I heard it explained that there are parts of the Mass that are the priest’s private prayer and those are the ones said very quietly. There are some of those in the OF Mass too but we often don’t notice since they often are when we are singing.
It came out of the Eastern Church around the 5th century. I forget the reasoning, but I believe it was rather mystical.
Those of us who assist at the EF Mass all the time have not sacrificed active participation for solemnity: we have both. Its a different kind of spirituality. After getting immersed in the traditional Mass I find it very difficult to actively participate at the OF, to be honest. Perhaps its about what we’re used to.
Thank you!!
Hey, Rich C! Do you know why so many of the prayers are said quietly by the priest? I am sure there is a good reason, just wondering.
St. Francis de Sales!I am glad that Rich C shared that website, especially as I will not be living where I am for long now. (I am a college student.) The mass I went to was on campus.
Beyond Catholic modesty, there is no dress code.
According to this abbreviated history of the Mass, when low Masses became common, the priest would say in a low voice at the low Mass those parts that others would have said or sung at a high Mass. And later, priests began saying those same prayers in a low voice at high Masses, too.Hey, Rich C! Do you know why so many of the prayers are said quietly by the priest? I am sure there is a good reason, just wondering.
BTW…I
St. Francis de Sales as well. A great saint!
I’m not a fan of the TLM, but I’m happy you enjoyed it. I hope it brings you even closer to God.
The locations were accurate for my state,and had been updated within the past few months, but one mass has been moved from 7 to 5 and this change is not yet updated.
Thanks for the information and link! Also, thanks to all who provided guidance in terms of what to wear! Much appreciated! Today I am going to a TLM at a nearby parish. I don’t have a missal, so I hope there a booklets to follow along with!According to this abbreviated history of the Mass, when low Masses became common, the priest would say in a low voice at the low Mass those parts that others would have said or sung at a high Mass. And later, priests began saying those same prayers in a low voice at high Masses, too.
So it was sort of a historical accident, each step along the way a consequence or development of what preceded it, without the whole thing ever being designed from scratch. There was probably a practical aspect, too, to keeping most of the Mass fairly quiet, in times when there might be multiple Masses being said at the same time in a church. More peaceful, less distracting. (You can still see side altars in many older churches).
And I
