So... I have had a constant pull on my heart to try the Latin Mass for a couple years now. I've been dragging my feet because I love my faithful Novus Ordo parish, and honestly I've had fears like, what if the people there are judgmental, what if my kids find it super boring and act out too much, etc. But there have been step by step changes occurring in my family that I believe have been God preparing us to go to the Latin Mass. We always struggled with getting to Mass on time, but now we've been regularly on time. I've recently become keenly aware of many dresses I'd worn to Mass that were not quite modest enough, and finally feel an aversion to wearing pants there. My 7-year-old son has taken up a very strong interest in the Mass and watches every single thing the priest does. He also has a strong interest in Latin and has been trying to learn some of it. My husband has recently delved much deeper into the faith and is very interested in trying the Latin Mass. We have a thriving TLM parish with many young families called Mater Dei just 15 minutes from our house. So I think it's time to go! I guess something else that was holding me back is being afraid of joining in with the mentality that the Church did something wrong by creating the Novus Ordo Mass... I don't want to be judgmental or holier than thou and think I'm somehow better than Novus Ordo Catholics, which is what I've seen A LOT of from TLM attendees, to be honest. I believe the Novus Ordo Mass can be beautifully and reverently done, too, and Jesus is there. And I believe the Holy Spirit must have had a good reason for allowing Vatican II to take place. Still, I can't deny this consistent tug on my heart I've had for years. I'm very drawn to tradition and love not only that it is the Mass celebrated for centuries, but that their priests do Eucharistic processions and Candlemas blessings and Epiphany water, etc. I believe the grace and protections from such things are stronger, more abundant. Please pray for my family, especially that my 1 and 2 year olds won't drive us back out with their noisy, rambunctious behavior, haha! I'd love any tips or experiences you'd like to share about TLM. Thank you!
Ite ad Joseph! Go to Joseph! Saint Joseph. That is who interceded for my family over one and a half decades ago and we were literally “prayed into” a Latin Mass community which is our family at this point. Same pastor/rector all these years, thank God! You will find that the TLM has built into it space— much, much room for prayer. You will see. You’re on a good path. Our Lady has plans for you and yours, it seems. Go with it! (One of the women who used to sing with us in our choir is an assistant music director down at Mater Dei, if my info is still current.) The most important thing (after prayer) is to focus solely on what you will be doing/experiencing. Don’t compare it to what you currently have. See it for what it is. God will do the rest. People are people and there are judging types everywhere you go. The only difference is the set of criteria by which any facet adheres. God bless you!
PF, Go for it. I remember our most noisy point: 5 kids in the pew (9 yrs. old down to nursing babe)! Your crew will fit in very quickly! Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
People in Latin Mass parishes are usually very spiritual, friendly, lovely, like St. Therese of Lisieux, have strict views but are kind like Padre Pio and most recognize they are sinners like St. Paul, most are humble and have large families, they strive to be like St. Joseph and Mother Mary whose annunciation feast is today. When I joined my Latin Mass parish last year people were warm and made us feel welcome and they love kids! The Legion of Mary even asked me if our family felt we were made welcome enough. Your kids will feel the calm and supernatural element in the Mass. They will see the reverence, they will perhaps strive to be altar servers or choir members, their spirituality will over time be greatly uplifted.
This is spiritual pride. One of the worst forms of pride. Should you encounter it, I suggest simply ignore it. The Mass of the ages, as the Latin Mass is called, is from God and speaks for itself. It is objectively the most holy liturgical rite, because of its tradition directly from the apostles and because it focuses on God in the Holy Sacrifice/Sacrament of the Altar, not so much on the people. The Novus Ordo Mass can be said reverently and beautifully, and I love that. I must admit, on some level, I even prefer Novus Ordo because it is so nice. But as Padraig often says, the Church of nice is a counterfeit Church in some ways, so care should be taken. That said, Novus Ordo is clearly valid as Our Lord himself confirmed through eucharistic miracles such as in Sokolka 2008 and Liegnitz 2013. People have attitude but they are not God. If I encounter pride or political ramblings, I ignore it. I focus on the Mass prayers, the sublime Canon, the Latin chants, the reverence, the incense, the holy people dressed so neatly and sincerely wishing to adore and to receive Him.
The Latin Mass can be an acquired taste take your time with it. But you seem to have a good idea of some of the problems. There often is a Traditionalist Narrative/ narratives, but you don't have to buy into any of them. Nevertheless I find a lot of things Traditionalists claim may well be true, sadly.
There are some little ones attending the FSSP Latin Mass where I go, and they get noisy enough the parents end up taking them outside. But this happens at all Masses, so it should not be any surprise it happens at Latin Mass. Jesus said suffer little ones to come unto Me. It is our duty as adults to endure the distraction with patients and gratitude to God for the blessing of little ones coming to get to know our adorable Heavenly Father and carry on the Faith after our time is done on earth. The little ones are the future of the Church. Have colourful little books with pictures of Jesus and the Angels, or children's Mass books for the children. That might help. God bless and take care of you and your family.
I will just add (from years of experience of witnessing this now) that it takes an experienced pastor to make things work. Over the years as almost a pattern, there have been parents of young families who don’t think they need to quiet their children AT ALL, EVER, nor take them out (we have a wonderful option where they can still see and hear the Mass set up for those times, mind you.) That is just not right. Very uncharitable to others trying to make it work. Mind you, there are PLENTY of little ones making their usual noises amongst us, but when they start to want it their way, out they go with a swoop by Mama or Papa, depending on the level of the outburst. But, those parents of small children who think it’s okay to stay in the church while those children are whining or crying loudly or consistently will either look at you with a deer in the headlights stare if you ask if they’d please temporarily take the child out, or they themselves get belligerent and walk off in a huff followed by a letter to the pastor for being improperly treated by unsympathetic old Trads. Well, those old Trads (and I don’t think I fall into that category just yet, lol!) were right. All should go into the building with an attitude to reverence the Holy Mass. The older people in our chapel are quite accustomed to the noise of young children and crying babies because they have been conditioned as we have so many, praise God! Our pastor does not tolerate those who are extreme on either side of this issue. To me, it’s all common sense. Believes it or not, one of those families has actually gotten better over the years because people who’s Mass was being consistently disrupted by the parents’ lack of cooperation have slowly but surely become more compliant. We are no longer the Enemy! Took years but it’s finally taken some hold, lol! (And mind you, it’s due to a cooperative effort of our pastor and us all. Things can and ARE done for love in TLM communities. Never allow stereotypes to color what good goes on in them.
If you have a good Holy Priest who prays a lot, it's not half the battle, it's all the Battle, the Battle is won. If you have a Good Holy Bishop the enemy flees in disarray. But try finding a good Holy Bishop....
When it comes to Holy Mass, whether TLM or NO, I think the situation with noisy families is similar. As a couple you need to draw a line in the sand; if the troublesome tot or child crosses the line, execute the preordained response. Both spouses and the children need to know where that line is so that adults don't fly off the handle, nor the kids be surprised by parental response. And being sensitive of others is part of it. Of course, we do live in an imperfect world, and stories are carried onto the next generation. When we attended the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in the '90s before moving north, somehow we would periodically end up in the pew, in front of or behind, the Flower Lady (she loved having flowers in her "hat of the day"). Invariably, at some point she would turn around and instruct us that our little Therese was beyond the thumb sucking age and "you should really do something about it!" Isn't life grand! O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Maybe a squalling, restless, obnoxious tot will be a holy priest. My son used to crawl under the pew while I was praying and bother the people in front by hitting their feet. They still like us.
