Some people new to the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) might be surprised that the Old Testament reading in many of the Masses in honor of Our Lady seems to imply she was pre-existent. The Latin reads: Ab initio et ante sæcula creata sum, et usque ad futurum sæculum non desinam, et in habitatione sancta coram ipso ministravi.—Ecc 24:14.Or, in English: From the beginning, and before the world, was I created, and unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in the holy dwelling place I have ministered before him.—Sirach 14:14.First, we must understand that these Masses are in honor of Our Lady. We Catholics do not sacrifice to Mary. Why? Because only God is the object of our sacrifice. And because the Son of God descends upon our altars as Catholic priests, and because the Holy Mass is the re-presentation of Calvary, we can say that we adore God alone at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Originally published in Padre Peregrino. Read original article