Shocking Joint Pastoral, "Purity Crusade" by the Bishops of Québec
Lies I Believed About The Latin Mass
Photo by Shalone Cason on Unsplash
I've been attending a Diocesan Latin Mass parish for about 10 years now (I can't believe it's been that long!!) and, looking back, I'd like to write down a few observations... specifically a bunch of lies (ok, lies is a strong word, "misconceptions" maybe?) that I believed about the Latin Mass (and Latin Mass parishes). I'm not exactly sure where these misconceptions came from, however, there was a lot of rearranging that I had to do in my mind and heart when I began attending the Latin Mass. Good rearranging. (PS: Count how many times I write "Latin Mass" and I'll give you a prize haha)
I was born and raised in a sort-of Traditional Ordinary Form (we didn't receive Holy Communion in the hand, our parish didn't have altar girls, they also used Communion patens and the priest had very good sermons, we also thankfully didn't have guitar Masses and the organ was the prominent instrument). However, when we began attending a diocesan Latin Mass parish, it was a pretty big shock. However, my Faith life has grown since then, because of how deeply attractive and mysterious, as well as beautiful the Traditional Roman Rite was.
So here is what I got wrong about the Latin Mass, with links to resources about each misconception (because I'm lazy.)
The Latin Mass is just the Ordinary Form ("Regular Sunday Mass") but in Latin.
Hugh Somerville-Knapman OSB, "The Strange Birth of the Novus Ordo", Catholic Herald.
Michael Lofton, "Did the Second Vatican Council Change the Mass?", Church Militant
"The Mass of Ages: Episode II, A Perfect Storm"
I have to understand Latin to fully participate / If I don't understand what is going on, then I'm not participating.
Catholic Answers, "Does one need to know Latin to participate in the extraordinary form of the mass?" (Timestamp 3:02)
A Catholic Wife, "How can the laity actively participate in the Traditional Latin Mass?"
Fr. Scott Murray, "Why Latin? Nobody understands it!"
Brian Williams, "7 Reasons for the Use of Latin in the Mass" Liturgy Guy
Mass of Ages, "Mass Is Not About Us—Dr. Peter Kwasniewski—MASS OF THE AGES Interview"
Everyone who attends the Latin Mass is grumpy, scrupulous and probably doesn't get out much.
Mass of Ages, "Traditional Catholics: Mean and Judgmental? - LIVE with Leah Darrow and Eric Sammons"
Brian Holdsworth, "Dealing with Traditionalist Catholics"
PS: The Latin Mass has grumpy trads, the Novus Ordo has grumpy liberals. Neither fully represent the Masses, nor should they ever be reasons to judge the Mass as a whole or to allow it to keep us from properly worshipping Christ in the Mass.
The Easter Triduum is the same as in the Ordinary Form ("Regular Sunday Mass")
ICKSP, "The Pre-1955 Holy Week: A Liturgical, Spiritual & Cultural Treasure"
Peter Kwasniewski, PhD, "My First Experience of a Pre-1955 Holy Triduum" One Peter Five
Jeff Ostrowski, "I Was Wrong to Dread the “Pre-1955” Holy Week" CCWatershed
ALL of Fr. James' meditations on Easter:
Preparation for Easter. Part I - Lent
Preparation for Easter. Part II - Passiontide
Preparation for Easter. Part III - Palm Sunday
Especially these:
Preparation for Easter. Part IV - Maundy Thursday
Preparation for Easter. Part V - Good Friday
Preparation for Easter. Part VI - Holy Saturday
Preparation Easter. Part VII - Easter Sunday
Latin Mass Weddings, Funerals, Baptisms, Blessings, are the exact same as the Novus Ordo Weddings, Baptisms, ect. / The Traditional Roman Rite is only the Latin Mass (ie: Only one of the Sacraments is available in the Traditional Roman Rite, not all seven)
Both are valid (I cannot stress this enough), but there are big differences between the two!
Fr. Carota, "Latin Baptism vs. New Rite of Baptism"
Fr. Carota, "The Traditional Catholic And Novus Ordo Confession Rites"
Fr. Carota, "Traditional Holy Water"
Fr. Carota, "Requiem Masses" / Funeral Masses (Also mentions Latin Extreme Unction)
Fish Eaters, "Burying the Dead: Catholic Funerals"
Fish Eaters, "Extreme Unction"
Fish Eaters, "Catholic Way of Dying"
Fish Eaters, "Sacred Things" :
Is Latin Overrated? — Mass of the Ages LIVE with Fr. Z and Angela Lill
Fr. Carota, "Traditional Roman Breviary versus Novus Ordo Liturgy of the Hours"
7 Traditional Catholic Holy Orders (plus Tonsure) by Dr Taylor Marshall
The Latin Mass was abolished during Vatican II and has been a "rogue" Mass since then.
