The Latin Mass - My Story

Actually, my story is not important, although the short essay below is how I came to discover an extraordinary documentary series on YouTube. So, skip my story and link here to the documentary. Discover what makes the Latin Mass unique, why everything changed after Vatican II, and how Catholics worldwide are striving to restore Tradition.

(See also: The Traditional Latin Mass vs Novus Ordo ... in My Experience - Nov 3, 2025)

I resisted Catholicism for the first half of my life, and the Latin version of it for years after I became Catholic.

Yet, long before I became Catholic I had two close professional friends who were Latin Catholics. Ray Long Jr. was a writer/producer on my staff, and after we parted he often freelanced for my production company. Ed Wolfrum was the token white engineer at MoTown Records and a genius in all things audio. As a freelancer, Ed often was the sound engineer and recordist on my film crews. 

Assumption Grotto C.C. - Detroit

But Ray and Ed had another thing in common. They were what I called Latin Catholics. They attended Assumption Grotto Catholic Church in Detroit, where Fr. Eduardo Perrone was pastor. Perrone was unique among Catholic priests, at least in Detroit. Not only was he a weekly celebrant of the Tridentine Latin Mass in the basilica-plan Neo-Gothic limestone and marble church, but he's a world-class composer and conductor, having occasionally directed the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and having composed many sacred, classical, modern, and Mass compositions. Several times a year he will conduct DSO musicians, professional soloists, and the Grotto choir and organ in one of the world famous Mass settings by Mozart, Bach or his own Mass compositions, while at the other end of the church a High Solemn Tridentine Mass is celebrated, complete with bells, incense, 14 altar servers, candles and sacred altar choreography. These were/are heavenly experiences not to be missed.  Ed often made professional recordings of the music which today are available on CDs, of which I have five. 

Ed was my sponsor when I came into the Catholic Church, although it was not at Grotto but at St. James of Novi, miles to the West. Ray was a close friend, and between the two they occasionally corralled me to Latin Masses, especially if the orchestra was present. I loved the mystery and aesthetic of the Latin Mass with the dramatic classical, live orchestra, Gregorian chant and organ. 

I claimed that the Novus Ordo (New Order) Mass (aka the English Catholic Lite Mass) was instrumental in bringing me into the Catholic Church because of its emphasis on Scripture, it's orientation to the people (like Evangelical churches) and that I could understand the liturgy. But there was always an attraction to the mystical Latin worship of God that took me out of my everyday environment and forced me to focus on God and not the personalities of the priest, deacon, cantors, or readers.

Christmas High Mass at Grotto

I came into the Catholic Church in 1998. Now, 26 years later, the mystical, and historic Mass of the ages is attracting me with its mystery, history, and intellectual fervor. Lately, I've been attending, but not understanding, except for the subjective sense of worship that accompanies the reverence shown about the altar and the Gregorian chant and organ that comes from behind in the balcony. So, I purchased a 1962 Daily Missal, and spent a half day understanding how it works. 

Roman Catholic Daily Missal (English/Latin) - 1962

Many people at Latin Masses use these thick interlinear (Latin & English) books throughout the Mass. I'm looking forward the my first Sunday with the Missal in hand and following along with the priests, attendants, choir, and organ. 

Then I discovered something extraordinary, on YouTube of all places.  Cameron O'Hearn's three documentaries (48m, 71m, & 88m) tracing the history of and details of how the Traditional Latin Mass was sidelined (mostly, but not entirely) by Vatican II modernists in favor of the newly created Novus Ordo Mass that jettisoned 2/3rds of the Traditional Latin Mass developed over the centuries from the time of the Apostles. Although I consider the changes sad, if not scandalous, the message at the end of Episode 3, draws hopeful parallels to the story of Jesus sleeping in the back of Peter's boat during a storm. It has convinced me that Satan has infiltrated the Church and continues to attempt to marginalize and dumb it down so fewer and fewer people will embrace the historic truth of Christianity. I encourage all to watch the series and start attending the Latin Mass. 

