Steven,
Let me clear up what seems to be a common misconception concerning the old Latin mass, at least as far as the language issue goes -- especially since this is the second time this week I have heard something like your claim.
In the first place, the sermons were in the vernacular (English or German in my case), so there was no problem understanding the sermons. The rite itself was in Latin, and it was the same every week so people just picked up Latin (translations were available
).
To someone unfamiliar with the Mass, looking in, it may have appeared as incomprehensible mumbo jumbo, but I assure you, this was not the case. You could go to a Catholic church anywhere in the world and understand what was going on (of course you may not have understood the sermon!).
You may have problems with Catholicism for other reasons (and many people on this forum do), but please stop propagating this “urban myth”.
wfranzen