The Last Daily Latin Mass in New York Is Facing Extinction

The New York Observer ^ | 8/14/14 | Steffi Feldman |

[Alex Murphy]

....what makes Holy Innocents truly unique is that it is the last Catholic church in the city to offer the mass in Latin. The Latin, or Tridentine, Mass has been performed since the 6th century....the very thing that makes this place so extraordinary is also the thing putting it in danger. Despite the artistic, cultural, and financial strengths of Holy Innocents the church was recommended for closure in April as part of New York’s “Making All Things New” initiative (a title one parishioner called “Orwellian”) to consolidate superfluous church spaces. The reasons cited for the potential closure were that the church is not considered by the advisory board to be “an active, vibrant community of faith,” according to a letter from Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York....

PFL

[cloudmountain]

I am not a Catholic, but I have great respect for the many Catholics who seem to be represented on FR. I would just say that a church is made up of people. The building is important but can (and someday must be) replaced. Try and save the building - yes. But carry on with or without it driven by your faith.

Well put, o non-Catholic. You hit the nail on the head. The Mass is/was/always will be a celebration and a meal: our Lord's Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity for us to consume, SHARED with our fellow Catholics.

If people really want to see a Mass celebrated they should watch the newsreels of Mass being celebrated outside in the open, in the battle zone, with the priest at the table/a makeshift altar...with all the G.I.s surrounding him, knowing that THIS was the finest reality of all.

Buildings, sentiments and memories are all good things but our short life WILL end and then ... eternity. I WILL "carry on with or without it driven by my faith."

I don't know about anyone else but I want to be READY for that last day of mine.
Thanks for your most sensible input.

[Biggirl]

I think there is a priest who served God, the Church, and ministered to those in the USA armed forces during the Korean conflect. His cause is being studied by the Vatican. He was a military chaplain as well.

[Campion]

What good is Scripture, or preaching if you can't understand it?

Have you ever actually been to a Latin Mass? The preaching is in the local language, and the readings -- which, like every other part of the Mass, are available to anyone in English in hand missals which cost ~ $100 -- are usually sung in Latin and then recited in English.

Besides, 85% of the Mass is either (a) straightup quoted from Scripture or (b) not changeable from one day to the next. Once you learn it, you know it.

The whole "oh, it's hidden, it's secret, it's bondage" line of argument is really ridiculous.

[piusv]

Onward Modernist Soldiers!!

[Iscool]

Do you eat His Body and drink His blood?

If not, why not?

I do...I eat and drink it spiritually as was intended...

[Iscool]

The whole "oh, it's hidden, it's secret, it's bondage" line of argument is really ridiculous.

No it isn't...The important thing is God said, 'don't do it'...End of story... And the scriptures tell you why you shouldn't do it...Do any of you ever read it???

[Salvavida]

No. People all over the world do not understand Latin. That statement is refuted.

Unbiblical for asking the question as to why it needs to be in Latin? Show me the verse. Again, refuted.

Pentecost? Really? Do you understand the purpose of the miracle at Pentecost was to prove to the Jews the authority of the Apostles? Go read a passage the Bible in Mandarin Chinese, and tell me what the Spirit says. Refuted.

So they are cannibals? Is that what you are saying? You don't understand Jesus is using a literary device called a METAPHOR to teach a spiritual reality? He did that often, so it shouldn't be a surprise. The reality is: Jesus is to be consumed spiritually. His word (the bible because He is literally the Word of God). Not my opinion: the Bible says so.

Which brings me back to my original question: Why have mass in a language one doesn't understand? Your answers are wanting.

[Biggirl]

Thank-you also for letting me know about in brief what really goes on in a Latin Mass.

[marshmallow]

Why have mass in a language one doesn't understand?

But we do understand it.

The Missal contains the prayers of the Mass in Latin and facing them, on the opposite side of the page, is the English translation. Or Spanish...or French....whatever is the local language. It's not an issue.

That aside, the Mass is a sacred rite. We call it the "Sacred Mysteries". Like any mystery, it is not "understandable" in the common use of the term. It is the sacred, sacrificial offering of Jesus to the Father performed by the priest.

God understands Latin and it is to Him that the sacrifice is being offered.

[Campion]

And the scriptures tell you why you shouldn't do it

What is "it," exactly?

[Iscool]

What is "it," exactly?

IT is using the Latin language in church...Especially in the U.S...

[Campion]

Please quote the scripture, chapter and verse, that says it’s wrong to use the Latin language in church in the US.

[saradippity]

One tongue means one language and I thought we were talking about the Latin language which is used in the Latin Mass. You should study up a little more,you might end up appreciating it. God Bless You!!

[Salvavida]

Huh? You lost me.

[Karl Spooner]

Please quote the scripture, chapter and verse, that says it’s wrong to use the Latin language in church in the US.

I wouldn't worry about it, most people reject the Word of God in their own language let alone a language they don't understand.

[Karl Spooner]

You might like to do a little study on the Clovin Tongue. I am weak on this, but I believe it happened in the old testament, and it is prophesied to happen again in the New Testament when the Elect are delivered up for testimony.