I recently went to a Latin High Mass, and, being my usual self, loving Latin, enjoyed it. In fact, it felt as if the 2.5 hours were about one hour. I thought it was that good. My belief is that all Masses should be that solemn and dignified. At my regular church, it is so liberal, with occasionally some ladies dancing around with scarves. I feel that that's stupid. So... What do you people think about it?
Not that it has to last 2.5 hours, it could just be in Latin, about 45 minutes to an hour, like it is normally.
My Friends,
Having participated in more than a few Catholic Mass services I can say that it really doesn't matter much to me.
I have noticed that in the Orthodox Liturgy it does not matter what language we are using. Once you know the service you know what is going on.
I think it would take a person familiar with the service to really reach that point, but once one does it far surpasses anything a protestant service might offer.
Regards,
Alexander
I wouldn't the Mass in English if they would perform them with some dignity. Ladies (or men for that matter), dancing around is pretty un-Catholic. And the songs we sing... honestly.
I won't vote in this poll, as I'm not Catholic, and my voting on a Catholic issue doesn't seem...right.
I can see both sides of the argument.
I think that the Latin is a traditionalist method, and could be seen as a beautiful continuation of an ancient tradition.
However, since most people today don't understand Latin, I'd think that offering mass in the vernacular would be more useful.
Perhaps Catholic churches should offer a mass in Latin for those interested, and one in the common language either before or after the Latin, for those who would prefer to have mass in their own language.
I voted for the "English Mass" option, that is to say I believe that, for the most part, the Eucharistic Liturgy ought to be celebrated in a given region's vernacular rather than in a language which the participants are unable to understand. It is extremely importatnt, I believe, that the Church never return to the days wherein the faithful would "hear" mass with their noses buried in a novena booklet or their fingers clicking rosary beads.
The Eucharist is and must be a corporate and public expression of the unity of the Church around the table of Christ's great sacrament of love. We must all, together, fully participate in this, Christ's great "Amen" to the Father. For one to simply kneel and zone-out while a priest whispers prayers in Latin with his back turned to the congregation is completely contrary to the nature of this event. This was the Latin Low Mass which was, to be sure, a grave liturgical abuse.
That having been said, there are other types of abuse which have arisen in the presentation of the Mass since the reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). Someone has used "dancing girls" as an example. Others still might lament "folk masses", "clown masses", masses which use improper species ("pizza and coke" masses), and other profane practices which serve to rob the Liturgy of it's dignity. These abuses were more or less peculiar to the 1970s and 80s but are not completely absent today, however rarely they might occur. The newest generation of priests and bishops has shown itself to be a largely conservative generation.
I personally believe that the best Latin Rite liturgy is one in which the faithful participate fully, with heart, voice, mind and body yet in which is preserved those elements of the sacred which remind one of the Divine. The Mass should be a joyful celebration, but one which preserves sacred music and rituals and chants and other tangibles such as incense and sacred architecture. This was the intent of Pope Paul VI and so many other of the Church fathers.
The Tridentine Rite, the Ambrosian Rite, the Sarum Rite, the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, the Rite of Pope Paul VI and all of the other rites which grace the Church's worship are worthy of our admiration and of preservation. Each has contributed to the richness of the Church's formal worship over the years and we should never let any of them utterly disappear. When we celebrate any of our rites, they should be celebrated well. The Catholic Church owes as much to it's magnificent liturgical heritage.
Coming from a Catholic background I must admit that I was torn on the poll. But the latin choice won out in the fact that I tend to more traditional in my beliefs. I have left the Catholic church but my feelings torwards her our warm. In my current church I am in whats called the Anglo-Catholic ''party.'' We tend to stay tradintional in religious aspects. So I held true.
I would like to comment on the scarfs. That is so indignified in my point of view. Now my church is liberal but that is almost charismatic like. I personally cannot stand churches like that. I like to worship in solemn dignity. But not necassarily boring. A joke in the homily maybe, and appropiate music, but that is "uncool" in my most humbled opinion.