except one is in the vernacular which people understand, the other is in Latin, were only a few understand.
This claim is so old it has whiskers! And it isn't now (nor was it ever) quite true either. The inexpensive missals (inexpensive then, but not now) were used for folks to prayerfully follow the Mass (BTW that was called "participation"). The Missals had the vernacular on one page, and on the other page (right next to it) was the Latin. Oh, forgot to mention that purchasing one missal (which was very inexpensive to begin with) had the Mass and readings for 10 years--not like the newer pew missalettes that must be changed every season--or the newer regular missal that require much page turning.
But yes, I can actually see much abuse now occurring if the "regular" people (those who just want Mass over with) return to the Tridentine (especially with the background they have now.) They have already been trained to be sloppy with their Faith! Few places have silence in God's House anymore--it's more like a parish hall get-together; and then there's the casual dress--I swear Protestants seem to "get it" more that this is not about us--but
is about giving glory to God. Then there's the fact that people today are more interested in "what's in it for me" rather than "how can I show greater glory to God"--it seems that people just want to be entertained--one hears it in the applause or the laughing at joke Father tells in the homily, or the fact that the choir feels that it must take center stage so all eyes must be on them. And yes, in my experience as an extraordinary minister, there
is irreverence. I still remember instructions about not allowing people to snatch the Host, telling teens to take the gum out of their mouths (before reception of Communion
), not to stare at filthy hands (with all sorts of things written on them) that most teens present as they shuffle forward in the Communion line, and not to read (or look askance at) the strange things on T-shirts that even the adults migh wear when presenting themselves to receive the King-of-Kings.
You are right, it's going to take more than a more reverent Mass to change how people react. The people have been carefully taught to be less reverent.