The Dancing Church

A professor of International Christian Missions at a Protestant University recommended this video to me. I was thrilled to see this. The video quality is poor, but the voice over by Fr. Thomas Kane who has made the study of liturgical practice his passion, was exciting. I think God is dancing with these parishes from Africa. I wish we here in the U.S. were more like these parishes. God bless them as he undoubtedly is.  

Shortly after watching this video I read a news report of how Christian congregations (Protestant and Catholic) in certain parts of Africa are being persecuted by gangs, kidnapping whole congregations and killing many. The irony of dancing one minute and sacrifice the next is staggering.  

Pray for all Christians. The murderous enemy of truth is real. 

The Dance Project

Although not part of formal worship, there is dancing in the American Church. This is ironic to Pam and I since we were raised in the Free Methodist Church where dancing was counted as a grave sin, unless it was The Sugar Plum Fairy ballet performed by others. 

Recently, however,  Pam and I chaperoned a masquerade swing dance for Christian Home High Schoolers from S.E. Michigan. It as the annual Dance Project staged at a ballroom in Howell, Michigan. About 300 teens and a few adults like us attended. It was a lot of fun. We drove three of our teen grand daughters, who brought three other friends in our van along (including two boys). One of our grand daughters (Annaliese) had invited others that drove themselves. Annaliese walked away with the prize of the night with a hand crafted mask. 

(L) Stan & Pam looking for violators but not very hard.
(R) Annaliese Nelson invited the most people and won a beautiful mask.

The organizers of this now 13-year tradition had very strict rules about behavior that we, as chaperones, were suppose to watch out for. We were instructed that if after our warnings their behavior was not adjusted we could report them for removal. But Pam and I saw nothing untoward all night long. It was good clean fun by all. I mean, how do you dance lewdly to Denver and the Mile High Orchestra's swing version of "Victory in Jesus."   This is the piece the D.J. played at the end of the dance. I shot video of it, but since the kids in it were minors and I don't have permission to make it public there is this from YouTube. Enjoy. (We did!)

Pam wearing Annaliese's prize.

Archbishop Vigneron's UNLEASH THE GOSPEL Put on Hold

 The Archbishop of Detroit (Allen Vigneron) and his woke curia have strongly suggested that unless you "vaccinated" against covid-19, then you should refrain from public worship and personal evangelization.  Yes, that's right. Let me say that again. If you have not received the fake jab of the experimental mRNA drug that will permanently alter your body's immune system, it is strongly suggested that you refrain from breathing within 100-feet of anyone else (whether "vaccinated" or not). 

Here is the AOD's guideline as of August 17, 2021 (https://www.aod.org/emergencyresponse)

The Archdiocese of Detroit encourages Mass-goers, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face-coverings and to practice social distancing to reduce exposure to COVID-19

Each pastor/In Solidum team should evaluate their location in the Archdiocese and implement the following protocols:

• Establish an area where social distancing is observed
• Strongly encourage masking and social distancing
• Hang signage indicating masking and social distancing are encouraged
• Evaluate space for the choir, and strongly recommend that those who are unvaccinated do not participate in the choir at this time

Because of that last directive, my wife was told she could no longer play her flute with the worship music group because she refuses to get the covid-19 "vaccination." (Aerosols from wind instruments are problematic, don't you know? By this logic we should have stopped face-to-face communication when the first cold virus was spread thousands of years ago.) We're unsure if they are trying to prevent my healthy wife from spreading her heathy antibodies by aerosol transmission, of if they're politically trying to force her to get the jab. We think it's the latter.  We're convinced the AOD curia is not  much different from radical Democrats who are acting like leftist Marxists. The Catholic Church is still Christ's Church, but there is a lot of corruption in its leadership. 

But then we discovered that the musical director at the parish was taking the AOD's guidance one step further. He lied. The AOD had said nothing about wind musical instruments. (see above.) There were two people in the group that had not been, and refused to be vaxed. One was a singer. So, he made the decision, and found something on the Internet to "validate" his opinion that if these two people did not do what he said, "get vaxed," then they would be cancelled and punished... because his unilateral demand was for the good of the congregation. This is pure Marxist Communism. We thank him for the textbook example. My wife and this other person offered no threat to him, he had no evidence, except his fear. "Do as I saw or you will be kicked off the group because we have to protect the people in the building who are far from you... because you know, the aerosols you expel will kill people, and if I don't fire you, I could be sued."  

