A new study on the topic of beliefs over basic Catholic tenets was released in February 2019. It compared the beliefs of Latin Mass attendees to their Novus Ordo-attending counterparts. The findings, though disturbing, can hardly be considered surprising in this day and age.
We are entering the third generation of Catholics since Vatican II, who have not been catechized in their Catholic faith. The Catholic faith is intended to be a prescription for holiness, meant to sanctify its followers, so they can become saints. Sadly, a low number of people are taking the medicine.
Increasingly in the last few years, Catholic parishes offering the Tridentine Latin Mass have seen their populations grow. People are waking up to the fact that mainstream Catholicism, complete with the Novus Ordo, just is not a machine producing sanctity. Many Catholics who want to be intentional about practicing their faith are becoming Latin Mass attendees.
METHOD FOR THE SURVEY STUDY
Fr. Donald Kloster of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Norwalk, Connecticut offers Mass in both the Novus Ordo rite and in the Latin rite. In his 20+ years of offering both versions of the Mass, he noticed a discernible difference in the beliefs and piety between the Novus Ordo crowd versus the Latin Mass attendees.
Fr. Kloster put together a survey study to see what, if any, statistical differences there were in beliefs between the two groups of Catholic worshipers. He collected survey data between March 2018 and November 2018, collecting 1322 respondents. He had surveys conducted in the pews of Catholic Churches in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, New Hampshire, and Texas. He did an online survey, as well, getting responses from these states: Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
SURVEY RESULTS
For those with eyes to see, here is a summary of the findings for Fr. Kloster’s survey:
-Approval of contraception use:
Latin Mass Attendees – 2%
Novus Ordo Attendees – 89%
-Approve abortion:
Latin Mass Attendees – 1%
Novus Ordo Attendees – 51%
-Weekly Mass Attendance:
Latin Mass Attendees – 99%
Novus Ordo Attendees – 22%
-Approval of Gay Marriage:
Latin Mass Attendees – 2%
Novus Ordo Attendees – 67%
-Percentage of Income Donated:
Latin Mass Attendees – 6%
Novus Ordo Attendees – 1.2%
-Annual Confession & Weekly Mass Attendance:
Latin Mass Attendees – 98%
Novus Ordo Attendees – 25%
-Fertility Rate (number of children in family):
Latin Mass Attendees – 3.6
Novus Ordo Attendees – 2.3
IN CONCLUSION
The results speak for themselves. Latin Mass Attendees are serious about their faith, seek to receive good moral direction, and so are holding to the proper moral positions. Just 22% of Novus Ordo Catholics even show up to Mass on a weekly basis, and even those that are cannot be counted on to believe as the Catholic Church teaches.
I have heard it said that Protestant churches get the worst Catholics. (Meaning, those who, generally speaking, never were taught, and/or never accepted the teaching of the Catholic Church.) Whereas, the Catholic Church gets the best Protestants. (As in, Protestant converts, generally speaking, come into the Catholic Church because they are seeking the truth and are fired up for having found it.)
Well, I might add that the Latin Mass parishes end up with the best Catholics. Not on account of their sinlessness, but because of their piety, reverence, and seriousness about trying to grow in holiness.
If you are serious about your Catholic faith and want to become a Latin Mass attendee, I encourage you to try to attend your nearest Latin Mass parish. According to LatinMassDir.org, there remain 492 venues holding the Latin Mass in the USA. The religious orders of the Fraternal Society of Saint Peter and Christ the King run a growing number of parishes in this country that offer the Latin Mass exclusively.
LiturgyGuy.com states about 100,000 people in the US celebrate the Latin Mass on any given Sunday. So, you will not be alone in wanting to be intentional in your practicing of the Catholic faith.
YOUR TURN
Are you thinking of becoming a Latin Mass attendee?
Or, are you already attending a Latin Mass?
Please leave a comment below.
