A Fair Defense Of The TLM, From A Novus Ordo Participant

     A while back there was an article published here on Catholic365 made several claims about the Latin Mass and the Traditional community. These claims were based on several exaggerations, omissions, and things that could be outright lies. You can read their article HERE, but today I would like to offer a rebuttal article.

     Before I begin, I would like to note that I personally prefer the Novus Ordo Mass, although I think some are celebrated better than others. I have attended parishes that celebrate the Novus Ordo rite my entire life, as a cradle Catholic. I have also attended a handful of Latin Masses, a few in the Anglican Ordinariate, one in the Chaldean rite, and also one in the Melkite rite. I think that each one has something to contribute to our universal, Catholic Church. At the end of the day though, I feel most comfortable in and prefer the Novus Ordo. So, I write this article not as a “rad trad”, but as a Latin Mass outsider who has been welcomed in, who has explored, and who knows I can always visit when I want to. The thought is a comfort to me, even if I would much rather say my prayers in English.

     First off, the article seems to take some of the more extreme views of the SSPX and even sedevacantist groups, and project them onto the Latin Mass world as a whole. The SSPX is representative of a minority group in the world of the Latin Mass, and to suggest that they speak for those in communion with Rome, who attend the Latin Mass, is disingenuous. There are many orders that celebrate the Latin rite, such as the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), the Institute of Christ the King (ICKSP), and the Institute of the Good Shepherd (IBP), who are in full communion with Rome. Additionally, there are region-specific religious orders across the globe who either celebrate exclusively or partially.

      This article can be broken down into two major parts, the first addressing the liturgy itself. It seems to equate the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) with “mass in Latin,” as if the only difference was the use of the Latin language, which suggests either total ignorance or a deliberate misrepresentation. Of all the reasons which generally compel people to choose the TLM, the Latin language isn’t even generally one of the main ones. Most people choose to attend because of the reverence, the beauty and theological precision of the prayers, the lack of liturgical abuses, and the fact that the Mass is visibly and tangibly more centered on Christ. Isn’t that what we want when we go to Mass? Unfortunately, the Novus Ordo Mass has lost a lot of the subtle symbolism that other Catholic rites, and even the Orthodox Church, has retained over the years.

     A common complaint of those who are not familiar with the Latin Mass, echoed in the article, is that one cannot hear the priest. This suggests a certain level of ignorance of how and why the Mass is supposed to be celebrated. The Latin rite treats the Mass not primarily as a performance or an announcement for the benefit of the people, but as prayer addressed to God, by the priest, on behalf of the people. This distinction is crucial to our understanding of the Mass, how we worship, and why we worship. The Mass in any form is to be understood as such. The byproduct of our worship of God is the reception of the Most Holy Sacrament, the graces we receive from it, and the strength to persist in our earthly duties. However, it must be pointed out that the way the Latin Mass is celebrated is specifically oriented to emphasize this understanding.

     Because of this proper understanding of the Mass, there is absolutely no connection between the Latin Mass and telling people to “stay away from the sacraments.” In fact, I have noticed that frequent Reconciliation and reception of the Eucharist is more fervently promoted than in the majority of Novus Ordo parishes. It seems to me that people who choose to attend the Latin Mass have a particular care for and attachment to the liturgy, so the idea that they would rather stay home and pray the rosary, or even more scandalously, that Latin Mass priests tell their faithful to do this, is simply untrue, or a massive exaggeration at best. TLM attendees also generally have a keener sense of the obligation to attend weekly Mass and even daily Mass. In fact, is not uncommon to meet people in TLM communities who even take this too far and feel that there is never a reason to miss Sunday Mass short of being in a coma. Simply put, to suggest that TLM Catholics somehow take this lightly is just not supported by evidence, or my personal observations.

     The second major part addressed by the article seems to be the use of language, and specifically the use of the Latin language. To suggest that “they don’t talk about Jesus at the Latin Mass” is…an interesting take, I’ll say. The actual texts of the prayers of the Latin Mass are far more Christo-centric than those of the Novus Ordo and it is hard for someone familiar with both rites to claim such. I’ve found that sermons at the Latin Mass tend also to be more focused on Christ. Catechesis, proper understanding of the Scriptures, reflections on the writings of the saints, and even historical context are woven together in a way that certainly gives those listening something to chew on for at least the rest of the day.

     The writer also takes exception to the view that “demons flee from Latin”, on the grounds that it is superstitious, when this is an opinion that has been explicitly articulated by a great many saints and theologians throughout history. Additionally, any modern exorcist will hasten to confirm this. The objection that “Christ didn’t use Latin” is easily rejectable. Should exorcists not use crucifixes and holy water either, because Christ didn’t?

     The idea that somehow the use of the Latin language would make reunion with the Orthodox churches impossible is fortunately a false argument. There has always been a clear distinction between the Latin rites and the Eastern rites, and the question of the language of the Roman rite has nothing to do with the Eastern rites. It is worth noting that most of the Eastern rites do not employ the cultural vernacular, and those that do, do so as an exception and not a rule. In most cases, they use an ancient version of the vernacular, since the liturgies were all composed centuries ago, if not longer. This author seems to assert that Latin Mass Catholics would like to impose the Latin language on the Eastern rites, but I have not seen or heard of anyone arguing for such a thing.

     It is well known that in every century of the Christian era the Church’s Latin liturgy in its various forms has inspired countless saints in their spiritual life, confirmed many in the virtue of religion and enriched their devotion. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, always, and it cannot be suddenly entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It is proper for all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place.

     In short, the original article written comes to unfair conclusions based on incorrect assumptions and generalizations. Therefore, I feel the criticisms are invalid and do not apply. To anyone who felt discouraged by that article, I would encourage you to attend a nearby Latin Mass a few times, even if it is not your preference. I personally think that it is important for everyone to be a bit familiar with it because it is a part of our Catholic heritage and helps us to understand and participate more deeply in the Novus Ordo. In closing, find below a few quotes about the use of the Latin language by popes, saints, Doctors of the Church, and the Second Vatican Council:

“The use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites.”
-Vatican II, Sacrosanctum Concilium, 36.

 “The Latin language…has been consecrated through constant use by the Apostolic see, the mother and teacher of all Churches.”
-Pope St John XXIII, apostolic constitution Veterum Sapientia, 1962.

 “The Catholic Church has a dignity far surpassing that of every merely human society, for it was founded by Christ the Lord. It is altogether fitting, therefore, that the language it uses should be noble, majestic and non-vernacular.”
-Pope Saint John XXIII, Veterum Sapientia (1962)

 “Sacraments and sacramentals are made holy by the prayer of the priest such as the exorcizing and blessing of an object. The Latin language similarly is in itself as a language holy; it is sacred, and thereby brings great favor with God.”
-Rev. Dr. Nicholas Gihr, The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, 1902

 “The most ancient custom of the Church agrees: in the whole West there are no ancient liturgies except in Latin.”
-St Robert Bellarmine, Treatise On the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

 “I am of the opinion, to be sure, that the old rite should be granted much more generously to all those who desire it. It's impossible to see what could be dangerous or unacceptable about that. A community is calling its very being into question when it suddenly declares that what until now was its holiest and highest possession is strictly forbidden and when it makes the longing for it seem downright indecent. Can it be trusted any more about anything else?
Won't it proscribe again tomorrow what it prescribes today?”
-Cardinal Josef Ratzinger’s book “Salt of the Earth” (1997) pp. 176-77