Why the Traditional Latin Mass - 2020-07-18
The most beautiful and reverent form I have seen of practicing the Liturgy in the Latin Rite has without a doubt been the Traditional Latin Mass (a.k.a. Tridentine Mass, Gregorian Mass, or Extraordinary Form). It's a form that has caught my interest since knowing of its existence. A form that characterizes a truly Catholic Mass, which is the heart of the Church.
Unfortunately, it would seem that this form has been substantially undervalued since the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council and implementation of the Novus Ordo Mass, despite the significant importance it has to the Catholic identity. Many simply brush it off as something that is antiquated. But the Tridentine Mass still has much to show us, and is still essential to the Catholic identity. As such, I offer a few points as to why it should be preserved and promoted.
Latin
The first retort one often encounters with regards to the Traditional Latin Mass is that it's in Latin. People say that they cannot understand what is being said in the Mass - despite normally having a missal with both the Latin and the Vernacular. With regards to the language, it is first important to note the importance of Latin in the Roman Catholic Church, and second, to realize that the responses are not the central part of the Mass, like in Novus Ordo.
Latin is important, being the language of the Church. The Church's official documents are written in Latin. The version of the Bible endorsed by the Church, the Vulgate, which is approved to be free of all errors on issues of Faith & Morals is in Latin. It's also the language the Mass has been celebrated in for hundreds of years. But perhaps more than all of these, it is that Christ designated that the Church should be Roman, as can be deduced from relating the dubbing of Simon as Peter in Matthew 16:18, and the prophesy from the Old Testament of Daniel 2:29-45.
However, when accustomed to the Novus Ordo Mass, one may feel overwhelmed with so much Latin; trying fervently to keep up the pace with the responses. But the Latin Mass is truly something that one should study at home, and not spend the entire Mass reading from the missal. Instead, study the Mass at home at your own leisure, and during the Mass take the time to take in what is happening around you; to observe the beauty of the Divine Liturgy.
Ad Orientem
As opposed to the Ordinary Form where the priest faces towards the congregation (a.k.a. ad populum), in the Extraordinary Form the priest faces towards the Altar with the congregation (a.k.a. ad orientum). When I hear ad orientem come up as supposed issue of the Tridentine Mass, it's typically a point of questioning what the Mass is for. In reality, it is not necessary for the priest to face the congregation because the purpose of the Mass is not the priest, but Christ. We don't go to Mass for the priest, but for Christ, who is in the Altar and in the Eucharist. In a Mass that is ad orientem everyone faces towards the Lord, and everyone bows before the Lord like a court before their King. It demonstrates that we are all below Him, we are all His subjects.
Communion on the Tongue
Although this isn't something specific to the Tridentine Mass, it is something that is obligatory, while in the Novus Ordo Mass it has turned into something optional and (depending on the priest) encouraged or discouraged. The most important aspect of the Catholic Mass is the Eucharist. The partaking of the Pascal Sacrifice. The eating of the Body of Christ for our salvation.
Unfortunately, there has been a lack of respect for the holiest of Sacraments in recent decades. Ever more, people are beginning to believe it is something purely symbolic instead of the true Body and Blood of Christ. It should come to no surprise then, that Communion in the hand, and especially in some of the more liberalized of Masses, can and has lead to the abuse of this Sacrament.
To start, why is it so important to take Communion on the tongue (and on one's knees)? To put it simply: it shows the due respect not only to the Lord, but to others. Imagine someone who knows nothing of Catholicism, or of the Mass, and their only exposure is two people taking Communion. One goes up to the priest, cups their hands, and receives a Host, while the other goes up to the priest, gets on their knees, and opens their mouth so that the priest may properly and carefully place the Host on their tongue. To this person, the first case would seem to be nothing more than a priest handing out wafers, while the second begs the curiosity of the observer to ponder why so much reverence for what appears to be nothing more than bread. In this sense, it could be said that Communion in the hand is potentially scandalous.
