I still attend the Novus Ordo. :(
This is not because I like the Novus Ordo. Absolutely not. I think that for the sake of the souls of almost 2 billion Catholics that could otherwise possibly be saved not perishing because of a lack of options, the Novus Ordo is a valid rite. Defective, borderline-Protestant, but valid.
Essentially, I believe that if little Juan Gutierrez in Oaxaca lives a Catholic life, attends the sacraments and frequents confession for the remission of sins, he will not fall into eternal fire for a decision he has no say in. Most countries outside the US, Canada and Francophone Europe have poor, infrequent traditional Latin Mass options and even then, some will argue with you that because the Rite of Episcopal Consecration was used post-1968, even the FSSP/ICKSP some SSPX priests are not valid, which would cause difficulties in the sacraments and so on and so forth. It can and does get very convoluted.
I attend the Novus Ordo because one is 10 minutes from me and I believe with the Mind of the Church - that is, missing Mass on Sundays except for severe reasons is a sin. I do not have a car or driver's license because I never needed one until very recently, so I must get a ride. That is the only reason why. Oddly enough, it was actually a great parish last year. But now, I'm starting to realize the apathy in the people, even the pastor as I shift towards Traditional Catholicism.
Why do so many people receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord at Mass? The laity receiving Him in all his spotless glory is fine. If anything, it's joyous. The problem is...it's everyone, and I mean, everyone. Remember, brethren, we are Catholics and not Evangelicals. Evangelical Protestants, God bless them, are good people. I credit them with my finding of Our Lord and eventually His Church. The problem is their doctrine in "believe in Jesus Christ and be 'saved'." That does not work in Catholicism. We recognize the stain of original sin and realize that man is fallen. Man can and will sin, for the Lord gave us free will. When we sin mortally, we must go to Confession.
I am not judging those in the Communion lines. Not at all. It's just that when you consider the fallen nature of man and how often we sin mortally, you recognize the problem.
Another sign that they don't care is that Mass is being said irreverently. Is there some need to speed up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as if we have to board a flight in the next hour? A quick Mass is sloppy, disrespectful to Christ the High Priest and absolutely not needed. Yes, the Low Mass of the EF can be said rather quickly - "30 minutes or less" like some ad for food, but that's simply because certain items of the Mass can be omitted: e.g., Credo, Homily, Gloria (except on I & II class days) In this, there is no need though. A regular Sunday Mass, a High Mass if you will, must take time - time to avow in Jesus the High Priest in birth, life, death, to avow the beauty of the Blessed Trinity
There is no need for quick Masses, or homilies with worldly references. I want to hear Sacred Scripture referenced in homilies. Church Doctors, the Popes, the Saints. I don't want to hear about the bloody movies or something.
Sigh. Maybe I'll be going parish shopping. There's an FSSP parish, All Saints, and several TLM places here in the Twin Cities:
- Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale
- St. Agnes - St. Paul
- Holy Trinity - St. Paul
I need the Traditional Mass. Not something worldly. I can't attend St. Stephen's anymore. I feel worn out when I come out of the Novus Ordo, like I don't want to be there anymore. It's really hurting me. Sigh.
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