I just read this conversion/reversion story on Twitter and thought it was worth sharing here. Shorter version: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/992131505844637697.html Why I lefet "liberal" Catholicism: a thread Longer version: https://inflammateomnia.org/2018/03...n-to-tradition/amp/?__twitter_impression=true A Cradle’s Conversion: My Return to Tradition
It is hard to comprehend that there are a great many Catholics who have never taken part in the Latin Rite of the Mass. We have some friends who think it is crazy to go to a Mass which is in another language and yet they have never once taken part in it. It is striking that the attitude of contempt prior to investigation seems to be a common thread in the case of some people in this way.
Don, If I had an opportunity to join in a High Latin Mass, I would rejoice. In such a Mass, the incense, the Chant, the pageantry would be wonderful because my senses would be fully engaged. But, I have to be honest. A couple of months back I attended a "low Mass" in the Extraordinary Form and was disappointed. Why? I believe it was because my senses were not fully engaged. Though I followed along in the missal, the "action" was strictly at the altar, with minimal music, and no significant engagement of my senses. It lacked solemnity. In a meaningfully celebrated Novus Ordo I do not struggle that way. Now, I understand the theological significance of such rubrics as the priest orienting toward "the East," in the TLM; still, I was disappointed. I will seek to attend a solemn TLM when able, but my preference lies with a well-celebrated Novus Ordo. Safe Under Mary's Mantle.
Mario Having read through some of the dialogue on another thread, my conclusion is that although the attendees at the TLM are incomparably more reverent in comparison with those in the Novus Ordo mass, I would attend the latter every time, simply because I can immediately hear and understand the Mass prayers. While I served at the TLM when I was young and understand some Latin, I do not want to scramble through Prayer books having English translation to align what is said with the translation; my understanding of the prayers being said, must be immediate to fully participate in the Holy Sacrifice. It is my belief, the 2nd Vatican Council was hijacked and this hijacking is continuing unabated. Cardinal Sarah proposal of the priest having to face ad orientem was quashed, before it had a chance to take hold. I believe that some of the most significant abuses are : (a) little or no admonition of the necessity to receive the Lord worthily. (b) treating the church like it was a shopping mall and not a place of worship (b) the (recent requirement in some parishes) to stand up until the last person has received Holy communion. (c) the sign of peace All these diminish and dilute the soul's recognition of the truth in the Real Presence. God Bless
I've been on three mission trips to Haiti. Mass was offered in Creole. This was before I discovered the TLM. I was absolutely, completely unable to follow that mass. I had NO idea where they were at in the liturgy whatsoever. Since I've been attending the TLM, after a half dozen masses I could follow along in a Latin-English missal. After a dozen masses, I realized I could follow along whether that TLM was offered in Haiti, Russia, China or anywhere else! A person raised on the TLM since infancy doesn't need to "learn" the TLM. He is immersed in it and understands it explicitly, even many years later, even after being away from the TLM for decades. This was the opinion of the vast majority of my elderly patients (numbering in the thousands) when we would discuss the old mass, which was frequently, since I had signs in my waiting room and my treatment rooms asking for old disused Latin-English missals. You should have seen their eyes light up when they realized it was making a comeback. Personally, I prefer low masses when I attend the TLM, because its actually easier for me to silently and PRAYERFULLY follow the Liturgy. So daily TLM masses have become a great joy for me since I've finally been able to attend them. If I don't have my Latin-English missal with me, I follow along with the TLM and the English translations of that day's mass readings with the iPieta app. So I need not drag along a Latin-English missal at all. Plus the huge library of books, prayers, bibles, Novus Ordo and Traditional calendars with mass readings, etc. that comes with this app makes it well worth the small purchase price by orders of magnitude. https://www.ipieta.com
I used this app last night Brian and it is really handy so thanks for the heads up on it. I ordered a daily missal as well and I agree with you on the low mass. I love the high mass obviously but the low mass and its silence is truly a unique blessing all its own. I began watching some of the YT videos that FSSP offers for Priests on the Rite of the Latin Mass. This has been helping me along as well.
