Posted on 07/30/2007 2:16:05 PM PDT by maryz
What, “Immigration” wasn’t a high-falutin’ enough title? LOL!
???? TLM’s aren’t that easy to find or (usually) that conveniently located — and they last longer than a Novus Ordo Mass. Plus people actually dress in their “Sunday Best” for them. Odd approach to take for the easy way out!
“as little effort as possible”? Sounds like you’ve never been to Mass in the extraordinary form! First, a youngster would not dare show up in his usual jeans and t-shirt, so preparation and thought is involved beforehand, also he needs to bring his missal, and then there’s some online shopping to do if you’re a girl who wants to wear a veil. Then if he plans to daydream or doze, forget it with that well-trained schola booming out every few minutes. And if he lets his attention wander for a moment, it’s a frantic scramble to catch up with the right page, as he’s hearing Latin and trying to read it and the English simultaneously. And he better not think he can passively sit back and just observe, with sitting, standing and kneeling changing quicker than a military drill. Then just when he thinks he’s adjusted, he gets sprinkled with water, or almost chokes on a waft of incense. Ah, finally at the homily the priest is talking English, maybe there’s time to let the mind wander...until a few disturbing words about hell or concupisense penetrate the consciousness. Then he starts to really think about the state of his soul and reflect maybe he could use some of this God’s mercy stuff...oops, back on his feet again! What is happening now? There are altar boys going to and fro, oh, now everyone’s kneeling, bells are ringing, then dead silence, oops wait, now there’s that chanting again....and so it goes, a whirl of sensations and symbols and powerful unexpected feelings. But don’t worry, after a few times going through this, it falls into place and makes sense, and then he really understands the great profundity of it and sincerely desires to put all his effort into in, despite his intentions in the beginning to just take the easy way by going to some old boring ritual.
Hmmm. Maybe they will have to wear a scarlet "T" to identify themselves.
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