The simple logic of these guidelines is that we all should avoid any exchange of air with anyone else, even if you're 20 yards distance. Logically, this involves every unvaxed person in the building. Don't come, don't participate, no breathing... is what this really says. And since all unvaxed persons are really sick people spreading disease then don't have any personal contact with any other person, vaxed or not.

Thus, Bishop Vigneron's "Unleash the Gospel" has been put on hold. DO NOT UNLEASH THE GOSPEL, someone could get sick. Satan loves this stuff. It fits perfectly into his plan. Atheists love it, too. They've been trying for years to come up with a gimmick to stop Christianity from spreading. The communists first infiltrated the church leadership, and now this.

Yes, it's a bumper sticker and car magnet all rolled up into one. BLESSINGS ALL.

FUN STUFF from Nineveh's Crossing

Behold Him

The Elevation of Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrifice

[A GRAMBUS post.]

It happened again yesterday at Holy Family parish where I attend daily Mass.  Now that it’s happened so much, I wonder if I’m going to receive inspiration in regard to every single utterance by the priest during the Liturgy.  As you will recall (from a previous blog), the first inspiration I received during the Mass was when the priest spoke these words, “Blessed/Happy are those CALLED to the Supper of the Lamb.”  At that moment, during that particular Mass, I knew God was speaking to me, and I was one of the called.  For many years, I was not called.  As a Protestant Christian, I had no idea what was happening in the Mass or even that there was a Mass.  I thought “mass” was just what Catholics called their “church worship service” like any other church meeting on a Sunday morning.  Now that I KNOW what is really happening in the Mass—a collision of heaven and earth in a most miraculous way during EVERY part of it—and, now that I attend almost daily throughout the week, the Mass has become a way that God personally communicates with me about what is happening.

So, yesterday, many weeks after the first inspiration accounted above, (and, in addition to several inspirations between then and now), I heard the words just BEFORE the “Blessed are those who are called…” words out of the mouth of the priest, as if they were being spoken straight to me:  “Behold the Lamb of God!  (That was normal.)  Behold HIM who takes away the sins of the world.”  (Those words hit me between the eyes!)  As he says these words, the priest is holding up the consecrated host and cup, which are now the presence of Jesus in body and blood.  So I knelt there speechless thinking:  God has spoken to me again saying through the priest:  Jesus IS the ONE.  He IS the ONLY ONE who takes away the sins of the world.  Jesus, the Lamb that was slain.

AND, I knew, as I heard those words that there is no one else who can make that claim!

Who else besides Jesus can say that they can take away the sins of the world?  No one!

My “inspiration” about Jesus reminds me of St. John’s “revelation” about Jesus in chapter 5 of Revelation when, in a vision, he is able to look into heaven. Verse 2 says, “Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll, and break its seals?’”  Verses 3 & 4 say, “But NO ONE in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to examine it.  I shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to examine it.”  This scroll was of paramount importance to our salvation.  Without a worthy person to open it, human beings could never be redeemed from their/our sinful state.  Then, in verse 5 John says, “One of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep.  The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.’”  Verses 6 & 7 reveal to St. John the One who is worthy.  “Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne the four living creatures and the elders, a Lamb that seemed to have been slain… He came and received the scroll from the right hand of the one that sat on the throne.”  The rest of the chapter is about the beautiful song that the elders sing as they bow down with the four living creatures before the Lamb/Jesus in praise to him, who are soon joined by ALL the heavenly host “countless in number” singing the same words of praise!

We join that everlasting song, too, during the Mass.  Every Mass proclaims that Jesus is the Lamb of God slain for our salvation, and we look upon him with eyes of faith saying, “Yes, HE IS the ONE who takes away the sins of the world.”  ...the ONLY one worthy to do so—the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.  …to open the scroll.  …to do what it says—become one of us, …flesh and blood—to shed his blood—the only blood that can cleanse away our sin.