I am a recent attendee of the TLM (since December) and I have to tell you that my life is completely changed by it. The first time I attended (which happened to be the 1st Sunday of Advent, so no Gloria and stripped of all the “pomp”, no organ) I was floored by how I felt - that THIS was the Mass of ages, the Mass of the saints, the Mass of the Church. I was intimidated to attend a low Mass for awhile (five kids you know, I was terrified they’d cause a scene or something), but in January I started making the first Friday’s and was able to go to the First Friday low Mass with my two oldest kiddos. I had thought I wouldn’t care for it much since I love singing and had been directing one of my previous NO church’s choir before (Love, Love music) but I had such a deeply spiritual experience at my first low mass that I actually sometimes prefer it over the High Mass. The priest had begun First Friday devotions with prayers to the Sacred Heart, following with exposition and 1 hr adoration (another priest was available for confession during the entire time), and then benediction followed by the low Mass. I had been to adoration at my NO church many times followed by Mass, and it was always a VERY jarring experience to be in a state of adoration and prayer in front of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist for an hour and then suddenly to stand up and loudly participate with responses to a Mass where it felt like everything was about us. Totally different feeling at the TLM. When benediction ended and Fr started the low Mass, it felt like a continuation, not a jarring interruption, of the time I had been spending in prayer. I was amazed at how seamlessly the transition from adoration to Mass felt, my state of prayer and mental peace remained the entire time, and I have to say it made me quite emotional. I always hated the way I felt at my NO parish when benediction ended and a priest would begin Mass. it felt like two totally separate events, and my state of prayerful contemplation from adoration felt ripped up, so to speak, with the start of Mass. Not so at the TLM. I came to the conclusion that I could compare the High Mass to something like going to a NO Mass (the feeling one gets, the bodily sensations) and compare going to a low Mass to the feeling of adoration and contemplation. This mental idea has been great for me. Every time I go to a low Mass, I prepare my mind for the state I would be in for an hr of adoration, and have been truly happy with the spiritual effects of that Mass. A High Mass for me is the same mental preparedness I would have made in going to a regular NO Mass. I still love the High Mass (I love the organ and chant) and go back and forth between them every few weeks, but I just wanted to testify to my newly discovered fondness and love for the low TLM. I happily discovered that if I drag my kids out of bed for the early 7:30 Sunday low Mass, that they’re too tired to cause any disturbances, even my hyper 2 year old
I have had a similar experience DM. On Fridays the FSSP parish has a 6:30 PM low mass followed by Benediction afterward. I go early to pray the rosary and reconciliation is also offered at this time. I do not lose the interior state of prayer and reflection from the rosary all the way through Benediction. There is no breaking of the silence and state of reverence at any time save for the occasional child. Everyone is very respectful after mass and there is no talking in the sanctuary. This is a big deal IMO. At every modern mass I go to it is like primary school children being released to recess when the mass is completed. It is virtually impossible to remain in a state of reflection and prayer at least for me. I have only gone for a few weeks now but it is my intention to make this my Friday evening for the foreseeable future. It is a great blessing to have this available.
I have started to go to TLM Low Mass on a Monday when I can. It is taking time to readjust and follow, like learning all over again how to attend Mass. I don't worry because we never understood what was going on as children; but we got the Graces. And anyway how many people actually follow the modern Mass closely. Even the readings are done by people whose first language is not English and I can't understand a word half the time. It might as well be Latin. So many things I love about attending TLM. Biggest benefit for me is the absolution for those attending Mass, which has been all but wiped from the modern Mass. This absolution always makes me feel like we have a little freshen up before we are raised into the presence of Almighty God in Mass. Then the prayer for the Holy Father said after Mass and the prayer to Saint Michael. And three Hail Mary's said after Mass. I love this as Our Lady should be honoured because she gave Jesus to us, and remains at His side for all eternity.
