Attending My First Latin Mass

If you’ve been following my channel for any length of time, you might be surprised to find out that I attended my first extraordinary form, or Latin mass this past weekend because I’ve spent some time talking about liturgy especially aesthetics in our worship in my videos, and if you’ve picked up on it, you might have noticed that I’ve been favoring a more traditional take on things.

My wife and I were both nervous going into it. It reminded me of what it was like attending my first Catholic Mass. I didn’t know what to expect, I didn’t know if I’d embarrass myself or not. But those small anxieties were accompanied by a kind of excitement and anticipation. Like, we’re really trying something new and what is this going to mean for our lives.

The first thing I was struck by was how prayerful the atmosphere was when we arrived. There was no chatter. The people that were there were there to seek God in prayer and this attitude and disposition was really prevalent.

The Latin mass community felt like a real body of believers with a common vision and approach to God and I’ve only rarely felt that way at another mass. Typically, in a Catholic Church, you’ll get different levels of participation and piety. Some people are fully and prayerfully invested in what’s going on and a significant number of people will barely be participating.

Something I was anxiously anticipating was an unwelcoming atmosphere because newcomers and outsiders can be a disruption to the kind of harmony and unity that I’ve been describing and the Catholic Church has its fair share of grumpy and judgemental parishioners.

But to my surprise I didn’t get that sense from anyone here. Nobody turned around to stare at my kids when one of them started to lose it. Nobody raised an eyebrow when I didn’t seem to know how to respond or participate properly. Everyone seemed so intently focused on God, that I don’t think they had the wherewithal to be distracted by my disruptive presence.

As the liturgy carried on, it felt long. There were moments where it seemed like we could expedite what was happening but there was absolutely no indication that anyone wanted to hurry along. Each moment was so deliberate it almost felt like life was slowing down.
My wife, afterwards, said that she felt like she was in a bubble of peace and serenity while the outside world was composed of chaos, anxiety, and spectacle. But in here was like a piece of heaven where you could lose yourself in the stillness and prayer.

At the Latin mass, everyone was very intentionally participating and this was one of the first immediate ironies I noticed because the reforms that led to the new order of the mass were enforced with the promise that they would increase participation but I’d say participation in your typical Catholic parish is scattered at best.

I’m still digesting the experience and so I don’t even feel like I can fully articulate what the takeaways of it were for me and you’ll probably here more from me on the topic in the future, but I wanted to close with this one last observation.

I was expecting it to be different, but not that different. Both my wife and I remarked about this in the drive home. We were wondering, out loud, how the most prominent expression of our faith could have changed so dramatically in such a short period of time. How did we go from that to what is commonplace today?
 
When Pope Benedict issued Summorum Pontificum which made the extraordinary form of the mass available to communities that wanted it, there was actual resistance just to that permission. Keep in mind that this wasn’t an attempt to normalize it or promote it but just to allow it and no longer prohibit it.

It’s a startling thing for me to learn that there are currents in the church that are so fanatically committed to the new order of the mass, that they can’t even tolerate the use of the old form which had been instilled into generations of Catholics as the apex of their faith.

This wasn’t just the mass of our grandparents, but our great grand parents, and our great great grand parents, and our great great great grand parents and so on. It’s shocking to learn how hastily that was cast aside for what we have now which does not seem to be achieving any of the ends it promised.

When Pope Benedict simply allowed this to be available, there were hysterical responses from some bishops and that has to make you wonder what is really going on and how we got to where we are today.

For my part, I’m going to go back to see if it is something that will continue to instill the grace I need to function in this world and I’d invite you to check it out too.

[Segnor]

Latin mass is what brought me back to faith.

[LordMaryland]

I first attended Latin mass over a year ago, I haven’t been back to the Novus Ordo ever since

[DanielWard]

Seeing my first ever Latin Mass brought tears to my eyes its so beautiful

[terioze]

In France, 1 new priest out of 4 is Traditionalist now. The Modernists literally killed the Church of France but hopefully, the bishops will have to deal with young traditional priests.

[tonijohnson]

You pretty much just every point I felt after my first TLM. I felt totally ripped off my entire life after attending the Latin Mass. Anyone else feel the same?

[thedon]

You are a young Catholic man naturally seeking the good, the beautiful and the truth. It is no surprise that the Latin Mass calls you to itself. It is the good, the beautiful, the truth. Say goodbye to Kumbaya forever...

