When Liz Lennon heard that the Latin Mass was coming back, she had to attend ”” even though she’s now a member of the parish vestry at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
“I was surprised at how much Latin I remembered,” she said. “… To be here for Corpus Christi ”” that took me back to the days of white dresses and processions and lilies.”
It’s a far cry from services in many Protestant churches today, especially those with contemporary worship.
But among younger Protestants, the trend today is toward recovering the rituals and worship of the primitive church ”” “ancient-future worship” ”” and the Tridentine Mass may serve a similar function for Catholics.
“I think it’s the tradition ”” the heart of who we are, really,” Lennon said. “That’s what we older Catholics came from.
“I guess I’m a sucker for ritual.”
amen- we have it on the last saturday of every month- and it has attracts people including the young. There is a profound sense of mystery about it that is a great aid to prayer. And our little books offer translation on opposite page so it is easy to follow
My wife and I were just talking of ritual:
how we both miss corporate Morning Prayer; Evensong; Compline; Chant, traditional and Taizé.
We much prefer it to modern praise music, or even some of the (unsingable) hymns and classical pieces at the services.
It’s not just the Romans who miss ritual and full liturgy. It’s Anglicans and cradle Episcopalians as well.
Peace
Jim Elliott <><
I have been to Episcopal services where not even the canticles are sung. Tragic!
#2
Amen!