Latin Masses could make comeback

A dead language for a dead god. How appropriate.

Perhaps it would keep people from showing up looking like they just cut the grass or came from the beach ?

How do you know this for a fact?

I have always preferred a mass in latin. I think the change was a mistake. It didnt make more people attend church, it just made them "come up" with a different excuse for not attending.

It is too late to change back but I think Latin Mass should be offerred in those parishes where the parishioners ask for it.

Wow, the priest will speak a "dead" language that nobody understands and also turns his back on the congregation during services? Sounds like a power trip to me.

In linguistics, a "dead" language merely means that the language isn't changing any more. Accordingly, the terms used in the Missal of Pope John XXIII (the Latin Mass that is going to be used) will not be open to creative interpretation.

The moniker "back to the congregation" is also misleading. The priest faces "ad orientum," toward the east. Specifically, this is toward the rising sun (we thank God for each day of life) and toward Jerusalem (where Christ died).

I grew up attending a Latin mass (and I'm only 26). Even though I consider myself an atheist, there is no way if I were to ever become religious again that I would attend the new mass in English. The Latin mass is incredibly beautiful and invokes reverence.

Great job bringing up the molestation comment. When you can't criticize something with intelligence... it's always good to see people use the one thing they can always fall back on. This crisis was a tragedy, and amends are being made. Find something new to criticize. And BTW--I grew up Lutheran... and we had our own "molestor minister," but I don't use that to judge all Lutherans.

Shouldn't they be focusing on saying Mass in Spanish these days?

I'm really sorry, but you can't put this genie back in the bottle. It's nostalgia for what many people are too young to remember, and it isn't going to make the world less dangerous and confusing simply because the liturgy is going back in time. Nor is life as absolute, black-and-white as some would like to make it. At this point the priests who are already spread very thin, will have to take the time to learn the ritual. "Sorry I didn't get the chance to visit your spouse who was dying in the hospital, I was brushing up on my Latin."

greenwood_copper wrote:

In linguistics, a "dead" language merely means that the language isn't changing any more. Accordingly, the terms used in the Missal of Pope John XXIII (the Latin Mass that is going to be used) will not be open to creative interpretation.
The moniker "back to the congregation" is also misleading. The priest faces "ad orientum," toward the east. Specifically, this is toward the rising sun (we thank God for each day of life) and toward Jerusalem (where Christ died).

And I bow toward Mecca everyday. Who's right?

Parent wrote:

<quoted text>
Do the parishioners also have to ask for their children not to be molested?

Oh, give me a break. Is the history of molesting heinous? Yes. Are the actions of SOME bishops in coverups horrific? Yes. Have there been more than a very tiny percentage of priests involved? No. Has there been a larger percentage of priests involved than non-Catholic clergy? No. Do most priests carry a heavy burden of pain about this history, and find their work is made more difficult because of the over-generalization? Absolutely. So quit with the knee-jerk reactionary replies, and accept that the overwhelming and vast majority of clergy are good, hard-working people doing their best to serve.

Did you read the article or just the headline. The priest isn't turninghis back on the congregation he is joining them facing God. I personally do not go to Mass to be entertained by the priest. I go to worship God. Why do you go? To worship God or be entertained.

TheTroll wrote:

Wow, the priest will speak a "dead" language that nobody understands and also turns his back on the congregation during services? Sounds like a power trip to me.

I am constantly amazed that the molestation issue comes up again and again as a reason to slam the Catholic church. For those who are paying attention, please understand that you should not judge ANY organization by the people who DON'T practice that organization's principles. THOSE PEOPLE ARE CALLED HYPOCRITES! Judge the church by those who are following the rules, and you will see what that organization stands for.

Yes, there are plenty of reasons to be upset with the actions of LOTS of INDIVIDUAL Catholics. As individuals, we are sinful, and you will inevitably see mistakes from petty things to grievous moral crises. Please realize that the church does not condone molesting, embezzelment, or any of the multitude of issues that plague virtually EVERY large organization.

Also, the Latin Mass IS beautiful, holy, and invokes a degree of reverence I have almost NEVER seen in an English-only parish. As one poster suggested, the folks that show up for Latin mass DO show a greater propensity to leave their jeans and T-shirts at home. Virtually everyone is dressed well, some women wear chapel veils, and there is respectful SILENCE in church.

The priest faces away because he is leading us to Christ. CHRIST is the focus of every Mass, and He is at the center of attention. If you are catholic and haven't seen a Latin mass, go...just to see what it is like. Yes, it will be hard to follow the first time, but I have been going for about 5 years now, and I don't have any trouble with the language.

There are not enough confessional booths in Rome for this conversation.
Ignorantia Juris non excusat -Mens Rea.

greenwood_copper wrote:

In linguistics, a "dead" language merely means that the language isn't changing any more. Accordingly, the terms used in the Missal of Pope John XXIII (the Latin Mass that is going to be used) will not be open to creative interpretation.
The moniker "back to the congregation" is also misleading. The priest faces "ad orientum," toward the east. Specifically, this is toward the rising sun (we thank God for each day of life) and toward Jerusalem (where Christ died).

My pastor faced South for masses at St. Pius. St. Andrews was West, and you'd better get there before church started.

It's fun to make stuff up, right, greenwood copper?

Sounds like the version of Catholicism the latin lovers miss needs to contain a much heftier percentage of superstition and myth than our religion already supplies.
I would stop short of Voo Doo, though, folks.

Darwin wrote:

There are not enough confessional booths in Rome for this conversation.
Ignorantia Juris non excusat -Mens Rea.

Oh yeah...one other thing they offer at Holy Rosary...confession is available during the 20 minutes prior to EVERY Mass, not just for an hour or so on Saturday. It is there for those who need it.

church lady wrote:

I'm really sorry, but you can't put this genie back in the bottle. It's nostalgia for what many people are too young to remember, and it isn't going to make the world less dangerous and confusing simply because the liturgy is going back in time. Nor is life as absolute, black-and-white as some would like to make it. At this point the priests who are already spread very thin, will have to take the time to learn the ritual. "Sorry I didn't get the chance to visit your spouse who was dying in the hospital, I was brushing up on my Latin."

Only priests who are (1) proficient in Latin and (2) who are familiar with the Latin mass will be able to celebrate in Latin. This is probably not the vast majority of priests, and there probably won't be as many parishes change as you may think. The article fails to mention that part of the change.

The Pope's Moto Proprio is just one step. You cannot reach your destination with that one step. Catholics who treasured the ancient liturgy should do the rest of the work, else, it will be lost again for lack of demand. And don't expect the priests to do it for you, they might not know where to start either. So don't just sit there and blog, help organize the Tridentine Mass.

If any one goes to St. Christopher in Speedway show this to Father Mike

At the first word of Latin my wife and I will get up and walk to the back door. We will look for an English Speaking Church.

I will be 65 in September. My wife will be 69 in November. We have lived through this once and will not live through it again!