Expert: Fr. Michael - 3/20/2004

Question
Dear Father Moderator,

Here is a quote from a text called THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MASS SINCE 1960
http://www.latin-mass-society.org/leomass.htm

The new Mass was first celebrated in public in the Sistine Chapel on 24th October 1967 before the Synod of Bishops. Afterwards many of the bishops were very uneasy about what they had seen…Cardinal Heenan addressed the Synod the day after the experimental Mass had been presented and said he did not know the names of those who had proposed the new Mass but it was clear to him that few of them had ever been parish priests. "At home," he said, "it is not only women and children but also fathers of families and young men who come regularly to Mass. If we were to offer them the kind of ceremony we saw yesterday we would soon be left with a congregation of women and children."

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Whether or not you agree with him, can you please suggest what the Cardinal means here – why would men in particular prefer the Latin Mass?

Thank you

Charles


Answer
His point is that the Novus Ordo Mess is a silly, feminized counterfeit of "the most beautiful thing this side of heaven," as Fr. Faber called it.  The Traditional Latin Mass has been the inspiration for serious architects, artists, composers, writers, and theologians.  The Novus Ordo Mess is low comedy.

Silliness is generally repulsive to the masculine viewpoint, as it should be to the feminine.  Yet more women and children tend to go along with it, while the men stay away from it.  For examples of this silliness that is turning men away, see the Novus Ordo Service Photo Gallery at www.traditio.com/nos.htm