Returning to the New Mass after a lengthy stretch of going exclusively to the Traditional Latin Mass can be jolting. Why is the priest standing with his back toward God? What are these lay people doing in the sanctuary? Who's this boss lady reading Scripture to the congregation? Why are there girl altar boys? Is that John Denver singing? Where are all the babies? Why is this guy holding my hand, and -- wait -- did he just give my hand a squeezy pooh?? What's with everyone flashing gang signs at me? Why is that boomer in a moo-moo distributing Holy Communion? Doesn't anyone pray after Mass? #TLM

Do people in heaven pray for us? Yes. Those who went before us and are in heaven don't forget about us. Heaven is not a place where the #saints suddenly become self-centered, self-absorbed. The Beatific Vision is not just staring at God, but participating in the life of God. What else should we expect of God's friends? Jesus intercedes for us night and day. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we have nothing left but a groan for prayer. The angels of heaven are portrayed as bringing our prayers to God in golden bowls of incense. And we all have our guardian angels working on our behalf. God is love, and his business is restoring our fellowship with him. Think Parable of the Prodigal Son. Conversely, the devil and the evil spirits are out to tempt us and lead us to hell. With all that spiritual attention placed on us, do we have the audacity to suppose people in heaven forget about us? The saints of the OT are portrayed as a "cloud of witnesses," as cheering spectators watching the race of our life. This is called the Communion of Saints. We can, and should, ask our spiritual big brothers and big sisters for help, which they are eager to do. They are more like God than we are. They are already perfected. And as Scripture says, the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. So do you want the help of those who have gone before us? Do you need their help? Need extra help? ASK THEM! They have our backs.

It's indeed a world of difference. The TLM is very prayerful, is very reverent, is very noble. Through its liturgy, it encourages rather than discourages belief in the Real Presence of the Eucharist.

Back in the AOL and Yahoo days, they were IMs. "Instant Message" was a fair term at least back then.

One day Jesus might say, "Sell all your Bitcoin and follow me."