Traditional Latin Mass

All of the posts under the "Traditional Latin Mass" category.

A Convert’s Perspective Going From the Novus Ordo to the Traditional Latin Mass

Many Catholics are afraid to venture into the mysteries of the Traditional Latin Mass. One of the many reasons I have heard is that they are unfamiliar with what is going on. As a convert, I can understand where they are coming from.

There was a time where I had no clue what was going on with the Novus Ordo. I had no clue what anybody was doing, or why they were doing it. I was lost. I didn’t have the benefits of being a cradle Catholic and knowing what everyone was up to (albeit, maybe not understanding). But, this didn’t stop me.

I continued to go to Mass week after week, and I learned what we were doing. Eventually, I picked up a missal so that way I could follow along. As time progressed, I even began learning about the theology behind the Mass as to why we did what we did. It took some time, but eventually I got there.

Now that I have made the jump into the Traditional Latin Mass, even though it is not as often as I’d like, I can attest that the situation is very similar. I am now going to a Mass that is “unfamiliar” and “foreign.” I’m having to learn again what the congregation is doing. I’m back to following along in a missal. I have to learn the theology behind the Mass, again.

Having reflected upon these similarities, it raises questions.

When someone comes into the Church, the Church doesn’t make excuses or compromises about why the convert can not come to the Mass. Instead, we teach them what the Mass is and isn’t and how to follow along. We do this because Catholicism is the Truth and you do not compromise the Truth.

When it comes to the Mass of All Ages, we are far too comfortable making the same excuses that a convert might make and these are all accepted as stumbling blocks. Somehow, these reasons are severe enough that we can’t have the Traditional Latin Mass. It’s too hard, and people might leave.

The Traditional Latin Mass has been the Mass which has been in effect for centuries; it is as Catholic as you can get when it comes to the Mass. It is worth every effort to restore into every single Catholic Church in the world.

The Truth is something worth fighting and sacrificing for, even if it hurts. I think it is time we stop making excuses for why we can’t make the transitions and start making reasons for why we can.

Jeff December 5, 2016 2 Comments Permalink

Pope Francis Proves the Novus Ordo Doesn’t Care About Rules

Pope Francis has changed the rules and is now allowing women to have their feet washed during the Holy Thursday Mass. Granted Pope Francis has done this every single Holy Thursday since he’s been Pope; he has now codified it. If the Pope can make drastic changes to the Liturgy based on his personal preference and the Liturgy allows for it, then you know you do not have a God-given Mass, but a man-made Mass.

During the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, we saw the renewal of the traditions that make the Catholic Mass Catholic. We saw the return of Ad Orientem, Latin, and of course, the Tridentine Mass. The faithful credited the Holy Spirit for this renewal of the Liturgical rubrics. Since March 13, 2013, we have seen many rubrics thrown to the wayside for novelties and the personal whims of the reigning Pontiff. And yet, the faithful credit the Holy Spirit for this breath of fresh air.

So the question must be asked; does the Holy Spirit have multiple personalities? The answer is no. The Holy Spirit, who IS GOD, can not contradict Himself, as God is unchanging throughout all time. He is the same yesterday as He is today as He will be tomorrow. To say that the changes made under both of these pontificates are what God wants would be incorrect; it must either be one or the other and since God is unchanging, it is safe to say that tradition will uphold over novelties.

But maybe we are looking at this from the wrong perspective. Maybe the Novus Ordo doesn’t have the clear rubrics as we once thought and proclaimed? For the longest time, faithful Catholics who desired a reverent Novus Ordo would cite the rubrics to demonstrate what should and shouldn’t be done at the Mass. But as mentioned above, if the Pope can change these rubrics at any given moment, why does it matter?

The thing is, Pope Francis has been abusing the Holy Thursday foot washing rite for a very long time. During his time as an archbishop and Cardinal, he would abuse the liturgical rubrics and allow women have their feet washed, despite clear wording in the laws of the rite that state otherwise. Now that he is the Pope, he has struck out the rule so that he will no longer be breaking said rule. It reminds me of

And this is the funny thing about the creation of the Novus Ordo Mass. The entirety of the Mass, except several parts that have been lifted from the Tridentine Mass, were all abuses that had crept their way into the Mass in one way or the other. Reception of Communion in the hand, bringing up the gifts, versus populum, unworthy music, Mass in the vernacular, receiving the Precious Blood, holding hands during the Our Father, the Sign of Peace, altar girls, etc, were all abuses that have now been deemed “permissible” by the Church. If a Rite doesn’t care about rules and ends up throwing them away when it becomes inconvenient, then why have any rules in the first place? And if it doesn’t have any rules, can we trust that it is truly pleasing to God, the giver of Divine Law?

The fact is the Novus Ordo doesn’t care about the rubrics. If it did, it wouldn’t be subject to so many drastic changes from day to day. Much like a teenage girl who can’t figure out what she wants to wear on her first day of school, the Novus Ordo can’t figure out what rules she should keep or throw away.

