Home
About
Chant
Links
Graphics provided by Freefoto.com
Catholics in the Fresno area may attend a Latin Mass every Sunday. As our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI clarified in his 2007 motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, the traditional Latin Mass has never been outlawed and has always been permitted. Therefore, priests need no special permission to celebrate the Latin Mass, and Catholics need no special permission to attend it.
So, join us!
| Time: | 3:30 p.m. every Sunday |
| Location: | St. Anthony of Padua Church (Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel) 5770 N. Maroa Ave. Fresno, California 93704 |
| Priests: | Fr. Angel Sotelo, 1st and 3rd Sundays Fr. Matthew McNeely, FSSP, 2nd and 4th Sundays Fr. Mark Kristy, OCD, occasionally |
What can I expect at a Latin Mass?
Isn't the Latin Mass just the regular Mass said in Latin?
How will I know what's going on?
Why is there silence during some parts of the Mass?
Isn't it mostly just old people who attend the Latin Mass?
Does the Latin Mass fulfill my Sunday obligation?
One of the first things you'll notice, of course, is that the priest speaks Latin for most of the Mass. But he will repeat the Epistle and Gospel in English so that the congregation can understand them, and he will deliver the sermon in English.
You'll also notice that the priest faces the altar, rather than the people, for most of the Mass. This practice symbolizes the fact that the priest and congregation together are focusing on God rather than on each other.
If the schola (men's choir) is chanting, you'll notice that the music is much more serene and prayerful than most of the music you'll find in a modern hymnal.
Back to questionsA Latin Mass may run a few minutes longer than a Novus Ordo (new) Mass, but you will probably discover that time flies by. The whole Mass is a cohesive whole, with no room for innovation or ad-libbing. It may be the best chance you'll have all week to pray deeply to God without distractions.
Back to questionsNo. The difference between the two is more than just a matter of translation. The new Mass, commonly said in English, uses an entirely re-written missal. To compare, come to a Latin Mass and follow along in one of the red booklet missals you'll find in the pew. You'll see that the traditional Latin prayers have a unique richness, fullness, and beauty. The rubrics (special directions on what to do) of the Latin Mass are also different, calling for much more bowing and genuflecting to show our reverence towards the Blessed Sacrament.
Back to questionsFew people are fluent in Latin these days, so for some parts of the Mass, you'll probably have little idea what the priest is saying. If you want to follow along, you'll find a red Latin-English booklet missal in the pew. Keep in mind, however, that you don't need to follow every single word. As the priest prays, you can pray too by meditating on the passion of our Lord. Just be aware of what is happening on the altar and avoid "spacing out."
The congregation at a Latin Mass kneels and genuflects more than you may be accustomed to. If you get confused, just follow along with those around you. Other than that, the Latin Mass makes few requirements of your outward behavior. There's no hand-shaking or hugging when the priest says "Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum," and there's certainly no hand-holding during the Pater Noster (Our Father).
Back to questionsAt times, the priest prays very, very quietly. Because he is facing the altar, you may not be able to hear his words at all. Even if you can't hear, you can keep track of the parts of the Mass using one of the booklet missals provided in each pew. But if you attend the Latin Mass often enough, you will learn the parts of the Mass just by watching what the priest is doing. As he prays, you can pray for the Church or for your own intentions, or meditate on the passion of our Lord.
Back to questionsAt the Latin Mass, we follow the tradition of kneeling and receiving the Eucharist on the tongue, not in the hand. Of course, those who are physically unable to kneel are not required to do so.
Back to questionsYou'll certainly see some older folks at the Latin Mass. But you'll probably be surprised at how many young families you see. In fact, it's often the growing families in a parish who crave the Latin Mass most, because they want to raise their children with the beauty and clarity of the traditional Catholic faith. They're planning to bring many souls into the world and want the best possible environment in which to catechise them!
Keep in mind that when Pope John Paul II encouraged bishops to allow more widespread celebration of the Latin Mass, he did not stipulate that only people born before Vatican II could attend. Rather, he intended to make the Latin Mass available to any Catholic who wanted to enjoy its spiritual fruits.
Back to questionsAbsolutely. People who were raised going to the new Mass often ask this question, but when you think about it, it's an ironic one. The traditional Latin Mass was the norm for centuries and changed only very slightly over the course of many, many years. It has never been outlawed, nor is it a new fad or questionable practice.
The new Mass, by comparison, has been in use for less than 40 years. If such a new missal can be acceptable, then we certainly cannot question the validity of the Mass that for centuries nourished the souls of the great saints and martyrs! Both Masses fulfill your Sunday obligation, and there is no reason to doubt the authenticity or legality of the Mass that is our heritage as Catholics.