[trebb]

It's interesting, because as a person without enough hearing to discern any spoken language, whether it be English, Latin, or Spanish, there's a power in the Latin Mass, whether it be NO or EF (truly like heaven is the best way I can describe it), which is missing in a not-fully-respectful English (or Spanish) Mass. Or as my husband said some time ago, "I struggle just to get through our usual [Novus Ordo without Extraordinary Form rubrics] Sunday Mass." He went on to say the two Masses felt almost like different religions altogether.

I think some of the allure comes from the impact of the "exotic" nature of the pomp and ritualism. That can feel nice, but for me I prefer to understand every word and the context of a new mass each time vs. the rote of the ceremonial.

I remember sitting in Catholic services as a child and being torn between the rituals and being lost in the mystery. Loved the smell of the incense, but missed the meaning behind the symbolism.

[mlizzy]

I should add, trebb, that the Gospel is spoken in both English and Latin at the lectern (priest facing people) and the Epistle is always spoken in Latin facing the altar, but also sometimes in English as well. Not sure why this is so, but some of the TLM is indeed in English. And the missal is there for that which is spoken in Latin only. And as informavoracious stated "The devil hates Latin," so maybe that's why the TLM is so heavenly; the absence of Satan. He's not given doorways to enter.

Have you been to a Traditional Latin Mass since your days as a kid?