Yesterday I went to the cathedral for the monthly Traditional Latin Mass(TLM) ,organised by the LMS. As ever it had a sense of transcendence, aided by the careful ritual and language. Unfortunately in this part of the world it attracts very few people- I think there were about 15 there and only 2 looked to be under 50. On the plus side there was for the second month running a young man serving. You read about lots of enthusiasm for it elsewhere particularly among young people, but I wonder... Are reports exaggerated to keep spirits up? Photos taken carefully to hide the fact that there are scarcely any more people in the pews than on the sanctuary?
This morning, the usual Ordinary Form parish Mass. 200+ attending, usual enthusiasm for hand-shaking and marching up to claim your Host irrespective of your spiritual state. Then again, perhaps I live in a parish of saints. Oh dear, I'm being a sourpuss!
In fact I can live happily with both forms of the Mass. I would prefer more frequent opportunities to attend the TLM. I love the Latin, the sense of timelessness and connection to the past; one of the most memorable moments of the 2010 papal visit for me was standing in a cold, damp Cofton Park and hearing Pope Benedict's frail, cracked old voice intoning 'Vere dignum et iustum est..' and thinking- this is what Newman and the saints knew. But the point is really the Sacrifice at the core of the Mass and you can still apprehend that through the clutter and chatter of the OF if you concentrate. It's the Mass, however you dress it up.
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