Sharon Kabel, "Not Authorized: The Untold Story of the Death of the Old Mass" One Peter Five
Edward Pentin, "Did Pope Paul VI Abrogate the Traditional Latin Mass?" National Catholic Register
Diocesan priests can't say the Latin Mass / Only priests from Latin Mass communities (seminaries) can say the Latin Mass.
There are not only orders that are specifically the "old" Rite, like the FSSP and the ICKSP, but many diocesan priests have learned the Latin Mass and are saying it today in dioceses all over the US.
I have to say "amen" right before the priest gives me Holy Communion, just like the Ordinary Form.
That's right, in the Latin Mass, we don't say "Amen" before receiving Jesus in the Eucharist! Because when the priest gives you Communion he says the prayer in Latin, "May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve your soul unto everlasting life. Amen." So, there is no need for us to say "Amen".
"Gregorian Chant is boring" / Any song is fine to sing at Mass / Latin Mass music is the same thing over and over.
Corpus Christi Watershed, "Can you tell the difference?? Sacred music vs. secular music at Mass."
Catholic News Service, "The Origins of Gregorian Chant"
Catholic News Service, "The Beauty of Gregorian Chant"
“GREGORIAN CHANT is not boring when sung properly; it must be light and relatively quick.” —Daniel Craig "Saving” Gregorian Chant In The Ordinary Form" CC Watershed
Beautiful Gregorian Chant examples:
Floriani, "Salve Regina"
Monks singing Gregorian Chant in a Catholic Benedictine Seminary
Ambrosian Gloria (Harmonized by Peter Kwasniewski)
The Latin Mass is really long and tiresome.
RebornPure Catholic, "How to Love that 'boring Latin Mass'"
MASS OF THE AGES: Episode 1 — Discover the Traditional Latin Mass (4K) in 22 Languages
Method of Hearing Mass IN UNION WITH THE SACRED PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST By St. Francis de Sales
Gab Castillo, "The Eucharist is REALLY Jesus"
I am the only one attending the Latin Mass that doesn't know exactly what is going on.
Believe me, this is not true. More and more people are attending the Latin Mass for the first time, and we all can feel a little lost in the beginning!
The Latin Mass has the same "sign of peace" as the Ordinary Form.
Instead of "The Sign of Peace", the Latin Mass has the "Kiss of Peace" which the faithful do not participate in. Another thing I LOVE about the Latin Mass!
How the “Kiss Of Peace” is properly given at Solemn Mass
Everyone who attends the Latin Mass was born into it / attended it all their lives.
Yep, found out this wasn't true pretty quickly.
The Latin Mass has the same Liturgical Calendar as the Ordinary Form (as well as the same readings)
Dr. Peter Kawsniewski, "Much Discussion These Days on the Novus Ordo Calendar and Its Problems," The New Liturgical Movement
The Books by Dom Gueranger, "The Liturgical Year" explain well how the "old rite"practices the Catholic Year.
The Latin Mass is pretty stale (the same thing) throughout the Liturgical Year.
Ember & Rogation Days ~ Fr Ripperger
Catholic Ember Days: History and Theology of Fasting for Holy Priests (Dr Taylor Marshall #158)
Candlemas with Pope Benedict XVI, Dr Taylor Marshall and Mike Church
"Catholic Feast Days", A Catholic Life
Saint Nicholas Day is the Advent start for children
What is the history of Tenebrae?
The Legend of Saint Lucia of Syracuse
There's only one type of Latin Mass, and its the same thing on Sundays and Weekdays.
3 Kinds of Traditional Latin Mass: 1) Solemn, 2) Sung, 3) Low Mass
I have learned so much and am still learning, but I hope this helps dismiss some misconceptions anyone else may have about the Latin Mass.
More Stories:
About the Author
Jacinta is a Catholic revert. She's written for the Michael Journal and The Remnant Newspaper, and is currently studying Catholic Theology at the New Saint Thomas Institute. She writes sporadically on "The Faithful Pew Blog" and enjoys attending The Latin Mass, spending time in Adoration chapels and praying in front of abortion clinics. Her book, "Catholic Modesty: What It Is, What It Isn't, and Why It's Still Important" is available on Amazon.
