Thank you.  This website should answer a lot of questions I have about a latin mass.

Thanks Royal.  I too have attended masses in languages other than my own (English and Cajun).  In the Philippines I attended mass with my wife and every first Saturday here in Mobile the Fil-Am group has a Filipino Mass that is in Tagalog.  I speak very little but it is a heart warming service.  In Belgium I attended masses in French.  Again I felt the same at that mass as I did those in English.  I think what it all boils down to is that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will speak to us in a language our hearts speak.

I have never attended a Latin Mass but look forward to it.

Thanks to all

Tarheel

P.S. is clear on being able to understand "well-enough" what the (latin) words meant.  What is it about these languages of which our fluency is somewhat less, that gives rise to this fascination?  Is it just the "strange" & its power to mezmerize?

Does this too exude mysticism & raw force?

    Carles li reis, nostre emperere magnes
    Set anz tuz pleins ad estet en Espaigne: 
    Tresqu'en la mer cunquist la tere altaigne. 
    N'i ad castel ki devant lui remaigne; 

    Mur ne citet n'i est remes a fraindre, 
    Fors Sarraguce, ki est en une muntaigne. 
    Li reis Marsilie la tient, ki Deu nen aimet; 
    Mahumet sert e Apollin recleimet:
    Nes poet guarder que mals ne l'i ateignet.
    AOI.

And what about this?

Wari, tekonnoronkwanious, ise tsiati roranerenstaka, Rawennio seniwekon, sonhaa tsiui hiakounienstha, lesos oni hetsientha, raonhaa tsini honwasennaiens. Wari, saiatakenti, Niio hetsienha, takwaterennaienhs ionkwarwanerahakso, nonwa nok oni tsi nenttiakwenneionsere.

Hint: Its a prayer you all know.

And another:

Regards,

Old Sigma (Cradle Catholic [Latin rite] & generally inveterate amateur)

RE: "If you wish to impress me..."

Why would I want to impress anyone?

My purpose was to explore what reasons might exist for people being fascinated with the Mass in Latin.

Is it just unfamiliarity with Latin?

Thus I offered quotes in some other languages likely to be unfamiliar to the people posting here to solicit their comments on whether the quotes seem powerful or mysterious, etc.

You may respond to this question.

Regards,

Old Sigma (Cradle Catholic [Latin rite] & generally inveterate amateur)

RE: "How does credo mean we believe? "

Excuse me NoelFitz, while waiting for Warren, "credo" is the first person singular of "credere" meaning "to believe."  Thus, "credo" means literally "I believe."

Regards,

Old Sigma (Cradle Catholic [Latin rite] & generally inveterate amateur)

There is nothing mystical about latin:

I agree Fishman, Latin is not just for the Tridentine mass.  The use of Latin (or Greek for the Kyrie) during parts of the Novus Ordo mass, whether the mass itself is in English, Spanish, or one of the great Asian languages is an excellent idea.

I hope that thanks to Pope Benedict's wisdom and motu proprio, as people take another look at Latin (or Greek for the Kryie), they will see how in fact these languages (mainly Latin) can be helpful within the Church as a unifying force.

Life is often a practical matter.  In our parish (in California, near Sacramento) we have English mass at 9:00 and 10:30 am, and Spanish mass at 7:30 am and 12:30 pm.  The fact is that we live in a society where many people work on Sundays and that is not going to change anytime soon; others have sincere familiy obligations on weekends that require their attention but that conflict with the mass times in their own language.  Sometimes, due to people's private schedules and/or commitments, or for whatever reason, if they want to fulfill their Sunday obligation, a person who does not understand Spanish would need to attend Spanish mass and sometimes, again for whatever reason, someone who does not understand English would need to attend an English mass.  Some people no doubt simply skip mass entirely if due to their own schedule they cannot attend mass in their own language, and that is sad. 

In these situations, which are not uncommon by the way, if all masses in all languages used at least some Latin, those in whose language the mass is not at the moment being offered would at least understand and therefore hopefully be inspired by the most important parts of the mass, and they hopefully would also realize and take comfort in the fact that whatever our race or native tongue, we are all Catholics; brothers in Christ. 

If an English-only person who had to work on Sunday (e.g., nurse, doctor, store clerk, whatever) knew that some of the main parts of the Spanish mass would be in Latin, they would be more comfortable attending Spanish mass and would not be as likely to skip mass altogether because they could not find an English mass that fit their schedule.  The same would be true for a Spanish speaking person.  If the Spanish speaker knew that some of the main parts of the English mass would be in Latin, they would be more comfortable attending the English mass.

Along with not missing mass, these folks would also gain a better understanding of and appreciation for the other group of people (i.e., the group in whose language the mass was being offfered), and that of course is always good in a general, cross-cultural, or societal sense.

Given the demographics of our nation today, especially in the more culturally diverse urban areas, I do not understand why so many Catholics do not yet see the value of a basic, common international language for the Church.  However I think as time passes, with Pope Benedict's recent motu proprio, and Latin (and even some Greek) beginning to come back to mass, people will come to understand their value.

Dear fishman, Latin was considered a Holy Language because it was the only language of the mass for those of us raised during the 30s-60s. We did not know an english mass until much later. The majority of our lives was raised in the latin mass,and that is why we want it back because it holds memories for us that are irreplaceable.

In the Holy Love of God I am your brother in Christ and my name is Royal