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I do not have the same memories regarding attendance in the Lutheran Church in the 50s. In fact, it was the best part of my existence, whereby the family got together to go something good, worship Jesus. I don't remember the part about no air-conditioning or no microphones. We were always comfortable and were able to hear Scripture, the choir, the sermon.

Here again, I am referring to the TLM which was the only liturgy celebrated in the Latin Church at that time. Imagine a small church packed with hundreds of people (SRO) on a hot summer day. A few fans whirled above to circulate the torpid air. The priest, without any microphone, is facing forward as he leads the congregation in their celebration of a liturgy in the Latin language. He is wearing heavy vestments which only add to his personal discomfort in the heat of the day. He rattles through the Latin (which we can't hear due to the lack of a microphone). Essentially, our participation at the mass is one of obligation ... not desire. It was not uncommon for older women to take out their rosaries and pray on their beads during the mass.

The TLM that you experience today, is held in an air conditioned church with microphones that enable you to follow along, even on the hottest day of the year. The beauty and richness of the liturgy, hence, come alive. Attendance, no doubt, does not match that of the NO mass and those in attendance have CHOSEN to be there.

I am just trying to put this into perspective of then vs now. About 10 years ago, someone suggested I seek out and attend a TLM in my community. I still had my missal and set off one Sunday to experience the beauty of the older liturgy. To my amazement, there were women praying their beads, the priest rattled off the prayers in Latin, the altar servers gave the responses, the choir sang and, as in the past, my participation was one of observer.

Still desirous to find a church where I could worship our Lord in a devout manner, I committed it to prayer and began visiting other catholic parishes in the surrounding area. That journey led me to a Maronite Catholic Church. The liturgy is chanted, incense is used throughout the mass and the words of institution (consecration) are in Aramaic, the language spoken by our Lord, the Blessed Mother and the Apostles. The parish community is small, making it an extended family. We all pitch in to ensure the well being of the parish and each other. Ultimately, like you, it fulfilled my desire to worship God in a reverent manner while sharing my God given abilities with the community. In that sense, we have both found the "pearl of great worth".

You probably mentioned it before, but I didn't remember you attended the Maronite Church. My apologies there. We have a Maronite Church only 5-7 minutes away. I'll have to ask my better half, if he'd like to go there someday to experience their Mass.

I don't completely understand the Tridentine Mass particulars, but we do take part in the Mass with responses. Are there different forms of the Tridentine? And as far as the "torpid air" (your vocabulary fondly reminds me of my late mother:)), it's a way to experience Mass like most saints did.

But all in all, I agree, it's great to find one's "pearl of great worth" indeed!