Published Article: Attendance of Traditional Latin Mass
strongly correlated with Stronger Belief in the Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament



Pontifical Mass in the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia

Quote:Catholics who attend a parish that offers Mass in Latin (versus those who do not) report moderately stronger belief in the Real Presence. This effect is stronger if the participant has ever attended the TLM. It seems likely that a priest who celebrates the NO Mass will incorporate more traditional Eucharistic-focused liturgical practices if he also offers the TLM at other times. Anecdotally, I once observed a NO Mass where parishioners received at an altar rail on the tongue: it was while visiting a parish that offers both the NO and TLM. Thus, even if one does not attend the TLM at their parish (instead attends the NO service), they may nevertheless participate in the more Eucharistic-focused behaviors prescribed by the TLM, which may account for stronger Real Presence belief.

Participants who had attended a TLM could share their impressions of it. The majority of responses were positive, with comments about its beauty and reverence. Those who gave positive comments tended to have stronger Real Presence beliefs. Replicating past work (Gray and Perl 2008; Lindemann 2024; Real Presence Coalition 2024; Vinea 2024), participants who attended Mass more often showed stronger belief in the Real Presence, as did those who were more politically conservative (Lindemann 2024). No other demographic predicted Eucharistic belief.