In my previous post on the Traditional Latin +Mass[1] much of my intention was +apologetic, and fueled by an indignation at seeing how this form of +celebrating the Divine Liturgy was (and still is) treated almost like a +second-class celebration. It is true that many of those who assist can +be very off-putting in their views, but this is no reason to dismiss +such a beautiful and reverent celebration, much less treat it as +inferior. However, unfortunately I got defensive and responded in kind, +disparaging the Ordinary Form, resentful of the differences of how it is +celebrated, and always tried finding (seemingly) objective reasons as to +why the Ordinary Form was inferior, not realizing that what's important +about the Mass, regardless of how it is celebrated, is that it brings +people closer to Jesus Christ, and different people find this easier +through different forms. And although I would like for the Extraordinary +Form to be respected in this manner, I must be the first to respect the +Ordinary Form in this manner.
+ +This is not to say that I have changed my mind that the Extraordinary +Form, when done well, is still objectively more reverent than the +Ordinary Form. I also believe it is an objective fact that you are more +likely to find liturgical abuse and even grave heresy in parishes that +celebrate the Ordinary Form. But we shouldn't judge by its worst +elements, we should simply correct them. After all, are there not all +kinds of people who attend the Extraordinary Form who seem to slide +closer every day to schism? It's important that we learn not to throw +out the baby with the bath water. If there are heretical, schismatic, or +abusive elements within any community of Christ's Church, the Christian +thing to do isn't to push them away, but to fraternally correct them and +bring them closer to Christ.
+ +Therefore, I would like to revisit my true reasons for appreciating +the Traditional Latin Mass. They are subjective, they may not apply to +everyone, but it is what brings me peace, and what feeds my faith and +love for our Lord. My reasons are twofold: that it is different from the +world, and that it does not change. These two reasons, are ultimately +intertwined.
+ +If you assist a Tridentine Mass, the main thing you'll notice is that +it has nothing to do with the world outside. It breaks completely with +the culture of the world. Mass is said in a dead language (Latin), there +are many parts (most notably the Consecration) which are said in a low +voice, so the congregation hears nothing but silence (and the ringing of +bells), it's filled with all these gestures, symbols, and movements, +etc. All this adds an element of mysticism to the Mass, which greatly +helps me in contemplating the supernatural aspect of the Mass, which +just isn't the same for me if the Mass looks and sounds the same as +everything else out in the world, in my daily life. The Traditional +Latin Mass truly gives me the feeling that I am partaking in something +that is not of this world, that Heaven is truly touching down upon the +Earth in that very moment.
+ +Perhaps the reason why the Extraordinary Form is so mystical and +distinct from the world is because it has remained mostly the same for +400 years, having been established first by Pope Saint Pius V in 1570. +It doesn't change, it doesn't adapt to modern trends, it doesn't try to +be hip and cool. It simply is what it is, and remains constant. The +peace I get from this is that, while the entire world around me is +changing, revolutionizing, or even at times falling apart, I always have +this one place where I know nothing will ever change. I can find Christ +there, who is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever." (Heb. 13:8) +While in the Ordinary Form the celebration of the Mass changes, not only +from country to country, not only from city to city, not only from +parish to parish, but even simply from priest to priest; the +Extraordinary Form of the Mass I can be assured that it will be +celebrated exactly the same, no matter where in the world I may attend +it. The only thing that will change is the language of the readings and +the homily.
+ +As I've mentioned before, these are completely subjective criteria. +You don't have to be convinced of it, as I'm not trying to convince you. +But what I am trying to communicate is that the Extraordinary Form can +truly bring people to Christ Jesus, and has. It can truly help some +people to grow in love and charity. I regret having fostered such a +disdain for the Ordinary Form in the past, and I pray that one day those +of us with strong devotions to either form can learn to respect each +other, and not disparage that which brings each of us closer to God, but +instead be united as the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church with Christ +Jesus as our Head. I pray that those of us with devotion to the +Extraordinary Form can learn to respect and see the fruits of the +developments of the Ordinary Form; and I pray that those of the Ordinary +Form can learn to respect and see the peace which the Extraordinary +Form can give. May God help us to be united as brothers, and celebrate +these differences, instead of quarrelling and forming disunity in +Christ's Church.
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