The next time you come to Mass, proclaim Jesus as “HIM who takes away the sins of the world” as the priest presents Jesus in those words after he says, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”  …and, know how blessed you are to be called to His Supper! 

Inspirations in the Mass

[A GRAMBUS post.]

St. John Cantius Church - Chicago

Nearly15 years ago now, when I was still arguing with the priest leading RICA (Rite of Initiation for Christian Adults), he would tell me, “Come to the Mass.  Just come to the Mass,” as if that would answer all my questions about the things I didn’t understand about the Catholic Church.  It didn’t make sense to me then, but lately I see the wisdom of his words, and they have come back to find lodging in my soul.  I’ll tell the story of my journey into the Church another time.  Suffice it to say, I did become Catholic and faithfully attended Mass each week—and happily so.  I would say, I had an above average understanding of what the Mass was all about, until…

One year and two months ago, I retired from teaching.  I decided that one of my priorities would be to attend daily Mass whenever possible.  I can’t tell you the day or date when something miraculous first occurred, but it was during an ordinary morning Mass, very unexpectedly, the words of the priest suddenly jumped out at me.  The first time it happened, it was these words:

Blessed are those who are called to the Supper of the Lamb.

You know that part of the Mass, when the priest holds up the consecrated host?  I’d heard it a hundred times.  But, at that moment, I knew those words were FOR ME.  I had been CALLED.  I had been drawn to come to the mass/The Supper of the Lamb.  For so many years, before I was Catholic, I had not been called—50 to be exact.  I didn’t even know about the Catholic Mass, but now I do and I am  …called to it.  What a blessing!  And, every time I go to mass, those same words pop out at me again and again, and fill me with love and joy for the Lamb of God, who called me to come.

The next time the words of the Mass jumped out at me was just as unexpected as before.  It happened as the priest said the words of remembrance from Our Lord at the Last Supper with His disciples.  The priest was saying: “taking the chalice, He gave thanks, and gave it to His disciples, saying…”  All of a sudden, as the priest looked out at the people and said, “gave it to His disciples,..” I had the thought, “Wait a minute!  I’m one of His disciples!”  In that moment, I knew Jesus was right there saying those words to me that followed:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of My blood.

I felt like I was right THERE at the Last Supper WITH Jesus, and he was saying those words to me.   In the Mass, the priest recites the words that Jesus spoke to His disciples, but as I hear the priest, I am actually hearing JESUS speak those words to me!  …as His disciple …NOW, in this current generation.  In the Mass, Christ speaks those words TO US! ...as His disciples TODAY!

Well, this just kept happening.  Words kept jumping at me with more and more meaning each time I went to the Mass.  In the Eucharistic prayer, the priest is thanking God the Father through His beloved Son who

 …stretched out His hands as He endured His Passion, so as to break the bonds of death and manifest the resurrection.  And so, with the Angels and all the Saints, we declare your glory, as with one voice we acclaim: Holy, Holy, Holy…

As I joined in the Holy, Holy prayer of praise, I felt like my voice was being added with all the Heavenly Hosts in giving God praise.  I looked up and imagined (no, not just imagined… I knew) I was participating with the Angels and the Saints in heaven to proclaim the holiness and glory of God.  I felt that sense of wonder and UNIFYING BOND between heaven and earth during the Mass.  Now, I remember that every time we sing or say the Holy, Holy.  Amazing!  Praising God through Christ in union with the Angels and the Communion of Saints!  That’s the unity that we experience in our worship at the Mass.  

It does not seem to end...  Just recently another phrase in the Mass has grabbed my attention, where 

Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his Death and Resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you.

Starting with the word “held” to the end, the words have continued to amaze me, because we are NOT worthy.  But, quickly I became aware that God meets us where we are, (as unworthy people) and through Christ’s worthiness, seats us with Him to “minister to”/worship Him in the beauty of the Supper of the Lamb/the Mass.  —The same Mass that has been celebrated around the world and over all the centuries since Christ left His authority and keys of the kingdom with His Apostles, to today!  

