The Secret Of Latin Mass and Divine Liturgy

Here is a video that has been making rounds on Catholic Twitter. Shia LeBoeuf is an actor who converted or returned to Catholicism. LeBoeuf speaks with Bishop Robert Barron about his love for the Latin Mass. He says, “Latin mass affects me deeply. Deeply.” Bishop Barron questions why. LeBoeuf said, “Because I feel like they aren’t selling me a vehicle.” Watch:

We did not have “#ShiaLaBeouf becoming Catholic thanks to celebrating the Latin Mass in a movie role as Padre Pio” on our 2022 Bingo card, but we are moved and touched by it.

Deo pic.twitter.com/q0HSczUV1v

— JuventutemDC (@juventutemDC) August 25, 2022

I was not a Latin Massgoer during my 13 years of Catholicism. Although I attended a handful of Latin mass services, I never felt the need to attend them. Because of the availability of Latin mass, I’ve always supported it. It is beyond my comprehension why Pope Francis would be so determined to destroy this sacred rite of Catholicism. As a Catholic I could see why this rite affected so many people and wanted to ensure that they had access. It left me feeling cold.

For me, the most important thing was my first Orthodox Divine Liturgy. It doesn’t feel like an actor trying to convince you, but rather like you are getting into something very special. Because I have been an Orthodox Christian for sixteen years, I am able to recognize the legitimate feelings of Catholics about the Latin Mass (and not about the current Novus Ordo masses). This feeling of liturgical beauty, spiritual transcendence, and a sense that I could feel when I first began to attend the Divine Liturgy was what I had hoped for after I converted in my twenties to Catholicism.

It is something profoundly — profoundly — unlike common worship in the modern world. The Divine Liturgy in Orthodox churches is usually said in the native language. It is possible to find the Divine Liturgy in Greek and Slavic languages in the US. However, most of the time, the Liturgy in English. However, the translations are not as “flat” as modern Catholic Novus Ordo masses. The first Liturgies were the most confusing for me. The liturgical format of ancient churches is followed: the liturgy for the Word and the Eucharist. It’s not the same as the Western model, so it can be confusing.

That’s fine. This is a great strength. Since its inception, the Divine Liturgy is unchanged. Because it was organized in Constantinople, under Chrysostom’s patriarchal leadership, in the first half of the fifth century, “The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom” is its name. It is an ancient tradition. It is not to be messed with. You shouldn’t be trying to make it conform to your needs. It calls out to you and invites you to become one with it. This is a strength. We live in an era where everyone is selling you something. Everybody, including many churches, wants to make it easy for you to sign the contract so that they can sell the product. The Liturgy says: This Christian life is hard, but it is beautiful, and it is a pearl of great price. You will be able to go places that you couldn’t have imagined if you surrender to Christ, as the community worshiped him over a thousand years. Get involved, leave your self behind and you will be lifted up to heaven.

It does. Although it is not an easy task to “get used” to the Divine Liturgy you will soon wonder why anyone would worship any other way if that is Christian worship. All of the elements that bring us closer to God are the prayers, chants and prostrations. Liturgy, though it is an extraordinary thing, has no place in this world. Everyone I know should come see it for themselves. But be careful: Once you’ve seen it, it is impossible to unsee it. For many, it may prove difficult to return to modern worship.

Here in Romanian an Orthodox Bishop chants The Epiclesis. This is the portion of the liturgy where the priest summons down the Holy Spirit and transforms bread and wine. These are the words that the priest uses to pray in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chysostom:

Again we offer unto Thee this reasonable and bloodless worship, and we ask Thee, and pray Thee, and supplicate Thee: Send down Thy Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts here offered.

And make this bread the precious Body of Thy Christ. (Amen)

And that which is in this cup, the precious Blood of Thy Christ. (Amen)

Making the change by the Holy Spirit. (Amen, Amen, Amen )

That these gifts may be to those who partake for the purification of soul, for remission of sins, for the communion of the Holy Spirit, for the fulfillment of the Kingdom of Heaven; for boldness towards Thee, and not for judgment or condemnation.

Here’s a Romanian bishop praying the following words in his native language:

This Sunday, this is the Orthodox Church. This Romanian bishop’s voice is beautiful, something you won’t find in every church. This gives one a true sense of Orthodox worship’s holiness.

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Here is a well-known performance, in Aramaic, of Psalm 53, offered as a gift to Pope Francis when he visited Georgia a few years back. It isn’t a liturgical moment but it is the true sound of Eastern Christianity. This is a wonderful gift for the universal Church. This choir is composed of war refugee Christians from Syria and Iraq.

Liturgy matters! It matters how we pray! God will accept all genuine prayer. However, liturgy is the sacrifice we make to God. You must make it beautiful. It is through it that the Most High transforms bread and wine as well as us.