THE NEW YORK TIMES LAUDS THE LATIN MASS - DEO GRATIAS

We were out for a fish-dish, when a friend of ours texted about a story on the Traditional Latin Mass that has just come out in The New York Times. He seemed genuinely impressed. We've been trying for some years to interest him in The Latin Mass, and my efforts have failed, but he may attend a "TLM" soon and this is a victory. I knew nothing about the story and did not think it would be a fair, flattering account of the Mass of Ages and my fellow Traditional Catholics. 

Thank God, I was wrong. Journalist Ruth Graham has done a remarkable feature that does justice to the Mass and the people who love the Mass. She profiles the Agustin family, a young mother and father with 8 children who look happy, loving and well-adjusted. They attend St Joseph's Shrine in Detroit and offer the Rosary before bed. Cozy photos of their family life which seems inviting and warm accompany the article, and the family break the stereotype of the rigid, repressed Traditional Catholics who have no affection. Far from being an unrealistic portrait of a prayerful family, this is the type of family one finds more and more at the Latin Mass. 

Yes, as Graham makes plain, the Latin Mass movement is gaining ground. She reports that "it is thriving" and that "Some like the Agustin family are attracted to the Mass's beauty, symbolism and what they describe as a more reverent form of worship." A Jewish convert, Noah Peters became Catholic after assisting at the Latin Mass and discovering, the "beauty and timelessness". This is a true portrayal of  Catholics who crave reverent liturgy; in which they may best adore Our Lord in the Eucharist. The Mass of Ages allows souls to give the honor they wish to give God, and to love Him with all their hearts, minds and souls and thus fulfill the First Commandment that we put God first, above all others.  

They understand that they are linked to Catholics of old who assisted at the Ancient Mass and that they are giving something to the people who live after them by helping to make the Mass current and available so it may be inherited by their kith and kin. The people who are profiled in The Times story assist at the Mass so they may worship Christ as best they can, and they  follow a call to give their highest respect to Him. They are not thinking of fomenting division, yet this is what they stand accused of doing. 

Graham underscores that this phenomenon is happening even though there is "a crackdown" by way of Traditionis Custodes. One thing I'd add is that Traditionis Custodes doth protest too much, its stated aim is to limit the availability of the Latin Mass so the goals of Vatican II can fully come to pass; it is an admission that the hierarchy believe that the two can't co-exist, that the Latin Mass must be curbed so the changes of the Vatican Council can be fully wrought. It admits that the Latin Mass is a threat; were the Latin Mass movement not growing and having so big an impact, then there would be no need for restrictions. 

All the while Traditionis Custodes could well be causing more division than it is preventing. It blames people who assist at the Latin Mass for the reluctance among the faithful to fully enforce Vatican II - the faithful who could have put Vatican II into action have left and are leaving and churches are empty and emptying - this is not the fault of Catholics who assist at the Latin Mass. And to squarely pin the derisive label of divisive on them is unjust and untrue; and an act of blame shifting. It further alienates Latin Mass Catholics who do not want to be castigated or curtailed in how they worship. This could be a means of punishing them for their success (the congregations at their Masses are packed) and as a method of making the options for Mass so narrow that people have to go to the New Rite. This is so controlling a tactic as to make a lot of Catholics feel disaffected. 

Notice that there are no people profiled who wish for restrictions to be brought to bear on the New Rite of Mass. Instead the people who shared their love of the Mass of Ages just want to be free to have it as a means of loving their Savior. The author allows that she has met people who attend the Latin Mass who are reacting against, "a casual treatment of the Eucharist" which they have seen at the New Rite, but this reveals they wish the Body and Blood of Christ to be treated with the utmost care, even if that is done solemnly and meticulously. 

Graham does not bow to feminism and she observes that most women wear mantillas, which she hails as, "a traditional sign of humility and femininity". And the wearing of veils is ancient. I read recently that Pope Linus, the first Pope after Peter formally instituted that women cover their hair at the Holy Sacrifice. No academic apology for Latin is given - such as that it is the official language of the Catholic Church - but one young mother is quoted as saying, "I don't speak Latin. But it feels like you're connecting more with God."

There is an exquisite gallery of photographs taken at St Joseph's Shrine, a church that had been failing financially and which is now attracting "large young families" and is flourishing. There are many churches like this around America and in spite of restrictions, there will be more still. 

This article (which you may read via Rorate Caeli) will bring souls to the Traditional Latin Mass. Please join me in offering a Te Deum. 

O God, we praise Thee, and acknowledge Thee to be the supreme Lord. 
Everlasting Father, all the earth worships Thee. 
All the Angels, the heavens and all angelic powers, 
All the Cherubim and Seraphim, continuously cry to Thee: 
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts! 
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy glory. 
The glorious choir of the Apostles, 
The wonderful company of Prophets, 
The white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee. 
Holy Church throughout the world acknowledges Thee: 
The Father of infinite Majesty; 
Thy adorable, true and only Son; 
Also the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. 
O Christ, Thou art the King of glory! 
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. 
When Thou tookest it upon Thyself to deliver man, 
Thou didst not disdain the Virgin's womb. 
Having overcome the sting of death, Thou opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all 
believers. 
Thou sitest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father. 
We believe that Thou willst come to be our Judge. 
We, therefore, beg Thee to help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy 
Precious Blood. 
Let them be numbered with Thy Saints in everlasting glory.

V. Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thy inheritance! 
R. Govern them, and raise them up forever.

V. Every day we thank Thee. 
R. And we praise Thy Name forever, yes, forever and ever.

V. O Lord, deign to keep us from sin this day. 
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

V. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in Thee. 
R. O Lord, in Thee I have put my trust; let me never be put to shame.