THE NATIONAL REGISTRY

OF TRADITIONAL LATIN MASSES

The Registry, in operation since 1994, maintains a comprehensive list by
sponsoring organization of the approximately 600 regularly and publicly
scheduled Traditional Latin Masses of the Roman Rite (sometimes inaccurately
termed "Tridentine"), as well as contacts for Mass sites outside the United
States.
        The Registry also lists traditional Catholic organizations, seminaries,
religious orders, lay societies, periodicals, suppliers, retreats, and
schooling, in addition to general information on traditional liturgy and
practice.
        A printed edition of the list is published annually as the Official
Traditional Catholic Directory: Listing All  Traditional Latin Masses and
Traditional Resources for the United States and Canada.

> - - THE TRADITIONAL ROMAN CATHOLIC LATIN MASS - - <

According to Roman Catholic Tradition, the Traditional (pre-Vatican II Roman
Rite, "Tridentine") Latin Mass in all its essentials was passed on by St.
Peter, the first pope, to the Church. The Apostles themselves, according to St.
Ambrose, worked at its elaboration. It reached its complete perfection with
Popes St. Damasus (fourth century) and St. Gregory the Great (sixth century). As
the great liturgical scholar, Fr. Adrian Fortescue, wrote, this Mass is:

the most venerable in all Christendom, with a history of unbroken use
far longer than that of any Eastern rite, there being no doubt that the
essential parts of the Mass are of Apostolic origin.

"The Most Beautiful Thing This Side of Heaven"
        When we attend this Mass, we are directly connected with Our Lord, with
the Apostles themselves, with the Saints and Martyrs who died for the privilege
of attending this Mass, and with all the Catholic faithful from the first
century up to the present day.
        This Mass developed over the centuries into a perfect art form, as well
as worship. It has always been known for its beauty, reverence, and mystery.  It
has inspired authors and poets, Saints and sinners, popes and peasants. Within
the space of an hour, it can inspire spirituality through the flow of graces
otherwise unattainable.

What Is the Traditional Latin Mass?
	The Mass is a sacrifice, an act by which the Church gives to Almighty
God, officially and in the name of all, the worship that is due to Him alone. In
the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus Christ, through the ministry of the
priest, offers Himself to God in an unbloody manner under the appearances of
bread and wine. Christ enables us through Himself to adore God in a suitable
manner, to thank Him worthily for all His favors, to render Him full
satisfaction for sin by the offering of the sacrifice of Calvary, and to address
to Him our needs.

What to Expect at the Traditional Latin Mass
	For those who have never before participated at a Traditional Latin
Mass, the formality and elaborate ritual of this Mass may at first seem
unfamiliar.  There is an atmosphere of prayer and quiet reverence among the
people in the pews as they participate, interiorly, in the Sacred Mysteries.
Before Mass silence is kept to show respect for the Real Presence of Our Lord
Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, Which is reserved in the tabernacle at
the center of the altar.
        The crucifix above the altar reminds the congregation that the Sacrifice
of the Cross and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass are one and the same. The
lighted candles on the altar symbolize Christ as the Light of the World. The
priest and the congregation together face the tabernacle and altar where the
Mass is offered.
        The Mass is celebrated in Latin, the official language of the Roman
Catholic Church, used as a liturgical language in the West since as early as the
first century. The unchanging nature of the Latin language has preserved the
orthodox doctrine of the Mass, handed down from the the Apostles and the early
Church Fathers. The congregation uses prayerbooks, called missals, which have
the Latin text accompanied by its vernacular translation.
        The faithful receive Holy Communion on the tongue while kneeling out of
reverence. Communion is given only under the species of bread with the words
(translated from the Latin): "May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve
your soul unto life everlasting. Amen."
        A Mass in which the priest recites the prayers is called a Low Mass. A
Mass in which the priest and choir sing parts of the Mass and use a more
elaborate ceremonial is called a High Mass. The Gregorian chant (plainsong) used
at High Mass is the ancient music of the Roman Catholic liturgy, named after
Pope St. Gregory I (590-604), who codified the existing chant melodies.