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.

Comments

  1. The word that comes to mind in reading this blog entry is: division...
    Yet you say that there is no division. The value of the holy sacrifice of the mass is absolutely no different whether offered traditionally or via the Novus Ordo. It's benefit is the same. Sadly, you seem to overlook this imperative reality in a biased love for one liturgy over another. THAT, in fact, is why Traditionis Custodes was necessitated but you are not able to see this because maybe feelings can be blinding? I've loved the traditional mass ever since I was an altar boy prior to Vatican ll. I have also loved the Novus Ordo mass and its unique offerings in the vernacular. I love mass, plain and simple! Shouldn't every Catholic simply love every mass for what it is worth and stop suggesting that one is somehow better than the other???

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    1. Let go Let GOD.

      It is interesting to read the response above that a Latin Mass causes Division. I do not agree hence this response. Division was created by Vatican II. The Catholic Church in the Western countries like the EU and USA is dying. That is not a pleasant fact, but it is a fact notwithstanding. Recently reading a book called "AA 1025", The title refers to an "Anti apostle" apparently one of more than a thousand. it was a real eye opener about the efforts of the former USSR (Russia) to infiltrate the Catholic Church in order to water down the sacred mysteries of the Mass, and to use the guise of "user friendly" approaches to reformation as a means to slowly and deliberately diminish the standing and authority of the Church in the day to day affairs of society. This far, it's working all too well. Instituting the Mass in Latin is a reminder that there is and was a time when the Church and Eucharist were and are something far beyond the reach of political appropriateness. There is a reason that young people are attracted to the Latin Mass - it represents the foundation of an organization that is Divinely instituted and unfortunately humanly administrated but which has survived more than 2000 years. Latin is a reminder not everything about the Church needs to be user friendly.

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    2. No, it is not the Latin mass that causes division. It is the suggestion that one mass is better than the other that causes division. When (and if) we keep out eyes on Jesus, and ONLY Jesus, we cannot be divided, or cause division. The Eucharist (thanksgiving) is what the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is all about, whether Latin or N.O. for which we ought to be eternally grateful always!

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    3. Is the Cramner/Luther mass, the product of a council that was never called for by this new invention be the same as the Mass of the Ages? Is the fruit of this Cramner mass different than the fruit of the TLM? Can the millions who had left the church over the past fifty years be at odds with the many being drawn back through the TLM?

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    4. Excellent questions, Samuel, thank you, you point out the false syllogism that "all Masses" are the same.

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    5. The "road" to sanctity is lined with consolation and desolation. The need (or demand) for consolation rather than desolation in this life is essentially asserting self will rather than accepting God's Will. Yes, the TLM is a "feel good" experience, while the N.O. is not always the same. However, the "fruit" of each is the same: the Eucharist. Recognizing and receiving the fruit is conditional on the state in which one prepares and approaches either liturgy. The "millions who had left the church over the past 50 years" lost sight of the fruit by losing sight of the "need" to prepare and approach the Eucharist through the FREQUENTsacrament o

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  2. You wrote, "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." But the reality is very often not that, so many TLM enthusiasts are anything but "happy, loving and well-adjusted." There is also a secret conversation being had among priests who love and offer TLM, a conversation concerning the unhappy, non-loving and mal-adjusted people who typically attend. Something is amiss and there is a reluctance to address this reality.

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    1. Congregations of both liturgies have their share of angry, maladjusted, and similarly afflicted people. And there’s no better place for them to be, then in the pews at the holy sacrifice of the Mass….

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  3. If the New York Times is lauding the Latin Mass, I would be a bit concerned.

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    1. they're taking your emails and handing to the government all about profiling !!

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    2. Few Words but packs a powerful message! Thank you!

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  4. Mass and 2000+ years of Christian tradition which are directly traced back to Jesus appointing Peter as the "rock" of His church, is water for a people dying of Thirst. Perhaps Pope Francis will consider this thirst in the context of his duties of leading the Catholic faith.

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    1. Everyone seems to forget that in the beginning Mass was celebrated in the homes of Christians. So the impression that Latin Mass is the earliest tradition. Just does not stack up against the facts. I like both Traditional Masses and the new rite. You should still get your facts straight.

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  5. I don’t think the problem is or has ever been the Latin Mass. The problem exists with SOME of the people who attend the Latin Mass. The group of which I speak can be found in almost any Catholic Church but especially in the Latin Mass community. They are unhappy with EVERYTHING! The Pope is… the US bishops are… the priest is… politics… Vigano, Vigano, Vigano! I think there is hope now that some good Catholic tolerance will rub off on all Catholics no matter what Mass they attend. I just cannot believe that Catholic virtue is so absent in our lives today. I include myself at the top of that list.

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  6. The suppression of TLM is not about the Mass. It is about forcing the laity, priests and religious societies into swearing loyalty to the council and its ensuing issues what go with it. The Latin Mass was to be retained during the council. JPII questioned whether the TLM was abrogated because of the council it came back a resounding NO. Benedict saw that too and gave even more permission. Now we have Francis...

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  7. The Novus Ordo is a stripped down, denuded form of the Mass. It doesn’t take a genius nor a Catholic to figure it out . Increasingly Catholics are are asking what happened to the liturgy after the Council.. Even priests, especially the younger ones are figuring it out.

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  8. It's been forecasted that the current novus ordo will be all but gone in 10-15 years -and with very good reason. There isn't enough in this NO mass to hold people. The last fifty years has been an experiment ... and continues with the synod. This will not end pretty.

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  10. The Latin Mass!!
    Praise God as it was and still is THE MASS with all glory and honor due to Our Lord and Savior.
    It can NEVER be replaced for its reverence with the Novus Ordo. Go to a Latin Mass. The Mass along with the Congregation is REVERENT. The attendees are dressed REVERENTLY, children are not eating their breakfast in the pews and playing video games on their phones. The mode of dress is REVERENT and encouraged. And the list goes on and on. All praise and honor to God, front and center. No more no less. ALL OF IT.

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  11. People who attend the TLM are unhappy, un-loving and mal-adjusted? How do you know that? Do you know the hearts of all who attend the TLM? You don't and your assertions are ridiculous. Some People who attend the TLM are always complaining about the pope, US bishops, priests, politics? Maybe, but there are plenty of Novus Ordo attendees that complain about those things as well and rightfully so. Just look at the current condition of the Church (bishops and priests condoning woman ordination, homosexuality and the climate change nonsense) and this world we live in and that's all the proof you need that there are merits to those complaints. Complain all you want about the TLM, it is not going anywhere and in fact is growing and for good reason.

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