Words Like Locusts Flew From Her Fingers

The Latin Mass

Pope Considers Return to Latin Mass – washingtonpost.com
The pope’s plans are being welcomed by “traditionalist” Roman Catholics who are still in good standing with Rome. These Catholics simply prefer the Tridentine service over the modern one _ and their numbers are reportedly growing, particularly among the young for whom the old Mass is actually new.

I like the Latin Mass.

When the Mass is always in Latin, a Catholic can go anywhere in the world and still understand the prayers and the rite. It gives a person a sense of belonging — these are my people, no matter where they might live.

It adds to the feeling of the Mass being a special thing when a special language is used. It contributes to the sense of the rite being something outside of ordinary life.

When the priest faces the congregation, it makes the the Mass seem like something that’s done “to” us — when he’s turned facing the same direction as the rest of us, it suggests more strongly that the Mass is being done “for” us — that the priest is our representative.