A “first TLM” note… brick by brick in Georgia

Here is a nice note from a reader:

Tonight, I attended my first TLM in approximately 46 years (I am 49).  

It was a beautiful Mass and I was filled with God’s love to the point of tears.  The Mass was celebrated at 5pm at Most Holy Trinity Church, just across the river  in Augusta, GA and the church was packed…about 500 people.  There was such joy after the Mass….everyone was smiling and asking when Father would be back.

As a "victim of VII", I am thankful that I have your blog to point me in the right direction and to help me finally begin to understand what it really means to be Catholic.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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6 Comments

  1. Charliebird says:

    Nice! Not knowing the history of the liturgical awareness and devotion of the Pre-VCII era tooooo well, I would like to suggest that, perhaps, and as a thought only, definitely not a suggestion of the intent of VCII, but perhaps God allowed the TLM to be “taken away from us” so that we would truly appreciate the divine power that resides in a reverently offered and reverently attended Mass. I suggest this after having a very similar experience to the reader, and seeing the effect the TLM is NOW having on priests and lay alike. Deo Gratias!

  2. Jaybirdnbham says:

    I’d second Charliebird’s comment, with a slight addition: as a convert in the 1980’s from a Church of Christ background, I really doubt I could have made the transition to pre-Vat.II Catholicism. Converting into a slightly “protestantized” Roman Catholic Church was likely the only way I’d have converted back then. But that said, it’s time to reclaim the TLM.

    Perhaps a good fruit of Vat. II has been that more Protestants have converted over the past 40 years than would otherwise have done. Maybe? (just a thought).

  3. wanda says:

    I, too, recently attended my first EF Mass in 40 years, because of Fr. Z. and this amazing blog. The Pastor at our Parish (he is responsible for 2) has been un-benownst and quietly, celebrating Mass in the EF – on his day off, in a small chapel in the other Church. I was awestruck. It was beautiful, familiar, strange, holy and so much more. The Mass is at 7:00 a.m. on a weekday morning and the little chapel is starting to be crowded as word spreads.

    I was in my teens at the time of VII but it didn’t cause me any great difficulties, perhaps because (I’m not positive, memory, you know) in the Catholic school I attended we received a little extra preparation for the coming changes.

    I’ll tell you the truth, if not for Fr. Z.’s blog, I’m not sure I would have had any idea how special this Sacred Liturgy is, I’m not sure I would have wanted to attend, even if I knew the Mass was available.

  4. Del says:

    Please don’t blame the Second Vatican Council for the abuses that happened after. The more I study of the actual documents of Vatican II, the more I am convinced that the Holy Spirit truly does lead our Church.

    I fully agree with Fr. Z’s comments on Pope Paul VI’s address on the vernacular Mass. The history of Liturgy since V-II is both rich and sad.

    Rejoice that we are in a springtime now, with the new (correct and transcendant) translation of the Novus Ordo coming fast, and also the return of the TLM. Our sacred worship is redeemed! Benedicamus Domino!

  5. New Sister says:

    Dear First TLM Sister – I experienced the same thing at my first TLM in 2008. I was 41, and never before had my heart and mind been so prepared to receive our Eucharistic Lord…I recall trembling as I approached the altar rail, knowing I was beggar unworthy of the Gift. Deo gratias! Therese

  6. moon1234 says:

    Rejoice that we are in a springtime now

    I think we are still in winter with a just a few hints of spring poking thru. When the TLM takes over as the ordinary then we will have a true sprintime in the Church. Until then, the new translation is just that, a new translation. When the made up liturgy is replaced with the traditional and only organic changes are possible, then a true springtime, a return to a hermeneutic of continuity will be possible.

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