The "Traditional Latin Mass" is a familiar name for the Roman Rite as celebrated with the 1962 Missale Romanum of St. John XXIII. You may also hear it called the "Usus Antiquior" ("the more ancient use"), the "Extraordinary Form" after Summorum Pontificum (2007), the "1962 Missal," or simply "the Old Mass." All of these refer to the same set of liturgical books and the same manner of celebration, the form in use immediately before the reforms that followed the Second Vatican Council. The phrase "Traditional Latin Mass" is descriptive rather than comparative; it is not a judgment about other forms, since every Catholic Mass is the one Holy Sacrifice and is traditional in its essence. Latin is the Church’s sacred language and may be used in any form of the Roman Rite, whether in part or in full.

The most obvious aspect to is that the liturgy is entirely in Latin, and that the priest celebrates facing the same direction as the people. Granted, both of those things can, and (perhaps) should, be done in the Novus Ordo, but are not as common. But there are more substantial differences that might not be as immediately striking.

Latin is the mother tongue of the Roman Rite. For most of the history of the western Church, Latin was the language of government, education, theology, prayers, and above all, liturgy. It is the language in which most saints prayed. Patrick, Augustine, Margaret of Scotland, Francis of Assisi, Ignatius Loyola, Therese of Lisieux, Kateri Tekakwitha, Charles Lwanga, Padre Pio, Gianna Molla, and countless Catholic faithful prayed at Mass in Latin. Also, Latin has a certain solemn quality, uniquely suitable to the richness of the Mass with its reverence, symbolism, and beauty, and so it is singularly fitting to be used. Some other important reasons why Latin has remained a sacred language for more than 1500 years: • It is a veil of mystery and protection over this most sacred work (which is what “liturgy” means). • Latin belongs to no particular nation or ethnic group but to all Catholics, thus strengthening and highlighting our unity, despite race, region, government, and culture. • The fact that Latin is no longer a spoken language means that its vocabulary does not evolve – words have precise and unchanging meanings – and therefore the specific content of worship remains fixed for us as it was for our ancestors and will be for our descendants.

The Friends of the Traditional Latin Mass (FoTLM) main mission is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the Traditional Latin Mass. As a parish is centered around the Liturgy, we are also called to grow and strengthen in the faith outside of the Holy Mass.  St Joseph's Fellowship Hall helps a local TLM Community by providing a space for social gatherings and events, hosting educational classes and workshops, offering a venue for meetings and planning sessions, supports outreach activities and community service projects, and encouraging fellowship and relationship-building among members.

Saint Joseph's Fellowship Hall will be built near a TLM Church in Huntsville.  To find a TLM Mass, we suggest visiting Mass of the Age's "Latin Mass Near Me" at https://www.latinmass.com/find-latin-mass

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