Mary and Mother’s Day.

One of the last Baptist churches I preached at, had a special 'Mother's Day' service which included singing 'hymns' about and to our mothers. If I had suggested to these dear people (which I didn't) to sing hymns to Mary, they would have been horrified at the thought, even though the hymns they sang to their moms were not much different.
Mother's Day in fundamentalist churches is a BIG deal. For a preacher, to NOT preach a mother's day sermon is to put his job in jeopardy.
But of all the Mothers Day sermons I heard, not one was about Mary.
As Catholics, why not honor the Mother of God first on Mother’s Day and then honor the mother of our children?
Remember, O gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of Virgins and my Mother; to thee I come, before thee I kneel, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

Attending a Latin Mass

Nearly 25 years ago I sat bored at my parents Latin Mass parish. I didn’t understand the reason why I would want to go to a church in which I didn’t understand the language. I was restless for something different, and my journey into the abyss of fundamentalism began.
This past weekend, while on vacation, I attended a traditional Latin Mass at St. Boniface Church in Pittsburgh.
What a difference 25 years make.The first thing I noticed was the respectful and dignified attitude of the congregants, especially the children. After years of attending a pastoring churches that more resembled someone’s back porch than a place of worship, this was refreshing to see. People were well-dressed. This is important because our appearance declares God has worth and value. Children were not given coloring books or toys to play with under the pew, they were respectful and attentive.
A missal was given to me that had the Latin on the left side and the English on the right. Many times I became lost because I hadn’t heard a Latin Mass in so long. It was a High Mass, or Missa Cantata (sung) Mass. There was a dignity to Communion as we knelt at the Altar rail to receive the Body of Christ.
Many times I felt like a spectator, not a participant. Others were responding in Latin, a language I know but a little. Otherwise it was a wonderful Mass. My daughter, a new Catholic who grew up Baptist, was fascinated by it.
Why was the Mass in Latin before Vatican 2? The advantages of having the liturgy in Latin saved the integrity of worship for the day when it could be safely translated into the colloquial language of the people. It also gave a sense of unity to the Church’s worship in a time when the language and dialect of Europe was still evolving.
The Mass was like a diamond which needs a particular setting to show its value and its brilliance. The beauty of the Latin Mass holds magnetic appeal, not only for older Catholics who grew up with it, but for young people who search for true worship.