Would you attend the TLM if your Parish offered it?

Traditional Catholicism
1
  • Absolutely
  • Hard pass
  • Soft pass
  • I would take the TLM Challenge (and go four Sundays in a row)
  • Other
0 voters
2

I would go if it were the only Mass to fulfill my obligation. A couple of times this year I’ve been to Mass when the priest said the Eucharistic Prayer in Latin with his back to the congregation. One of them said to us that he was talking to God, not to the congregation, so we didn’t need to hear him. Since I couldn’t see, hear, or understand, I was aware of the consecration only from the bells and then elevation of the Host and chalice. If that’s how people want to pray, let them, but I prefer to see, hear, and understand.

3

I personally like when the Priest is ad orientem (to the East). The Priest is In persona Christi (in the person of Christ who is our High Priest) making an offering of The Sacrificial Lamb (Christ Himself). He is not offering the Sacrifice to us, but rather to the Father, though when we receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Savior in the Blessed Sacrament, it is in a sense an offering to us and we an offering to Him (intimacy with the Lord).

I think that traditionally the emphasis was on the first part and less about the second and since Vatican II the emphasis has been more on the second aspect and the first aspect nearly forgotten.

What we need is a balance between the two. To only focus on the first aspect is to make it merely ritual, but to only focus on the communion aspect of it, denies the reality of what Christ has done and is doing presently for believers throughout generations. Meaning, Christ was offering Himself up for my Grandparents and my Great-Grandparents, for Christians in the Fourth Century, the First Century, and to us Today (Praise be to God).

The Jewish people no longer do animal sacrifices since the destruction of the Temple, but Jesus is the Temple that was rebuilt in three days! Jesus is the High Priest. Jesus is the Sacrificial Lamb.

It is also true that the church is the bride of Christ. The church is the mystical body of Christ. The church is the branches, Christ is the vine, and God the Father is the vine-grower.

Jesus is our spiritual Brother and our Savior. Mary is our spiritual Mother and her soul magnifies the Lord, her Son.

Whether the Priest is facing East or facing us, the Eucharist is both and offering to God and a gift to us. Eucharist means “thanksgiving.” If one is not thankful for all that Jesus has done and continues to do for us and in us, then I do not think they understand what a gift the Lord has given us.

When Jesus was pierced on Calvary, water and blood flowed from His side, symbolizing Baptism and Eucharist, two means by which Christ’s salvific grace flows through the Church.

As St. Paul says, when we are Baptized, we are buried with Christ and rise with Him anew.

And as Christ tells us, “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me and I in him.”

Let us not take this gift of Life for granted! Let us become Eucharist by offering our lives to Him and co-operating with His grace, which will bear much fruit. And so we respond to all that He has done, Amen! (I believe) â™±

4

I was just explaining my vote in the poll.

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5

Yes. I have no problem with it. Its more of the problem of some people online and in public though more than likely that’s just how they are.

6

Hard Pass. That’s my spellcasting day, but I do say my spells in Latin.

LOL just kidding!

7

What’s TLM? I’m in china, no search results come up about it

8

Traditional Latin Mass. Pope Francis tried to greatly restrict it and succeeded. Some people think it’s the only reverent Mass. I prefer to pray in English, and the Masses in our parish (and every other Mass I can remember attending) has been reverent. If some people want to pray in Latin, that’s OK with me. I don’t think the Church should quash it, and I’m tired of hearing some who prefer the Latin Mass say that no other Mass is good.

10

I’m a Convert from a Church of England background but I also studied Latin to A-level at school. When I was young, and before I’d been received as a Catholic, I went with a friend to Westminster Cathedral to experience a Tridentine Mass. I thought I would love it, but I actually found it very remote, with no connection with the priest (because he had his back to us) or with the people in the pews, because they were obviously locked into worship facing forwards but with no love for other human beings radiating outwards.

I compared this unfavourably with my experience of Anglican Holy Communion services with my Granny, where there was a mystical sense of God but also a feeling of companionship with the other worshippers - and with my newfound experience of attending St Aloysius Church in Euston, a modern church that seemed much more welcoming.

I prefer the English Mass, but I do also enjoy masses that include Latin liturgical elements - this used to be a monthly option for a parish we once lived in, St Benet’s in Beccles, which was a wonderful parish that ticked all the boxes for us.

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11

Hi @Simon_Dee and @Isabel_Dee . Welcome to the forums!

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12

I am in my 70s so I remember the TLM as the norm. I remember it as rather boring and mostly poorly celebrated. I prefer the Novus Ordo

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13

I respect your opinion. I know other boomers who share your view. I belong to a Weekly Men’s Bible Study and I am the “young guy” (I’m really not that young) and I sometimes hear from some of the older gentlemen their contempt for the Traditional Latin Mass. They went from having a fruity Jesuit Priest (who is very nice, but would spice up the Mass) to a serious Priest who would love to do only the TLM if his congregation would not squabble. He even fired a very talented musician/liturgist for one who refuses to sing any song that was written after the 1800’s. And many of the songs are in four parts with very little time to learn each song. Many of the men in my Bible Study are in the Choir.

I attended a non-Denominational (aspiring megaChurch) in High School and College and it was anything, but boring! However, there was little depth. The service was centered around the musicians and the Pastor’s Sermon (which felt more like a TedTalk). They had a Starbucks in the narthex, big screens, and a top-notch sound booth and light show. There was no Cross in sight.

I met some wonderful, on fire, faith-filled Christians while attending this Church, but as my own journey began to mature, God was leading me into a deeper relationship with Him.

The Sacred Mass is centered around Christ in four distinct ways: He is present in the Word of God, and in the Holy Eucharist! He is present in In persona Christi (the Priest) and in the church faithful (where two or more are gathered in His name).

I am not a trad, but there are some things that I think has been lost in the the modern form of the Mass. Namely, reverence. I’ve been to very moving and reverent Novus Ordo Liturgies, but I’ve been to many irreverent ones too.

As children, we may not know what is going on at Mass. We may find it boring. Even some adult do not understand what the Mass is. They know what we do, but not why we do.

1 Like
14

Thanks for your very informative reply

I would like to clarify my position. While I personally wouldn’t attend a TLM I don’t want to see it neither forbidden nor severely restricted.

Also, I agree with you on the importance of Reverance in all liturgical celebrations.

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