Assumption Grotto-Detroit

My Year of Faith journey continued with an evening Latin Mass at Assumption Grotto on Detroit's East side. Did I mention that this was the Tridentine Mass? Attending (I am reluctant to use the word participate) the Tridentine Mass made me suddenly understand Vatican II.

In today's Catholic church the Body of Christ, the congregation, participates in Mass. We recite prayers aloud as one body, we lift our souls to God as one body, we interact with each other as one body. During the Tridentine Mass, one is merely an observer, watching the priest inaudibly say the prayers and consecrate the host. As an observer of Mass I realized how important it is to be a participant. The holy Mass is just too important to just watch and God really does call us to participate. The next time you attend Mass be sure to seek out your neighbors hand during the Lords Prayer and perhaps sing just a little bit louder because we are all in this together.