The Return of the...

Latin Mass!!! Oh noes!!111

Everything Old is New again

This led to the introduction of the new Mass in the vernacular to make it more accessible to contemporary audiences. By bringing back Mass in Latin, Pope Benedict is signaling that his sympathies lie with conservatives in the Catholic Church.

Conservatives and the very old and Mel Gibson. Now, I like Latin. I like belting out Adeste Fidelis more than the next guy even, If the Priest really wants to make me happy, he’ll through out a little Latin every once in a while; But I like Mass in English. I like understanding what is going on around me and I do know my lines thank you very much. I mean Latin is a pretty language but so is French and I don’t speak french either and I wouldn’t go to a French Mass if it was offered, well. I would go once because it would be kind of cool, but, it wouldn’t be my first choice - unless, it was like the 10:30 Mass and then ... but they wouldn’t do that, they stick the foreign language masses at odd times. The Spanish Mass is at 2pm and the once a month Nigerian Mass is at 1:30, I mean, who goes to Mass at 1:30? You really have to want to go to that Mass. Is anyone going to really want to go to the Latin Mass more than once?

Vatican II took place before my time, but a little look see around Wikipedia had this to say about the banishment of the Latin Mass:

Vatican II went much further in encouraging "active participation" than previous Popes had allowed or recommended. The council fathers established guidelines to govern the revision of the liturgy, which included allowing the very limited use of the vernacular (native language) instead of Latin. As bishops determined, local or national customs could be carefully incorporated into the liturgy.

It makes it so the rest of us can participate or at least give the impression that we are participating. It also keeps the Church from becoming some sort of collectors item. Big and shiny and pretty, and having nothing whatsoever to do with the world around it. You know like the Royal Family or Barbara Bush - big and shiny and useless. The worlds gold plated door stops. We all like the Royals, all cute and quaint, like your Grandmothers dining room set. It’s not really your taste, but it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving with out it. And then you back to your place and eat her food in your room and really enjoy it because it’s your place and your furniture and you don’t have to think about chintz or plaid curtains or weird carved table legs. Nice enough, but not yours.

The Latin Mass would be a great museum piece, something to take your protestant friends to, something to make your fallen away co-workers who haven’t been to Mass since 1964 so they can remember why they stopped going. Do you think they’ll let the Priests face the congregation? how about bringing back mantillas? The young chicks will really dig that but If you’re going to go back you might as well go all the way. The Church doesn’t need to be relevant or anything and Church attendance is just sky rocketing as it is.


I’ve been to a Latin Mass. It was kind of cool, kind of retro, like a not at all interactive museum piece. Now, if they want to bring it back , they are going to have to help those of us more Liberal and significantly younger with our lines, Latin Pronunciation

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I watched 30 Rock. If you only have room for one "SNL inspired" show in your life, 30 Rock is not the one. Watch Studio 60 instead.