Campus Catholics argue Latin Mass is worth the drive
Michael Mayday
Issue date: 1/29/09 Section: Focus
Freshman Danielle Rose said she attended a Latin Mass once for a wedding. Noting its length and language, Rose said she would attend another Latin Mass only for special ceremonies. For now, she prefers the Novus Ordo.
"You get more out of it, instead of going through the motions and not understanding what you're doing," Rose said.
Charles Le June, a former Hillsdale student, said the attendee doesn't need to understand what is being said.
"The whole point of the Mass is to gain those graces from the sacrifice," Le June said. "I mean somebody with an impaired intellect, somebody who's illiterate, somebody who is deaf can still receive those graces."
Spiotta agreed.
"It's not necessary for them to know what the priest is doing, because they know what the priest is doing in the larger sense," he said. "The priest is going before God."
Williams said most of the missals have translations for the uninitiated, but the chants are so short that most people can memorize them.
Most Tridentine Masses last about an hour to an hour and a half; however, Le June said he has attended Masses that have lasted from three to five hours during celebrations.
Spiotta referred to a quote by Pope Benedict XVI. The pope - then Cardinal Ratzinger - referred the Novus Ordo as "complete fabrication… a banal, on-the-spot product."
And they all agreed. Spiotta argued that liturgy is not invented. Instead, it is carried on.
"You get more out of it, instead of going through the motions and not understanding what you're doing," Rose said.
Charles Le June, a former Hillsdale student, said the attendee doesn't need to understand what is being said.
"The whole point of the Mass is to gain those graces from the sacrifice," Le June said. "I mean somebody with an impaired intellect, somebody who's illiterate, somebody who is deaf can still receive those graces."
Spiotta agreed.
"It's not necessary for them to know what the priest is doing, because they know what the priest is doing in the larger sense," he said. "The priest is going before God."
Williams said most of the missals have translations for the uninitiated, but the chants are so short that most people can memorize them.
Most Tridentine Masses last about an hour to an hour and a half; however, Le June said he has attended Masses that have lasted from three to five hours during celebrations.
Spiotta referred to a quote by Pope Benedict XVI. The pope - then Cardinal Ratzinger - referred the Novus Ordo as "complete fabrication… a banal, on-the-spot product."
And they all agreed. Spiotta argued that liturgy is not invented. Instead, it is carried on.
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Catholic on campus
posted 2/07/09 @ 8:54 PM EST
It's sad how confused these guys are about Mass. It seems that to them the most important part of the Mass is the form, and while the form of the Mass is certainly important, it is not the most important aspect of the Mass. (Continued…)
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