MyCatholicSource.com - 'Quick Help' Page: Does One Need To Understand/Speak Latin To Attend The Traditional Latin Mass?

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It is not at all necessary to know, understand or speak Latin to understand and appreciate the Traditional Latin 'Tridentine' Mass, even though the Mass is said in Latin. Remember that Catholics of all ages and levels of intelligence have attended (and even understood) Mass in Latin – for most of the life of the Church – even though it was often not a language the people conversed in. Note that when attending this beautiful & incomparable Mass, it is easy to follow along in a Missal [which contains both Latin and English (or other vernacular language)]. You will note that the priest usually reads the Gospel & Epistle in the native language just before giving the sermon (also in the native language). Further, after attending the 'Tridentine' Mass for a while, it becomes easy to understand what occurs in the Mass. In a short while, like so many others, you may come to have a deep appreciation for the glorious and majestic Latin language – "the language of heaven". Note: It may also be helpful to gain a deeper understanding of why the Church has used the Latin language for so long. For more information on this topic, try here.

Also note that 'most persons' in previous generations understood the Mass (even though said in Latin) better than people do at present – some 70+% of Catholics today reportedly do not believe in the Real Presence even though Mass is commonly said today in the vernacular. Again, you do NOT need to understand Latin to understand the Traditional Mass. Remember that the Traditional Latin Mass was used worldwide, and was understood, even by children, for hundreds of years prior to the 1960's before the Novus Ordo Mass was introduced.

Did you know? It is still possible – thanks be to God! – to lawfully attend the Traditional Latin Mass. The Traditional Latin ('Tridentine') Mass differs from the 1960's Novus Ordo Mass in many & significant ways (try here for more information). To locate a Traditional Latin Mass in your area, try here.

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