Post on the Latin Mass

On This Rock: If I Had a Vote on Our Next Archbishop – This Bishop Would Get My Vote.

 

Check out the above link found on Fr. John Hollowell’s blog: “On This Rock”

I have wanted to blog on my personal experience with the Latin Mass for quite awhile, and now I have a reason to.

Bishop Sample has always been one of my favorite Bishops, and this re-affirms it even more. I attended my first Latin Mass earlier this Summer in June while I was at the State FFA Convention in Lexington. Fr. John Rickert celebrated the Mass for the feast of St. Anthony of Padua. It was a sung Mass, since it was a pretty big feast for the church. It was absolutely beautiful! Did I understand much of what was being said? No. Could I hear what the priest was praying all the time? No. Did it bother me that I could only see the Priest’s back and not his face? No. Some may ask well why not? The answer is simple. During the whole Mass my attention was on one thing and two things alone: The Crucifix above the Altar, and then the Host when the priest turned around to show us Jesus and give us communion. That was the only thing on my mind for the full 45 minute Mass at 7 am on a hot Summer day. It was as if the other couple people in the church didn’t exist at all. It was me, myself, and I with Jesus. Now I am not trying to say that I was being self-absorbed or egotistical, but that was what it felt like. It was a different feeling than being in Adoration alone with Jesus. This was more close to Calvary to me. It seemed that it was more intimate and personal. With my eyes on the Crucifix and the soft musical chants in the background by the choir, I could see myself there at the foot of the Cross, when the bells were rung and the Host was raised, I was there watching as the cross was raised above the Earth and Jesus fell forward immediately feeling pain, except at that moment he felt none nor was there any blood, as the Mass is an un-bloody sacrifice.

Words can’t really express what I felt during the Mass, it was as if I had stepped into eternity and then had to step back out when it was over. I have never really felt that way before during a Mass in the Novus Ordo, otherwise known as the Mass in the vernacular. I was overcome with a great sense of serenity and peace. I pray that if you have never encountered our Lord in the traditional rite of the Church, that you will find a Latin Mass and go to it. It is a little slice of Heaven on Earth.

 

Now granted, for some the Latin Mass is not enjoyable, it really makes them uncomfortable and feel out of place, and I agree that it is not for everyone, but that is where the beauty of the two rites come into play. So much of the Novus Ordo Mass can be mixed with the Latin Mass, whether it be the servers, the Priest facing the Altar (Ad Omnes) and not facing the people (Ad populum), the incense and sounds of the bells. or a Latin Hymn/chants. There is so much that the church can do to increase the beauty of the Mass and ensure that the next generation receives a greater experience with Christ at every Mass than ever before. This is our tradition, this is our history, let us not throw it away or cast it aside, but embrace it and use it to reclaim our faith, reclaim our families, reclaim our country, and reclaim the world for Christ. There is a reason that the Church celebrated Mass like that for thousands of years. We must embrace not only our history, but also embrace and look forward to our future.

 

May God bless you and keep you, May he shine his face upon you and grant you his precious gift of peace! The Lord bless you!

 

+JM,

Corey