Christmas gift idea December 7, 2010
Posted by Tantumblogo in awesomeness, Dallas Diocese, General Catholic, Latin Mass, North Deanery.trackback
I’ve written before that I like to attend the Extraordinary Form of the Mass from time to time on Sunday’s. It would be great to have that form of the Mass available to attend anytime, but since it is still unfortunately rare in this Diocese, we attend when we can. Having said that, I haven’t assisted at many Traditional Latin Masses – only a dozen or so over the last several months. Particularly at first, it can be a bit hard to follow even with the aid of an English-Latin translation. In addition, there are a number of subtle and not so subtle differences between the Novus Ordo (Ordinary Form) and the Extraordinay Form. Why did those occur? Why is the EF/Traditional Latin Mass different? Why is the Mass construed as it is, at all?
These are fundamental questions, and, unfortunately, many Catholics today may not be able to answer them very well. But I received a book, by 19th Century priest and monk Dom Prosper Gueranger, that greatly explains the Extraordinary Form of the
Mass, why it is celebrated as it is, what all the prayers mean, and why the Mass is such an incredibly rich, Biblical, mystical experience, especially when celebrated reverently and with great love. The book is The Holy Mass, and it’s available through Baronius Press, many Catholic bookstores, and Amazon. It’s not a long book, about 200 pages, and it’s pretty small, so it is not onerous reading (I struggled through Augustine), but it is a very noble work, concisely and beautifully explaining the Order of the Mass, all the prayers, why certain things are said by the priest in the Extraordinary Form and some by the choir or the people. It also has great value for those who do not yet assist at Extraordinary Form Masses, as well as for those who may not even have an interest in doing so, as there are still many similarities between the Novus Ordo and the Traditional Latin Mass for the book to provide many valuable insights. I can already tell it will be a book I will return to again and again – there is so much good information, and its such an easy read, that it is worth returning to again and again, like The Imitation of Christ.
It’s reasonably priced. You may want to check it out!
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Wonderful! While I have only attended the Latin Mass a couple times this book looks worthwhile reading as I am interested in knowing the differences and similarities between the ordinary and extraordinary forms of Mass.
I have asked several priests of the diocese to please offer the TLM. Just one priest expressed interest in the TLM.
Unfortunately, he said that the diocese preferred that he refrain from pursuing his interest in the TLM.
I spoke to a priest who informed me that any Mass — Novus Ordo or Traditional — offered in Latin “opposed” his spirituality.
I bet I know who that priest who had the preference for is! There is something of a prohibition against Latin in the diocese. In fact, there is no surer way for a priest to limit his career, or even end it, than by offering a Latin Mass around here. We are very fortunate to have Mater Dei. That parish even existing is a miracle, but there is growing demand for either NO Latin or TLM in the northern part of the diocese, a demand that is not being met. I pray that someday it will.
Amazing to consider – ‘new age’ speakers can come in this diocese, to our parishes, and yet Latin is forbidden. We need the patience of Job…although, I think if some folks got together and started a chapter of Una Voce, it would help a great deal.
Thank you so much for this gift idea! I wish we both had more opportunities to assist at traditional mass. I live in Chicago and we don’t have daily mass either. I suppose people felt the same way during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in England. Oh what a privilege the mass is, what a sweetness, what an experience. I’m headed straight to Amazon to see if they have the book.
You’re welcome. I thought St. John Cantius had TLM every day? No?
Thank you very much for this information.
If you order 2 of these books from Amazon, the shipping is free.
[…] by tantamergo in Admin, awesomeness, General Catholic. trackback I made a recommendation for a Christmas gift in the form of a book last week, and that recommendation seemed well received, so I’m going to recommend a few more books […]