[minorityvoice]

Dude, you're journey sounds exactly like mine. The more deliberate and serious I took my faith the more I learned and I am shocked at the casting aside of the traditions that created so many saints. Its aproblem.

[BPP]

The Traditional Latin Mass emphasizes Pope Benedict's point that "eucharistic adoration is simply the natural consequence of the eucharistic celebration, which is itself the Church's supreme act of adoration" (Sacramentum Caritatis, no. 66).

[HappyGoLucky]

Brian, I’m pleased you and your family have discovered the Mass of the Ages. It is the most beautiful thing this side of heaven. After attending the TLM for the first time in 2011, I find myself seeking it as often as possible.

[Lunabee]

Yes! Exactly how could we lose so much tradition and the church of our fathers!? We want it back, like a lost gem we are in search of that lost treasure.

[gracebohler]

I love the traditional Latin Mass! I'm so glad you experienced it for yourself. I hope you attend a High Mass with full Gregorian chant some day. So beautiful and stunning and peaceful.

[baoduong]

I attended my first latin high mass on all Saints Day! I almost cried during the nicene creed. The beauty of the Gregorian chants, the homily was quite amazing. I felt like the priest wasn’t afraid to offend anyone. Stating the disease of Protestantism and why they don’t understand the Saints. Even though. I could barely follow along. I didn’t care that I couldn’t understand majority of the mass. I felt more prepared for the world.

[VoDucQuang]

Brian, I think after a month of attending TLM, you will find your understanding of "Liturgy" will greatly expand. You might even feel strange going back to the Novus Ordo (this not Vatican II bashing, just based on personal experience). May God bless you and your family.

[jejwood]

Being a young family with five kids at a Latin Mass is the best way to get ignored. Don't worry. Also, I hope that you attend many more (and it sounds like you will)! It is a storehouse of infinite graces.

[charleyberrier]

I was ten years Calvary Chapel (evangelical) before God showed me His Bride. I lasted 1.5 years in the new Church before I attended my first Latin Mass. No contest. You’ve been smitten- welcome!

Eight children and a lot of love and good fruit. We owe it all to Tradition.

Your observations were articulated so well- with such sincerity and love for our Lord and His Church. As you are now so once was I. That is I once was new to the awesomeness handed down from our forefathers.

We have a lot of old grumps in the Trads so keep a good positive upper lip :)

JM&J

[kellyleary]

I love when you use Allegri’s Miserere Mei. One of my favorite pieces of all time!

[Kyntai]

When I started praying the Rosary I was quickly led to the TLM. My 1st TLM also happened to be a high Mass and it was like I had been transported back in time. I just sat there with my jaw on the floor, overjoyed at finding it. The TLM preserves the sense of the sacred that is sadly missing in almost every aspect of our modern lives. So happy that you found it. Viva Cristo Rey!

[tzgd]

I’ve been attending TLM since First Sunday of Lent. I have found what I have been missing all these years. I’m 55. I don’t think I could go back to the modern form and feel the reverence and spirituality that I feel at the Latin Mass.

[adammcintyre]

I'm a post Vatican II born and raised catholic . In my early 20s I had been a prodigal and reached the bottom. I prayed and begged Christ to save me. Not long after that prayer I walked by a church in my neighborhood in Calgary and noticed the Latin mass on the sign outside . I decided the following Sunday to attend for the first time . The beauty and majesty of the entire experience floored me and I reverted back to the church as a result.
After this experience,
as a post VAT II generation Catholic, I had felt short changed by the church with the Ordinary form of the mass .
I remained with that parish for a few year. Then 14 years ago I moved back to my home city in New Brunswick that had no Tridentine mass until this year.
As a TLM community, we're in our infancy and have a Latin mass every first Saturday with a young Diocesan priest who travels to our city. We're in the process of forming an Una Voce chapter and are praying and fasting for a permanent Weekly Sunday mass . Please pray for us to have success on our journey.

[OliverOlinger]

I started going to TLM when I first moved back to Florida after my enlistment in the Marine Corps. I immediately felt like I stepped out of time and into infinity. I was hooked. Small word of advice: If you continue going, you're an intelligent man... You'll likely notice that there are those who truly practice traditionalism, and there are many others who wear the traditionalist label, but really practice archeologism (the love of all things old just because they're old). Don't let the crazies get to you.