Sacred Then and Sacred Now: The Return of the Old Latin Mass

Although a very short book, it explains the Extraordinary form of the mass; it's nuances and objections, as well as the reason that Pope Benedict "brought it back." This is an excellent book which gave me a deeper love and longing for a regular TLM, as well as a more general "awareness" of the liturgy. There was a whole chapter devoted to a walk-thorough of the extraordinary form of the mass. I found this to be extremely helpful, as I have had the pleasure of living in an area which offers the mass according to the Tridentine rite on the first and third Saturday's of the month for the past year. Just being somewhat farmiliar with how a typical tridintine mass goes, I was able to easily follow along with the author and learn new terminology as well as why certain things are done and what their origins are. It made me appreciate the extraordinary form of the mass even more. At the end of the chapter, the author notes that his wife prefers the low mass because it is one of her few opportunities for quite reflection away from children. This is exactly the same reason I related to my wife recently why I like the extraordinary form of the mass; it is my time to be alone with Jesus in quiet solitude. One of the chapters dealt with many misconceptions about what Vatican II did and did not do. Some things that the council did not do was allow communion in the hand and allow female altar girls. Though I was aware of this, the author references the actual documents where these changes are in fact made. He then goes on to give a very compelling argument as to why a girl should never be an alter server. He also discusses the theological problems with extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion and how it can undermine the role of the priest. This chapter was a gem, steeped in thinking which has the mass a the propitiatory sacrifice as a backdrop for all his arguments. That is the problem with so much thinking today; no one really knows/cares/understands what the purpose of the mass is and hence, their thinking and conclusions that they come to is very bad. Here, however, you will not find that. The final chapter is devoted to answering many (stupid) objections that people raise, including why the priest "has his back" to the people (or is it audience?). The author points out how this question really makes it all about the person and not about God, and we are back to square one where people simply don't understand the purpose and nature of the mass. This chapter also deals with what TRUE participation in the liturgy by the laity is, as opposed to false participation that is often espoused by people. All in all, this book has given me an even greater frustration for the "new" mass, and a deeper longing to regularly participate in the Tridintine rite. It's funny the kinds of crosses and sufferings that God places in our lives sometimes. I'm more and more beginning to think that one of mine is not having the option of a regular, weekly TLM. Yet, as th

I'm 30 and just recently came across the latin Mass. I was looking for something to help me "translate" mentally from the ordinary Mass that I grew up with, to the extrodinary form. I've read a couple of books, and this one is the best. Some booklets are angry. Angry at the reformers, the reforms, etc. They gave me some useful information. Or some books assume you know nothing about the Mass period. So, they go over the real presence, etc, which I already know about. I just wanted to know about the actions in this form of the Mass. Why is the priest facing away from the people? Why Latin? Why do we kneel to receive communion? Why does the priest do this or that action? It also covers the history of the reform of the Mass over the centuries. What Popes have done what. It covers Ratzinger's concerns through all of it. It is also a medium difficuly to read. Not too hard, but not a cake walk. Very good book. I want to get a copy for all my friends.

As someone who is entirely new to the Extraordinary Form (the traditional Latin Mass) I was thrilled by this little book. If you are looking for a concise book that explains why the Pope's recent Motu Proprio was issued and what the results will hopefully be, this is the book for you. There is also an excellent brief chapter that walks one through the general outlines of the Extraordinary Form and how it differs from the way most Catholics attend Mass today. There is so much theological depth in the prayers, and the rite is so spiritually enriching, that I cannot imagine going back to the Ordinary Form (the new Mass) again. As a musician I have only heard Palestrina and Tallis as part of my record collection. To hear this music alive, (no I do not mean "live") in its living context of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is something I will never forget. I knelt in the pew holding my baby and I had tears streaming down my face the first time I heard it. Why have we been denied so much beauty these past 40 years? Why did we throw away the transcendent in favor of the banal? You haven't lived until you have heard Tallis' Mass in 4 parts during a living and real liturgy with the sounds of life surrounding you. My baby's cooing, another baby's crying, the transcendent beauty of the liturgy, the incense filled chapel, the beautiful music, the realization that we with the priest were orientated towards our GOD, Our Lord Jesus Christ, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, and that our prayers could be united to his as God worked a miracle through him right then and there, the mystical connection with our Catholic forebears who worshiped in much this way for over 2000 years, all this combined to almost knock me over. I was AWED. This book may help you understand why so many Catholics are confused by the liturgical abuses of today. Even though it is my personal opinion (I am just a member of the laity) that the Extraordinary Form is in every way superior to the Ordinary Form, this does not seem to be the opinion of this author, nor does it seem to be the opinion of our Pope, to whom we owe our obedience. Do not let my "converts" zeal for the Extraordinary Form put you off from this book. Even if you are dubious about Mass in a language we "cannot understand" and cannot fathom why Father would "turn his back on you" during Mass, it would be a good idea to read this book; it should not offend. It is humbly and carefully written as an introduction, nothing more. There is an excellent chapter that answers these (and other) common misconceptions about the Mass of Tradition as well. I have assisted at the Extraordinary Form just 5 times in my life, all of these after the Pope's Motu Proprio was issued. The experience has been life transforming. We have a growing family, having returned to the Church because of the beauty of the Church's teaching on sex and sexuality and we were incredibly afraid of the Extraordinary Rite when the Motu Proprio first came out, ev

