• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“If we do not love those whom we see, how can we love God, Whom we do not see?” Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

  • Our Team
    • Views from the Choir Loft • “Our Team”
    • Our Editorial Policy
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Saint Antoine Daniel KYRIALE
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Guillaume Couture Gregorian Chant
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Mass in Honor of Saint Noël Chabanel
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Is the Latin Mass Dead?

Andrew Leung · January 28, 2016

CTL Is the Latin Mass Dead 1 OU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD people said that “Latin is a dead language”. Some people would even apply that “theory” to the Traditional Latin Mass and say that “the Latin Mass is dead”. Do you think that is true? I think it is true in a sense, but not fully. The Latin Mass nowadays (this wasn’t the case before the Council) is very lively. One can easily find young and big families in the pews, and people participating fully and actively. However, it is also true in a sense that the Latin Mass is “dead”.

The “growth”, rubrical growth, of the Extraordinary Form stopped in 1962. Please correct me if I am wrong. But the rubrics, the missal and the liturgical calendar haven’t been developing since 1962. It is dead and we don’t have to worry about people editing and changing it. The recent change on the Mandatum Rite is a good example, the rite in the 1962 Missal is remaining unchanged. Likewise, other changes made to the Ordinary Form Mass will not affect the Extraordinary Form rubrically. This is one of the reasons why I like the Latin Mass.

The Ordinary Form of the Mass has been around for almost fifty years now, and it is still being changed every few years. Some of these changes are good and some are not so helpful. I don’t know about you, but I think making changes to the Liturgy constantly is kind of distracting and confusing, especially when the changes are not always good. In the future, the two Forms might become one and that may be the birth of a better Liturgy, but that would be another topic. For now, I found the Old Mass being very prayerful and it definitely help me to focusing on worshiping God and become holier.

CTL Is the Latin Mass Dead 2 HY DID I MENTIONED all that? Because I realize that many people are disappointed with some decisions that were made by our Holy Father recently. I want to point out that the Vetus Ordo is a possible solution if people find it hard to stay focused on God during the Liturgy. It is very important that we are able to pray the Mass. The Mass, both the Old and the New, is the ultimate sacrifice, the Sacrifice of Love.

God desires mercy rather than sacrifices (Hos 6:6; Mt 12:7). And one of the greatest commandments that our Lord gave us is to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mt 22:39). No matter what Form of the Mass we would preferred, love is always the greatest commandment. Therefore, we all need to be charitable to one another, even when we have disagreements. Let us not forget about love, which is what happen at every Mass. If rubrics is all we care about, what is the difference between the pharisees and us? Rather than criticizing the Holy Father, we can pray for him. Maybe we can spend some time with the Blessed Sacrament instead of arguing with a fellow brother or sister in Christ. No matter what happens, we need to pray constantly, and receive God’s grace through the Sacraments. That is how we can grow in holiness. And that is the way to become more like Christ.

Holy Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Schola Director Posts ‘Live’ Recording
    As I explained in my article posted earlier today, Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland is actually a Catholic tune (in spite of what some have claimed). The volunteer choir I direct sang that beautiful ADVENT melody last Sunday, and I invite you to listen to the live recording. It will get better the more we sing it.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Message from the Vice-President!
    The Vice-President of the Church Music Association of America, Dr. Horst Buchholz (who also serves as Director of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of Detroit) sent us an email yesterday regarding the harmonizations (PDF) I composed for the Gregorian Chant psalm tones. Dr. Buchholz says: “Those settings are absolutely exquisite, as I'm used to when it comes from you. Bravo! Well done! Now, as a sequel, if you could write something for accompanying psalms in English that would be awesome.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Requesting Our Advent Eucharistic Hymn
    A young lady named Agnes wrote to us: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, do you have the PDF score for Ave Corpus Domini set to the ADVENT melody? Last year, we sang the hymn tune “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” quite a bit using your contrafactum technique. My choir appreciates the Latin hymns and practice videos, especially in the ADVENT and CHRISTMAS seasons. Your recent article on Gregorian Psalm Tones is a great help to my organist brother, and reminds us of attending VESPERS years ago when we lived in California. Thank you so much for all the effort put into providing these wonderful resources!”   Agnes, if you are listening! Yes, the PDF file you desire can be downloaded for free at the Brébeuf Portal via this URL link. Thanks for writing to us!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“We decided to entrust this work to learned men of our selection. They very carefully collated all their work with the ancient codices in Our Vatican Library and with reliable, preserved or emended codices from elsewhere. Besides this, these men consulted the works of ancient and approved authors concerning the same sacred rites; and thus they have restored the Missal itself to the original form and rite of the holy Fathers.”

— ‘Pope St. Pius V (Quo Primum, 1570)’

Recent Posts

  • Schola Director Posts ‘Live’ Recording
  • PDF Download • “Lo! He comes with clouds descending” (Advent Hymn) — A Catholic Version!
  • Announcement of Easter & the Moveable Feasts • El Anuncio de la Pascua y Fiestas Movibles • 2024
  • Dr. Alexis Kutarna Shares Photographs of Texas Workshop With Composer Kevin Allen
  • Announcement of the Nativity of the Lord from the Roman Martyrology • Practice Video

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.