She addresses the question by pointing out that the Traditional Latin Mass is God-centered and she calls it a perfect formulation of our faith: Lex orandi, lex credendi which translates, the law of praying is the law of believing.
She aptly describes the Latin Mass as being “bathed” in sacredness. She claims that the younger generation has a longing for this sacredness, that it’s an element that has been missing in their lifetimes. Much of what is critical in one’s religious life are absent from the Novus Ordo rite. For example, rich symbolism with clarity of purpose has been taken out and replaced with meaningless gestures. The priest faces the people, placing him “on-stage” so to speak. It centers on the congregation with the intention of providing satisfaction on a human level. In the Tridentine Mass, the priest faces the altar, where the re-enactment of Calvary takes place. The person of the priest is not regarded as important, instead the fact that he is acting in the person of Christ is key and his own personality becomes transparent. The attention is placed on the Holy Sacrifice which is taking place; von Hildebrand refers to this form of worship as being “vertical.” I like that way of describing it because it sets us in the proper position relative to the priest in the person of Christ and to our heavenly Father. It implies that we are raising our hearts and minds in prayer, which necessitates an elevated focus. On the contrary, if our attention is on the things around us – horizontal in perspective – it is not directed toward accomplishing the ends of the Mass which are adoration, thanksgiving, atonement and petition but instead it is misdirected toward surrounding distractions or even to ourselves.
It’s a blessing that many young people are attracted to the Traditional Latin Mass, they are the ones who will pass it on to the generations yet to come.
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