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Some of us lived through the last times of the Latin Mass and the first times of the New Liturgy in the languages of different countries. Some of us were born after the change. Do you have any remembrance about this that you want to share with us?

I grew up with the Latin Mass, and the Novus Ordo came about when our three children were not yet in elementary school. I always loved the Latin Mass, and as a student in Catholic schools studied two years of Latin, which was valuable in itself--made learning Spanish and French easier, made grammar more understandable, and contributed to vocabulary building (helped SAT scores).

More importantly, the Latin Mass created an atmosphere of reverence that changed with the NO masses. Missals had parallel pages with Latin and English side-by-side. When I was very small, I don't think parents had as hard a time keeping us when we were small children from disruptive behavior as we had with our own three. I know for sure you would not have seen parents bringing the contents of their child's toy box or toddler literature to "read," much less baggies of cheerios or other snacks to keep them quiet.

What I'm seeing as an adult are efforts to restore the reverence--much of the music of the "guitar masses" (one of the kinder terms for the folksy NO hymns) is in recent years mellowing out--and many of the old hymns (even the Protestant ones) have become part of the repertory, and some parishes have returned to chanting by the priest and responders. Gregorian chant is heard outside our adoration chapel and during our Lenten and Advent group confessionals.

And Irving, TX has an SSPX parish that is exclusively Latin, and primarily attended, surprisingly, by young families who did not grow up with the Latin Mass. Even in our parish, women are beginning to show up with heads covered, mantillas are back in style, and so, it seems, is modesty. But the Vatican is not pleased. Go figure.

Writing about why he goes to Mass at Christmastime, a nonbeliever says, “Awe seems to overtake us and, for moments at least, makes us feel fully present, aware of the moment and not of ourselves. It makes us feel closer to others and even more open to the idea that the universe has a hidden order or meaning. . .

“Awe can feel closer at Christmas, even for nonbelievers, since it’s a time when church services are more elaborate and mystical than usual. At a Catholic Church, midnight mass on Christmas Eve is filled with the resonant sounds of choirs. Prayers are chanted in unison, sometimes even in Latin, which lays bare their timelessness. . . �

(David DeSteno, professor of psychology at Northeastern University, remembering his days as an altar boy, from an article in the WSJ, 12/23-24, 2023.)

Wow. Thanks for sharing this, Frances

Madeleine, the Irving parish is FSSP � my family attends and all else is exactly as you say!

My husband is a revert and although his parents still attend (NO masses), his siblings and the rest of his extended family left the Catholic Church. Poor catechism played a part.

Kristi, I'm sorry I didn't know the difference. I have some learning to do if I can get my husband to attend a Mater Dei Mass. He grew up with Latin Mass too, but didn't study Latin in his Catholic high school in Mississippi.

Frances, the last time we tried Midnight Mass it was standing room only and since then is always one of the most crowded. Even the early evening Christmas Masses take up both the main church and the large assembly room. All are beautiful.

Kristi, my middle-aged children left the Church once they were on their own. When they were growing up we lived in St. Luke parish which had a notorious pedo priest who was still there when my kids were in CCD. We moved to Holy Family when they were all in elementary school and didn't find out until they had children that another pedophile was the priest in charge of confirmation formation. The kids did not like him and now we know why--kids sense things and can't always talk about them. Our pastor there also left the priesthood to marry. Not surprising with such leadership that my kids didn't stay faithful. St. Ann's in Coppell is a huge parish, but has amazing attendance and we have been blessed with wonderful priests. Our current pastor grew up in the parish and his mother is in our Bible study. Everyone who knew him when was excited to have him back--great homilies and creative penances in confession (the confession lines 5X a week are LONG! But I'm a lifelong member of St. Monica's fan club, and will never give up on their reversion.

I came into the Church post-Vatican II (1972) and love the sense of community and participation (I love the word "assister" in French). Years later when I went to a Latin Mass (to write an article for our diocesan newspaper), I was mystified by its appeal to young families. Most of what the celebrant said seemed to be muttered between him and God, difficult to tell where he was in the Mass despite my familiarity with the way the Mass progresses. When the choir chanted, they didn't seem to be at the same point in the Mass as the celebrant. And so much less of the Scriptures is proclaimed during the liturgical year.

Dr. DeSteno, in my comment (message 3) above, touches on what we who experienced the Latin Mass miss:

‘’Awe . . . Prayers chanted in unison . . . Sometimes even in Latin, which lays bare their timelessness�: that sense of the transcendent was lost with the shift from Latin and Gregorian chant. In our parish the choir director has reintroduced the Kyrie, the Agnus Die, and other Latin chants. I think the liturgy may still be a “work in progress,� blending the best of the old and the new, because there is no denying the beauty and sincerity of Jill’s regard for “the sense of community and participation� she finds in the the new Mass.

Frances wrote: "In our parish the choir director has reintroduced the Kyrie, the Agnus Die, and other Latin chants."

I love these chants from our tradition, but the Kyrie is Greek, a look back to the Church's original liturgical language prior to the 4th century, when in the West it changed to Latin.

I grew up during the transition and remember the missals with side by side Latin and English, altar rails, walking back and forth holding a paten under kneeling communicants as the priest (and, of course, only a priest) administered communion. But I have no recollection of Mass being celebrated ad orientem, and though an altar server at two different parishes growing up, I never learned any Latin, which I regret.

Thank you, John, for the correction on the Kyrie. Regarding Latin, do you remember if it was taught in your parishes� high schools? I don’t remember when Latin began to be phased out, and maybe there was no set time, and it differed from school to school (because it was offered in the public schools, too, where I grew up).

Frances wrote: "Thank you, John, for the correction on the Kyrie. Regarding Latin, do you remember if it was taught in your parishes� high schools? I don’t remember when Latin began to be phased out, and maybe the..."

I attended public high schools, so don't know. I think it was offered as an elective at St. Thomas Academy where two of my brothers attended. At least they've never shown any sign at having more than casual exposure.