Discovering the Latin Mass

One of the most interesting developments over the past, very roughly, twenty years or so in the Catholic Church has been the renewal of interest in the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM). I’ve spoken to some people who would like to attend one, but run into some obstacles: availability is very hit-and-miss, depending on whether a TLM-oriented religious order like the FSSP has set up a parish nearby, and how friendly the local bishop is to the TLM. Even aside from that, though the TLM is clearly related to the Novus Ordo, it’s different enough that even pious Catholics seem a little intimidated by it. It reminds me a lot, in fact, of the uncertainty some non-Catholics I’ve known feel about attending a regular diocesan parish - what are these prayers? What are the responses? When do I stand, kneel, or sit? None of these problems are particularly big, really; in both cases, the answer is really just to attend and do what everyone else does. Nonetheless, it’s natural to approach new experiences with a little anxiety, and we often prefer to go with a friend who can gently offer some guidance. If you don’t know anyone who can take you to a TLM, don’t worry – Eduard Habsburg will be your friend.

Well, maybe not personally, but he has recently written a short book published by Sophia Institute Press, Discovering the Latin Mass: A Travel Guide for the Curious. When I say short, I do mean very short; just fifty-six pages. His goal is not to make you an expert on the liturgy. Rather, it’s more like a brief explanation you might get from a friend in personal conversation, and it gives you just enough information to have some idea of why you might want to attend, exactly what the TLM is, and what to expect when you attend one.

Since the book is so short, I won’t do an in-depth review, but will offer an outline. Eduard begins by discussing his personal experience, clarifying the terminology used to refer to the TLM and Novus Ordo, and giving an overview of what’s different about the TLM and why you may want to attend. In the next chapter, he outlines the history of the Mass. Again, the goal isn’t to write an in-depth history; he presents just enough information to give the reader some context for where the forms of the Mass came from. This is followed by the largest section of the book, working through the Mass part by part. This is probably the most useful chapter for most readers. If you’re reading the book at all, you’re probably already aware of the TLM and interested in joining, but the biggest obstacle for many is simply not knowing exactly what to expect. Here, he lays it out in simple, easy-to-follow terms.

The next chapter offers advice on choosing a missal and how to find a Latin Mass. This part includes links to a few websites, which is helpful at the moment but, the internet being an ephemeral thing, may end up dating the book in a few years. After this is a chapter entirely on “Attending Your First Mass in the Old Rite.” Finally, he spends a few pages on the benefits of attending the TLM regularly.

Discovering the Latin Mass is a very targeted book, and I expect it will be an effective one for its intended audience. If you’re part of that target audience, or know someone who is, it’s near-perfect. My only criticism is the price tag; the MSRP is $12.95 as of this writing, which is too much for a booklet. I received a copy as part of a promotion Sophia did earlier this year, in which sent five copies for only the cost of shipping. I hope they make similar promotions available in the future.