass, it is not, and the article ends with bashing of Chicago and Charlotte - this is not what is in the 5 great responses from students. Not even close. When ebby posts from his insane clown posse always go to the source as his cartoon network skews and jives as much as msnbc.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/young-people-find-their-catholic-calling-conversion-religion-24265b20
Probably virtually none of them know a lick of Latin.
Maybe a classical education will come back as well?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.