6.14. If I stop attending the Novus Ordo and go to the Latin Mass — which is rare and in a language I don’t know — isn’t that schismatic or extreme?
No — attending the Traditional Latin Mass is not schismatic, extreme, or cult-like. In fact, it is the opposite: it is a return to what the Church has always believed, practiced, and handed down.
Let’s address your concerns step by step:
1. Is attending the Traditional Latin Mass schismatic?
Absolutely not. Schism is the willful rejection of the authority of the true pope or legitimate Church hierarchy (cf. Canon Law, 1917 Code, can. 1325). If the current Vatican II claimants — such as Leo XIV and his predecessors — are not true popes (due to public heresy), then refusing communion with them is not schism, but fidelity to the true Church.
As Pope Paul IV taught in Cum Ex Apostolatus Officio (1559), a heretic cannot hold office in the Church, not even as pope. Also St. Robert Bellarmine said clearly:
“A manifest heretic is deposed automatically and loses all jurisdiction.”
You are not leaving the Church — you are remaining with the Church as she always was.
2. Isn’t the Traditional Latin Mass fringe or cult-like?
This is a common perception, but it’s historically and theologically inaccurate. The Traditional Latin Mass is:
The very same Mass offered by saints like St. Thérèse, St. Ignatius, and countless others.
Used universally for over 1,500 years, codified by Pope St. Pius V in 1570, and preserved without substantive change until 1969.
Never abrogated, and given canonical protection:
“This present Constitution can never be revoked or modified, but shall remain always valid and retain its full force.”
In contrast, the Novus Ordo Mass was created by a commission (including six Protestant ministers) in 1969 and represents a break from Catholic tradition in both theology and structure.
So no — the Traditional Latin Mass is not fringe. What’s fringe is replacing 2,000 years of organic liturgy with a man-made rite less than 60 years old.
3. But how can I benefit from a Mass I don’t understand?
This is perhaps the most important question — and the easiest to answer.
You do not need to understand every word to benefit spiritually. The Mass is not a lecture — it is the unbloody renewal of the Sacrifice of Calvary. The graces come not from your comprehension, but from the action of Christ through the priest.
The Latin Mass fosters:
Reverence through silence, structure, and ritual;
Focus on God, rather than man;
Awe and mystery, rather than casualness and novelty;
Continuity with the saints who assisted at the same Mass for centuries.
Helpful tools:
Missals with side-by-side Latin and English;
Apps and guides that walk you through the liturgy;
Over time, you will learn key prayers by heart (e.g., Sanctus, Agnus Dei, Nicene Creed), just like Catholics always have.
It’s not like watching a show in a foreign language. It’s like being at Calvary, where you don’t need to understand the words — only to unite your heart with the Sacrifice.
4. Isn’t all this a bit extreme and confusing?
What’s truly extreme is:
A pope blessing same-sex couples;
A Mass with guitars, dancers, and invalid words of consecration;
A religion that teaches all religions lead to God (Vatican II), contradicting 2,000 years of Catholic teaching.
What’s confusing is:
Being told the Church “changed” her doctrine but didn’t really change it;
Wondering if your priest is validly ordained;
Receiving Communion in the hand while being unsure if it’s the Body of Christ.
Returning to Tradition may seem challenging — but it brings clarity, peace, and doctrinal certainty. It may be difficult at first, but it is the path to spiritual safety, valid sacraments, and true Catholic worship.
5. In Summary
It is not schism to reject a false pope or a counterfeit Mass.
The Latin Mass is not fringe — it is the Mass of all ages.
You can spiritually benefit from it — profoundly — even if you don’t understand Latin at first.
The path of Tradition may be hard, but it is the narrow road that leads to salvation.
“Stand ye on the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, which is the good way, and walk ye in it: and you shall find rest for your souls.”