WHY ATTEND THE TRADITONAL LATIN MASS?

Vintage painting of the Traditional Latin Mass, the Mass of the Saints.

Although some may not be aware, Roman Catholics can still attend a traditional 'Tridentine' Latin Mass, even in today’s 21st century. The Novus Ordo Missae ("New Order Mass"), promulgated in the 1960's and undergoing frequent "updating", is much more common today, but the traditional Latin Mass, "the Mass of all ages" is making a great comeback among Catholics of all ages.

Some might be wondering why anyone would still want to attend an "old Latin Mass" - we are in the 21st century. The majority of people probably don't know a thing about Latin and, to top it off, traditional Latin Masses can be pretty hard to come by, which involve much silence, and require a lot of kneeling (for those physically able). So why is it attracting more youth of today?

That's a great question that many Catholics are asking themselves. Nowadays, many younger people who were never exposed to the traditional Latin Mass are flocking to it with great joy. They are in love with the traditional Mass and are willing to undergo long drives to attend licit Latin Masses, and may even be willing to uproot their entire family and move to be near them. Those blessed enough to remember attending the traditional Mass before the 1960's changes may also go through great pains to attend this incomparable Mass.

So what is the attraction of this ancient Mass? The reasons for such devotion are many, and they are:

* The great reverence of the Mass - evident with the priest and devoted faithful,

* The great respect shown to the Holy Eucharist,

* The unquestionable Catholicity and orthodoxy of the Mass,

* The lack of liturgical abuse, distraction, sacrilege, and profanation,

(which, unfortunately, are so common to Novus Ordo Masses),

* The prayerful atmosphere of the Mass,

* The beauty and majesty of the Mass - in the ceremony and vestments,

* The clear sense of the Mass as a sacrifice - the priest offering the Eucharist facing

the Cross with his back facing the people,

* The clarity of the doctrine of the Real Presence,

* The reception of Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue,

* The modestly dressed women and veiled,

* The good inspirational sermons by the priests,

* The emphasis on our sinfulness and dependence on God,

* The safeguards inherent in the Mass

* The clear vertical focus of the Mass

* And many other reasons...

A family kneeling in prayer at Mass - "The Interior of an Italian Church" painting.

Devotees may also point to the Mass' long history, its outstanding fruits, its ability to keep persons safe from modernism ("the synthesis of all heresies"), and the ability of the Mass to foster one's faith. It also preserves a link to our Catholic ancestors.

Furthermore, attendance at 'Tridentine' Masses enables one to avoid the concerns so often associated with the Novus Ordo Mass. For example concerns:

* regarding the assistance of Protestant 'advisors' in the fabrication of the Novus Ordo Mass (during Vatican Council II); the parallels to the Protestant 'worship services' and the changes made to the Mass parallel to the changes made by the 16th century Protestant 'Reformers' who purposely introduced changes to destroy the faith of Catholics;

* regarding the near elimination of all negative topics in the readings and prayers of the Novus Ordo Mass (e.g. references to sin, judgment, hell, purgatory, etc.)

* that the Novus Ordo Mass fail to produce a sacred atmosphere conducive to prayer;

* regarding the blurring of the distinction between the laity and the priest in the Novus Ordo Mass

* over the irreverence at the Novus Ordo Mass, (e.g. no women's head coverings (1 Cor. 11:4-10), silence of women in church (1 Cor. 14:33-35), worship in reverence and awe (Heb. 12:28), communion in the hand, etc.)

* over the rampant liturgical abuse and novelties in the Novus Ordo Mass (e.g. altar girls, loud pop music, communion lay 'ministers', etc.)

* over the bad fruits associated with the Novus Ordo Rite of Mass (e.g. reduced Mass attendance, loss of belief in the Real Presence, etc.)

* Etc.

Some are also troubled by the fact that the Novus Ordo Mass may vary so widely among parishes as to be almost unrecognizable - unlike the 'Tridentine' Mass which remains fixed, with only the variations of High Mass and Low Mass. Ultimately, many Catholics have come to believe that the Traditional Latin Mass must be more pleasing to God and that it is best suited to our primary duty in life [that is, "to know, love, and serve God" (Baltimore Catechism)].

Today’s Catholics who have never experienced a 'Tridentine' Latin Mass may consider the time spent at Mass as a time for "religious entertainment" or socializing. In fact, some even think the "sign of peace" is the focal point of Mass! The cure for such mistaken beliefs surely is knowledge of and attendance at traditional Latin 'Tridentine' Masses, which makes the purpose of the Mass eminently clear.

Although such Catholics may initially be perplexed about the silence and majesty of the traditional Latin Mass and might not immediately "get it", a little perseverance and some additional knowledge, prayer, and reflection, may cause them to also flock to the Mass of their grandfathers, regardless of what obstacles may be placed in the way. They may soon find themselves so in love with this Mass - the "Mass of the saints" and "the most beautiful thing this side of heaven" - that they would do just about anything they could to attend it.

We warmly invite you to attend this incomparable Mass and see for yourself what has captured the hearts of so many other good and faithful Catholics over the centuries.

1. The Traditional Latin Mass

2. ​The Reasons Why Today More Young People are drawn to the Latin Mass.

3. The Mass - by St. Francis de Sales.