Gareth O'Callaghan: There’s nothing modern about Latin Mass — that's why I love it

Gareth O'Callaghan says the traditional Latin Mass offers reverence, beauty and continuity that many Catholics still seek today

From left, Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry and Marc Hanappier receive episcopal consecration during a Mass in a tent set up outside the Society of St Pius X seminary, in Econe, Switzerland, on July 1. Picture: Cyril Zingaro/Keystone via AP

I have a confession to make. I love the Latin Mass, traditionally known as the Vetus Ordo, or Old Order. You could say I was brought up on it from the age of eight. It still fills me with a sense of joy.

As a young altar boy, each weekday morning I knelt on the marble altar step beside our tall elderly parish priest in a small side chapel off the nave of our local church as he celebrated Mass with his back to the congregation. My job was to respond aloud in Latin to his prayers on behalf of the faithful, of whom there were rarely more than three in attendance.