The Catholic Review Online: Pastor encourages attendance at Latin Mass (Novus Ordo)

The Catholic Review Online carries a story by Chaz Muth on the Latin Novus Ordo (Ordinary Form) Mass celebrated each Sunday at the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in downtown Baltimore:

If more Catholics knew this particular service was not the old style of the Tridentine Mass but a new-style Mass said in both Latin and English, they might be more willing to give it a chance, said Father Jeffrey S. Dauses, the new rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As it stands now, fewer than 100 worshipers sit in the pews of the nation’s first Catholic Cathedral during the Latin Mass, and Father Dauses believes the congregation will grow if the faithful understand more about the service.

“We have a participation booklet that outlines the service in both English and Latin so you can follow the liturgy,” he said. “The readings and homily are all in English, so the word of God is accessible.”

The Latin Mass has been offered at the basilica since the late 1960s, shortly after the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council.

The loyal congregation has slowly diminished to less than 100 worshipers and Father Dauses believes those numbers will grow if he can convince more Catholics to give the Mass a chance.

Read the full story here. The Mass is offered each Sunday at 9:00 AM. The Tridentine Mass (Extraordinary Form) is offered each Sunday at 11:30 AM at Saint Alphonsus Church on West Saratoga Street about 300 yards west of the Basilica.