…Blessed are those who are called—and are still being called—to that Supper!

Come to the Mass.  Just come…

Today is Priesthood Sunday

[A GRAMBUS post.]
Today, October 27th this year, is Priesthood Sunday.  I did not know that we could write a letter of appreciation that would be published in The Michigan Catholic Newspaper until I picked up an edition in our Church foyer at Holy Family yesterday.  I would have written about my priest in a heartbeat.  How could I have missed this opportunity?  But, why not make an opportunity to publish my heartfelt thanks?

Dear Fr. Bob LaCroix,

Since becoming Catholic 15 years ago, I have had the privilege of being under the pastorship of 4 wonderful priests, and each one was right for the particular time of my journey to understand and love the Church I had been estranged from for the first 50 years of my life.  You were saved for my most needy years.  Years of vocational conflict, familial challenges, and most recently, my transition into retirement.  Your council and pastoral help has kept me on track in my relationship with God and those I love.

Retiring last year allowed me to begin attending daily mass, and that is where I have come to enjoy the closest relationship I have ever had with God.  I get fed every day through His Word, the Holy Eucharist, and your "personal" homilies.  Every day, I look forward to how you will bring the scriptures for the day alive to me.  You don't just speak about them.  You ask sweet but pointed questions of those gathered together, that cause us to examine our thinking and decisions and understanding of the scriptures focused on.  I feel like I am with Jesus and He is guiding me through my own personal life.  I discover things about myself and about Him every day that help me to live my life a little closer to His holy will.  I can't thank you enough for being a priest, and a holy one. You challenge all of your parishioners to think critically about ourselves, our lives with God and with others.  I am never disappointed.  Your message is always on target to me.

In addition, I know you have given the mass thousands of times as a priest, but you take the time—every time—to say it as if you are right there, at the Last Supper with Jesus, inviting us to join you at the very Supper of the Lamb.  I am so blessed to be in this holy place at this time in my life. Thank you for being a priest.  Thank you for being Christ to me and for bringing Christ to me every day.

In humble gratitude,

Pam Williams

Why Atheists Hate Christmas

I've said this before, but Doug Giles has said it better. Below are excerpts to his post The Real Root of Atheists' Anti-Christmas Rage.  The link takes you to the full article.

Why do some atheists embarrass themselves year after year trying to eradicate Christmas from American culture? Why do they make themselves societal hemorrhoids during this hallowed season?

...they hate God and love their sin, and bringing up Jesus in December is not the way they wanted to finish off the year. Indeed, Christ really rains on their parade … and they love their parade.

Christmas, (is)... about mankind’s sin problem and what God did to remedy it by sending His Son.

The core cause that necessitated Jesus’ incarnation was our jacked up carnality. Yep, Hambone, it was our sin. There, I said it. Sin. Yours, mine and ours.

Transgression was the reason for the season.

This is not good news to some, though. Indeed, many atheists are up front about it and don’t want to leave their wantonness. As Jesus Himself said, they prefer darkness to light and don’t like to be reminded of their personal accountability for their sin—and thus their need for salvation—and therefore we should not expect them to be stoked about Jesus’ birthday party.

This brings to mind Romans 1:24-32 and the political situation in the U.S. right now where so many people (even Catholics and other Christians) voted for a party that endorses the murder of millions of babies every year, gay marriage, and a frontal attack on religious liberty, moral obedience to God, even to the point of not wanting even the mention of God in their platform. But most people thought all of that was okay, for a variety of other reasons. Romans 1 reminds us of the consequences:

Therefore God has handed them over to the impurity through the lust of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies....and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper. They are filled with every form of wickedness, evil, greed, and malice; full of envy, murder, rivalry, treachery, and spite. They are gossips and scandalmongers and they hate God. ....They are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

And the consequences will be felt by all. Some will continue to blame Bush, and never see the wickedness that has brought condemnation to our nation.  We will be judged. Especially those Christians that know better but voted for such wickedness, pretending they were voting for the poor. Right! Food stamps are always better than a paycheck.