Jeff January 25, 2016 3 Comments Permalink

The Real Reason We Can’t Have the Latin Mass

We can’t have the Traditional Latin Mass because the vast majority of prelates at all levels within the Church hierarchy do not want the Traditional Latin Mass. Many of these men are indeed enemies of the Church and are only priests so that they can attempt to change the Church from within. Those brave men who do want to offer the Traditional Latin Mass are given pushback by their parishioners and their bishops.

The parishioners who actively resist the Traditional Latin Mass do so with such venom that it is hard to call them faithful Catholics. The Traditional Latin Mass has been around for the vast majority of the Church’s existence, the same Mass which has formed and sanctified the majority of those select few we can call Saints. It is obvious that they are either enemies of the Church or demonically possessed. I say this because if you mention the Traditional Latin Mass around them, they begin to squirm and become uneasy.

Meanwhile, the priests who want to celebrate this beautiful liturgy are faced with pushback from their bishops. These bishops, who have been entrusted with the care of souls, do more harm than good by denying his flock the graces found at this superior liturgy. Sometimes it is out of malice, and sometimes it is because the bishop is a deviant and doesn’t want the grace of God to be given to the souls entrusted to his care.

Many will argue that it’s about “the numbers.” Others will say there’s a lack of interest. But until the TLM is made available at every single parish, the Church will continue its downward spiral into chaos and anarchy.

The Novus Ordo is a different theology that embraces the people who are present at the Liturgy and places God as secondary. The Tridentine Mass is Catholic theology which embraces God and forces those present to recognize their sins and beg God for forgiveness.

Catholics today don’t want a Mass that will bring them closer to God to live a good and holy life. They want a Mass that will bring them into communion with their neighbor, complete with feel-good homilies from a pastor who tells them what they want to hear, how they are doing their best and God won’t judge them. This is why you can’t have the Traditional Latin Mass.

Jeff January 11, 2016 25 Comments Permalink

My 2016 Predictions

My 2016 Predictions:

Pope Francis will announce his abdication from the throne of St. Peter to be effective in 2017.
Pope Francis will release his Apostolic Exhortation in January. This Exhortation, which will be written based on the findings of the two Synod of the Family, will have wording that will make it allowable for those who are divorced, remarried, or engaging in homosexual behavior, to receive Holy Communion, based on their “conscience.”
The new Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis will be in the mold of former Archbishop Harry Flynn.
The new Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis will be against tradition and will work to undermine the progress of the FSSP, the TLM community, and the progress the seminary has made.
Hilary Clinton will be elected president of the United States.
I will blog more than The Old Evangelization.

These are it for now. If I think of more, I’ll add them.

Jeff December 30, 2015 Leave A Comment Permalink

My 2015 Predictions…How’d I Do?

With 2015 come and almost gone, it seemed fitting to look back at my predictions from the beginning of the year. Without further ado, I present to you my results:

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The Synod on the Family will be a complete and utter disaster. It will be so poor and awful, 2014′s Synod will appear as child’s play. The Synod of the Family ended up being a complete, utter disaster. The final document that was voted on by the Synod Fathers did not quote Pope St. John Paul II on how those who are divorced, remarried, or actively homosexual are not allowed to receive The Holy Eucharist. It also was revealed later on that the final document and the outcome of the Synod had already been written up months before the Synod. Those Synod Fathers who were petitioned to walk out said that they were needed and necessary to prevent further destruction from occurring. PASS.
Pope Francis will make several poor bishop appointments in the US which will promote liberals. Pope Francis appointed Father Robert Barron to be an Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles. While Bishop Barron has done a lot of good in the Church, he subscribes to several heresies that have been condemned by the Church. However, I do not know of any prominent liberals who were appointed, so I will have to give myself a fail here. FAIL.
The FFI will be further persecuted. Their case will either be left in limbo, or they will be accused of “heresy”. The ruling has not been passed on the FFI either way, although reports are circulating that the FFI was not found guilty of doing anything wrong, and all of their property must be returned immediately. FAIL.
Catholicism will further be suppressed from within and outside the Church. Tradition will be suppressed in all corners as much as possible. Pope Francis mocked Catholics all year, calling them rabbits and a slew of other insults. PASS.
The Traditional Latin Mass will grow in some areas, and will be hindered in others. I have not heard much of either the TLM getting smaller or bigger. FAIL.
Novelty will continue to be embraced as ” the only way to grow the Church”. Matthew Kelly books are being distributed still at Easter and Christmas. Rebuilt and Praise and Worship are being encouraged. PASS.
I will blog more than The Old Evangelization. PASS.
Pope Francis will no longer be Pope. As of this posting, Pope Francis is still the Pope, though there is some question as to the validity of his election, thanks to Cardinal Danneels. Psalm 108:8 “May his days be few, and another his Bishopric take.” FAIL.

This year, I managed to get 4/8 of my predictions right. 50% is not bad, and this was my best year, though, with some of these predictions, I don’t think I should be proud of that.

Jeff December 28, 2015 2 Comments Permalink

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