In 1971, Agatha Christie (the mystery wirter) and dozens of British intellectuals signed a letter to the Pope begging him not to destroy the ancient Roman Rite. She wasn't even Catholic. She just recognized it as a work of art.
Today, the Traditional [Latin Mass](/guides/how-to-attend-latin-mass) (TLM) is exploding among Gen Z and Millennials. Why?
1. It is God-Centered (Ad Orientem)
The priest faces the altar (East), not the people. He is leading us to God, like a pilot in a cockpit. The focus is not on his personality, but on the Sacrifice.
2. Silence
Modern life is noisy. The TLM has long periods of profound silence, especially during the Canon. It is a space to breathe and pray.
3. Beauty and Mystery
The chant, the incense, the precise rubrics. It feels sacred. It feels "other." It doesn't try to be "relevant" or "cool" (which is cringe). It tries to be timeless.
Is the New Mass Invalid?
No. The Mass of Paul VI (Novus Ordo) is valid and holy. Most Catholics attend it. But the "Old Mass" (Vetus Ordo) is our heritage. As Pope Benedict XVI said: "What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too."
Experience the mystery. Find a Latin Mass near you with the MyPrayerTower app.