Mr. Woods has provided a masterful defense of Pope Benedict XVI's motu proprio Summorum Pontificum and his reasons for issuing it. This little book is well researched and well laid out, offering a simple and straightforward explanation of the tradition supporting the extraordinary form of the Latin Rite and its relevance to Catholics today. In addition to the text itself, Mr. Woods provides several appended documents to aid the reader, including Pope Benedict's explanatory letter to the bishops of the world and the motu proprio itself. I heard about this book through Father Z's excellent podcast and had to buy it immediately - it was money well spent! A+

Thomas Woods wrote a thoughtful and useful survey of the restoration of the Latin Mass. For those who wondered what the conflicts were among Catholic Church authorities , this book gives a clear and concise explanation of these conflicts. For devout Catholics, these conflicts and differences were important. Non-catholics who may have an interest in the differences among Catholic authorities can learn something about the Catholic Faith and history. Mr. Woods presents the conflict in an honest historical perspective as opposed to the silly media accounts which betrayed the ignorance of many journalists. Pope Benedict XVI DID NOT AND DOES NOT plan to abolish the newer 1970 Catholic Missal which has been falsely reported. Mr. Woods explains that Pope Benedict XVI wanted to restore the Roman Missal (the Latin Missal)to those who wanted it and preferred the older Tridentine Mass. If priests wanted to use the newer liturgy, that was fine with Pope Benedict XVI. The conflict arose when some Catholic authorities wanted to get rid of the Latin Rite and abolish the Roman Missal and consign the Latin and Roman Missal to the Orwellian Memory Hole. In other words, those Catholics who were taught in the use of the Roman Missal and the Tridentine Mass were immediately separated from what had always been sacred to them and to the Catholic Church for centuries. Another issue that Mr. Woods discusses so well is the alleged "reforms" of Vatican II. Again the newer 1970 Missal was not the issue. What caused conflcit was innovation and trivialization of the Mass that resulted from misinterpretation of the 1970 Missal and "creativity" of making "reforms" which stunned many of the Vatican II attendees. They openly stated that what was done after Vatican II was not what these men intended. The Sacred Mass was turned into a circus. For those who are not familar with the Latin Mass, Mr. Woods has a chapter (chapter 3)which serves as a useful guide to the Latin Mass and the Roman (Latin) Missal. Devout Catholics can better understand both the Latin Rite and the newer Mass by reading this chapter. Serious Catholics will have a better understanding of the order of the Mass (Latin Rite or the newer from). Mr. Woods devides the Latin Mass and the newer Mass as the Extraordinary Mass and the Ordinary Mass. Readers can easily understand both the similarities and fundamental differences. Mr. Woods handles misconceptions and questions of the Tridentine Mass and the use of Latin. The complaint that younger Catholics will neither understand nor want the Roman Missal or the Latin Mass is not valid. This objection is refuted by the fact that many younger people are intrigued by the Latin Mass and do indeed want the Latin Rite restored to coexist with the newer Mass. Again, Mr.Woods is clear that restoration of the Latin Mass and Roman Missal is not designed to end the 1970 Missal. Mr. Woods has some interesting historical comments in this book. He has an interesting statement abo