Fr. Nicholas Milich is the pastor of St. Rose of Lima in Ephrata, Washington and was gracious enough, and at a very busy time of year, to give us an interview about what the Traditional Latin Mass means to him as a priest and what it means for the Church. I think you will agree that his answers are eloquently expressed and show a beautiful insight and understanding.
The word "Ephrata" may sound familiar to you. It is another name by which the town of Bethlehem is known. And I understand that the hymn "Veni Emmanuel" was traditionally known as "Ephratah".
Fr. Milich offers that Traditional Latin Mass 4 times a week. For information about the schedule at St. Rose of Lima Church, please call the parish phone number at 509-754-3640.
Part I of the Interview:
1. Fr. Milich, what does the Traditional Latin Mass mean to you as a priest and how does it reaffirm your priesthood?
Fr. Milich responds:
"I have come to depend upon the traditional Mass. It is my anchor, and it is my constant challenge--can I live up to what this Mass requires of a priest? Saying this Mass is like a daily examination of conscience. Somewhat like the traditional breviary, I believe, the traditional Mass is a rampart against challenges to our vocation. Beyond that, way beyond that, really, way beyond my own feelings, there is an objective quality to the older Mass. This is our RITE. And the rite itself is holy. When you enter into it, you leave yourself behind, you enlist in the work of the communion of saints. It may be that others have that experience with the Novus Ordo. For me, the Older Mass has been necessary."
2. What would you say is the most striking difference between the Novus Ordo and the Traditional Latin Mass?
Fr. Milich responds:
"It may be that the most striking difference is that the Traditional Latin Mass is "prayable." Unless the Novus Ordo is offered privately, it is almost impossible to pray the Mass as I should. But even offered privately, the Novus Ordo simply does not seem to offer such a powerful contemplative plane, on which you can rest and commune with the Lord for a few moments. I am sure there are persons far holier than I am who can pray the Novus Ordo easily, but I need the older Mass. If that's a weakness, I accept it and give thanks to God for His gift of this Mass."
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Fr Milich responds:
"I think the biggest surprise for someone new to the Mass
would be the silence, the profound, unremitting, but acutely focused silence is
a bit of a shock. We don't know what to do with silence in our culture.
The Novus Ordo calls for certain moments of silence, but they seem like
add-ons, which are neither necessary to nor adequate for the particular culture
of the Novus Ordo. The Novus Ordo wants to speak--it seems that it was designed
as a teaching tool. The older Mass does not apologize for being a sacrifice.
And before a sacrifice there is only awe. And silence."
4. Can you give some biographical information about your childhood, family
life, your vocation, seminary training and how you discovered the Latin Mass?
Fr Milich responds:
I grew up with the older Mass, and
my very saintly Croatian grandmother would take me by the hand and walk me to
church almost daily for prayer. I fell in love with the Mass and with the
Lord's dwelling place. Meanwhile, I wanted to be a priest, but my Croatian
father would have nothing of it. Then, when I was a teenager, the New Mass
arrived and I thought it was pedestrian, that the language was silly at
best. In time, I did come to accept it, but--and I don't think this is
accidental--my desire for the priesthood had waned. Two decades later, I found
that my vocation had never completely disappeared. My seminary training was
very decent, but was thoroughly Novus Ordo in its format. I tried to find
training in the older Mass but no one could help me. So after ordination, I
began to study on my own--not just the Mass, but the older theology, the things
that had been overlooked in the seminary. I honestly feel that compared
to some other fairly recently ordained priests, I did get a respectable theological
education, and no one stopped me from doing independent study on my own. But
there was a wholly beautiful theological landscape out there which I had only
glimpsed from afar. It became apparent, over time, that it IS the theology of
the Mass, that it is all of one piece, one
seamless garment."
5. What do you think the future of the Latin Mass is in the U.S.?
Fr Milich responds:
Only God knows the answer to that. I rather
suspect, though, that God is at work, answering the prayers of his faithful
ones, and hearing the perhaps unarticulated cries of so many who long for the
sacred. My hope is that within a generation, the Traditional Latin Mass becomes
a somewhat normal and expected form that will help re-catholicize our
people. So much depends on our bishops. Their role is crucial. My
own bishop is a good man. Although he is not himself involved with the
older Mass, he has listened to me over the years. He also allowed me to offer
the older Mass privately and to be part of a team which offered Mass at our bimonthly
indult site. For that I am grateful. And when the Motu Proprio came out,
he, unlike some of his colleagues, did recognize that is the law of the Church.
We desperately need bishops who will support priests with a love for the
traditional forms. If they do that, they will find some surprising
rewards--including a big upsurge in vocations.
Part II of the Interview with Fr. Milich will be published tomorrow.
Great article. What a blessing this priest must be to his parish. I can't wait until part 2.
It's very encouraging to see the grace of God at work. I'm sure there are a lot of other priests who are searching for a deeper spirituality than what is offered by the Novus Ordo.
"And the rite itself is holy. When you enter into it, you leave yourself behind."
This exactly captures my own sense of the Traditional Mass. I wasn't quite a teenager when the new Mass arrived, but I recall the fading sense of holiness. Holy things give you a sense of proportion between you and the great God, and you must "leave yourself behind" to appreciate the perspective. In contrast, the new Mass encourages you to "be yourself," which militates against the higher perspective.
Thank you, Father, and may God bless your work.
Father Nicholas Milich of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Ephrata, Washington is one of the finest men (besides my own father) I have ever met. Unfortunately, he has been banned from saying the Latin Mass to the school children who attend St. Rose of Lima School. My nephew attends St. Rose School and he knows the "Hail Mary" in Latin. I find it very sad and unfair that Father Milich has been ordered by Bishop Sevilla to NOT celebrate the Latin Mass with the St. Rose of Lima School children. The Principal of the school, Mr. Jon Lane, along with Bishop Sevilla were adamant about teaching the children the Traditional Latin Mass. How sad and unfair! The students of St. Rose of Lima School are being denied a very important part of our religion...however, my nephew attends St. Rose of Lima School and as a Kindergarten Student he knows the "Hail Mary" in Latin. He prays it constantly. He loved the Latin Mass, as did his schoolmates. Then, suddenly, the Latin Mass was taken away from them. I attended St. Rose of Lima as a student in the 1960's and the Latin Mass was celebrated often. We loved the Latin Mass! Now that we are older and have children of our own, we find it despicable that Father Milich has been ordered to stop saying the Traditional Latin Mass to the school children. My five year old nephew was very upset when the Latin Mass was ordered to be stopped by Bishop Sevilla. These children are missing an integral part of the Catholic Religion. What a loss for these students.