However, it is not only the potential scandal that could be caused, but also an issue of the abuses that can and do occur, which can only exist because of Communion in the hand. While the priest has gone through seminary and has (hopefully) received the formation necessary to fully understand and handle the Eucharist, we (the laity) have not. As such, it is much more likely that one of the laity will not take Communion seriously, and commit an abuse than a priest. Abuses such as letting particles drop to the floor. This problem is even worse in the more liberalized Masses that have their congregation take Communion in the pews, potentially allowing for one of the lay people to pocket the Host and take it home with them, potentially committing some other obscenity.
Even going beyond what would be an intentional mistreatment of the Eucharist, it also gives way to all kinds of accidental abuses. Such would be the case, for example, of an elderly person who, unable to keep their hands steady, accidentally drops the Host or particles of it while trying to take Communion.
All this is avoided by simply enforcing Communion on the tongue. Just as it has been practiced for hundreds of years.
Respect for Authority
Something very noticeable about the Novus Ordo Mass as compared to the Tridentine Mass is the participation of the laity in activities which used to belong to the priest. More specifically: readings and handing out Communion (to which the arguments stated above apply all the more). This is the effect of a modern mentality whereby we wish to eradicate all remaining notions of hierarchy and authority, or any kind of differentiation between us; in this case specifically, the difference between the priest and the laity.
Perhaps it's an effect of the current liberal culture than it is of these changes themselves to the Liturgy, but ultimately the changes sure do not help. When it comes to issues of Faith & Morals, it is precisely the priest (as an ordained member of the Church) who is to guide the laity, not for the laity to guide themselves. It is important, then, for the laity to view the priest as a figure of authority within their community whom they must respect on matters pertaining to the Faith. This is diminished when foreground roles are relegated to the laity. It is one thing for there to be a deacon or altar boy who aids the priest in his celebration of the Mass, but it is another thing entirely for the laity to take the foreground. It creates a false sense of equality of the laity and the presbyterate.
Authentic Catholic Identity
The Tridentine Mass is a form that has been a part of celebrating the Divine Liturgy that has been a part of the Catholic identity for hundreds of years - albeit with some minor modifications, the most actual of which is the modifications by Pope John XXIII, which are celebrated today as the Extraordinary Form. It is something inherently Catholic that distinguishes it from any other church - save now for Sedevacantists, which are the result of the changes from the Second Vatican Council, the change in the Mass being one of them. Meanwhile, the Novus Ordo Mass was explicitly designed to resemble Protestant services. It should therefore come to no surprise that many Catholics who attend to the Novus Ordo Mass reject Catholic teaching.
Silence
The Novus Ordo Mass is filled with a back-and-forth dynamic between the priest and the congregation. Moments between these responses are often filled with lyrical music to distract the congregation - in other words, filler music so the congregation doesn't get bored. But what is typically lacking throughout all of this is time to be absolutely silent, to contemplate, to meditate, and to pray. As a bit of a side-note, the same thing occurs with adoration in parishes that typically do Novus Ordo Mass. Silence becomes a rare blessing.
In the Tridentine Mass, silence is extremely important. There are many parts of the Divine Liturgy where the priest is quiet, most noticeably during the consecration. This is a beautiful time during the Mass, when one is on one's knees, to pray and to meditate on the miracle that is occurring before their eyes: the bread and wine is turning into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. A solemn and reverent silence.
Centrality of Christ
But more important than all of this - and what I've been somewhat alluding to with many of these points - is the centrality of Christ in the Tridentine Mass.
As I've pointed out before, the Novus Ordo Mass continuously distracts the attention of the congregation from Christ who is in the Altar and in the Eucharist. Whether it be celebrating ad populum, filler music to cover the silence, or a collective taking of the Eucharist (as is done in some Novus Ordo Masses), the common trait is Christ is moved to the background.
In the Tridentine Mass, Christ is always the center, and He is always treated with utmost respect. Because the we go to Mass for Him, and for Him alone.
If you are interested in attending a Traditional Latin Mass, you can see if there is one near you in the Latin Mass Directory. If you cannot find one, ask your priest. And remember, the Tridentine Mass is a right of the faithful.
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