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KILLEEN, Texas (ChurchMilitant.com) - Fort Hood's Old Post Chapel offered the first Traditional Latin High Mass (TLM) on a military base in 45 years. On the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15, military chaplain Fr. Lito Amande celebrated the first Missa Cantata (High Mass) since the Second Vatican Council. ChurchMilitant.com spoke with the laymen who brought about the return of this ancient rite.

Alex Begin, TV producer of EWTN's documentary series "Extraordinary Faith" and advocate of the TLM, trained military chaplain Fr. Amande to offer the Mass. Begin has designed a curriculum to equip priests with everything necessary to offer the TLM in only two days' training.

Begin told ChurchMilitant.com, "Father Amande did a great job, and indeed it was his motivation and dedication to the project that resulted in him taking on the responsibility of being the first regular celebrant of Ft. Hood's Latin Mass."

ChurchMilitant.com also spoke with Ft. Hood active duty Sergeant Major John Proctor, who made the initial invitation to Begin to train Fr. Amande. "I do consider it historical, inasmuch as the resurgence of Tradition since the promulgation of 'Summorum Pontificum' has barely reached our military communities."

Sergeant Mjr. Proctor continued, "We have the only weekly TLM in the U.S. Army and the only monthly High Mass offered here at Ft. Hood."

When asked how the TLM relates to military life, Proctor responded, "There is a very natural confluence between military service and the Latin Mass due in some measure to the high regard military members have for traditions."

Begin also commented on the historical significance of the TLM reaching military men. "The military remains a very masculine place. Men attracted to the military quite naturally seek out a masculine, disciplined approach to many things, and that includes their faith," he explained. "The structure and predictability of the Traditional Mass suits the soldiers well."

Like all military chapels, the Old Post Chapel is nondenominational, but it complements the Traditional Mass with a communion rail, choir loft and High Altar. The chapel is almost exclusively available to the flourishing TLM community at Ft. Hood.

"At first they only had a handful of people attending their Sunday 3 p.m. Low Masses, but on the Feast of the Assumption, the chapel was filled with around 150 people, traveling from as far away as Austin," said Begin.

The Ft. Hood Latin Mass has been growing since its inception. They now have a team of male altar servers and a growing choir dedicated to Gregorian Chant.

"Catholics interested in seeing tradition spread will experience more success if they undertake initiatives to make it happen," Begin noted. "Don't wait for others to do the work for you. The growth of the Traditional Latin Mass in modern times is largely a lay-led effort."

Begin filmed episode 20 of "Extraordinary Faith" at Ft. Hood, and the show is expected to air on EWTN sometime next summer. The TV show focuses on new developments taking place in traditional sacred art, architecture, liturgy and music.

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