I am so grateful to have started attending the traditional Latin Mass, because it is a beautiful and ancient form of worship that has been passed down through the centuries. It is said that, “When the Mass is celebrated, the veil that separates Heaven and earth is lifted and the altar of Heaven and that of earth become one. There, each attendee is surrounded by a supernatural world made up of angels and saints who praise and thank God.” This is so evident for me each time I participate in the traditional Latin High Mass because I feel such a deep sense of reverence and awe before the mystery of God. The use of Latin, a timeless and universal language of the Church, as well as the use of Gregorian chant music, creates a peaceful atmosphere of quiet and contemplation that allows me to focus on the sacredness of the liturgy. It truly is an amazing experience to hear the chanting music echo and vibrate throughout the church, like a symphony of angles glorifying God. My senses are heightened not only on the physical level, but also at the supernatural level.

By participating in the traditional Latin Mass, I also feel closely connected to the faithful fathers who founded the catholic church during the earliest days of Christianity. A deep sense of continuity connects me to the early church traditions of the past, which have been preserved and passed down for generations throughout history. The traditional Latin Mass is rich in symbolism and prayers that promote a captivating sense of veneration, which helps me to gain a deeper understanding of the liturgy as well as its power and meaning, thus deepening my faith. I especially consider it such a blessing to be able to receive Holy Communion on the tongue while kneeling in reverence. Back when he was known as Cardinal Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI once maintained that “the practice of kneeling for Holy Communion has in its favor a centuries-old tradition, and it is a particularly expressive sign of adoration, completely appropriate in light of the true, real, and substantial presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ under the consecrated species.” Also, I am truly honored to carry on the wonderful and sacred tradition of wearing a veil during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Here is an absolutely beautiful video entitled 10 Reasons To Wear The Veil, which provides ten inspiring reasons explaining the purpose and significance of why women today would wear a veil to attend Mass.  

Moreover, the traditional Latin Mass is celebrated in a way that promotes strong family values and fosters a wonderful sense of community. Reciting the customary prayers and responses in the Latin language helps to unite the entire congregation as a community of believers, regardless of our individual backgrounds or cultures. Today, many Catholics (especially young Catholic families) are rediscovering the beauty and richness of this liturgy, which warms my heart and gives me great hope for our younger generations. This long-established way of celebrating the Mass plays a significant role in shaping the minds and hearts of our children in particular, by inspiring them with a profound reverence for Almighty God, and instilling in them the virtues of humility, obedience, and adoring silence. The rituals of the Latin Mass fill their senses and imaginations with numerous sacred signs and symbols, all of which attune their ears to the Word of God and set their sights on heaven. Children are naturally very receptive to the language of symbols, since they learn more easily from watching people than from hearing spoken words. All of this is extremely impressive and gripping for those who are growing up in the Catholic Faith and learning the principles and teachings of our early church fathers.

Words cannot express the joy and wonder I feel at witnessing the large number of young boys and young men who serve as altar servers during the traditional Latin Mass. They are like angels and archangels who support and assist the priest, who is in persona Christi. I am greatly encouraged to witness the roles of fatherhood and motherhood being restored, because this serves as a shining example to the children. Whenever I attend the Traditional Latin Mass, I see sons following in the footsteps of their fathers and daughters following in the footsteps of their mothers – a young toddler peeks through the window of the confessional as he waits for his father; little boys are being trained by the men to become proficient altar servers; young men join their fathers by serving as ushers; young ladies wear lace veils and pretty dresses, sitting in quiet humility and reverence with their mothers during worship. At every Mass, we see babies fussing in their mother’s arms, fathers watching over little toddlers, and older siblings taking care of each other, all of which promise unity and integrity in families as well as in society. It is a heart-warming blessing to see large, young, Catholic families filling up entire pews, serving as a witness for the revival of family values again. As our beloved pope John Paul II once said: “As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live.”

Ultimately, attending the traditional Latin Mass is a transformative experience that has strengthened my faith and helped me to connect with the supernatural in new and meaningful ways. This form of worship has enabled me to grow spiritually and to deepen my relationship with God. It is my hope that you too will be inspired to attend a traditional Latin Mass in your local community, to experience this divine liturgy for yourself, and to discover the mass as it was celebrated by ancient church fathers in the earliest days of Christianity. For those who have never attended a Latin Mass before, I highly recommend using a missalette to help you follow along with the mass. I remember when I first started attending Latin Mass, I had no idea when to sit, kneel, or stand… my strategy back then was to just copy whatever the person sitting in front of me was doing! But once I began following along with the mass through the Latin-English booklet missal, I suddenly realized the immense holiness of this precious liturgy, and was swept away by the sacredness of it all. I would love for you to share in this sensation of wonder and adoration for our Heavenly Father.

Here is the link to the missalette that my family and I use:

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