A Younger Perspective on the Ordinary Form

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Maria: Like you, most of my life has been spent worshipping under the OF. I began attending the EF as soon as it became offered in my area in 07. I offer a few thoughts: first, remember that you do not need to follow the EF word for word, so relex. Second, for the first few time, just watch the mass and pray. Pray for forgiveness, the Church, your family and friends, living and dead, and thank the Lord for his mercy. Third, if there is a choir or “schola,” keep in mind that they sing there part while the priest says his part - in other words, the priest does not wait for the choir to finish singing before he moves on to the portions of the service he recites. So do not worry about the order in which things appear to unfold. I find it easier to concentrate on the choir instead of trying always to keep up with the priest. Of course, when it is time for communion, go up to the rail and receive it. It is not necessary to say “amen” when you are given communion in the old rite. Father gives you the host, and you eat it. Very simple! I hope you enjoy the EF, and may it prove as much of a blessing to you as it has been to me.
 
Thanks to everyone for your replies. I don’t know enough to pick up where your answers left off unfortunately. I have obviously heard this word “propers” but I am not sure of it’s actual meaning. Does it mean when its Ordinary time or Advent and things like that?
This Traditional Mass is not holier than the New Mass. It is Jesus Christ - who transsubstantiates the bread and wine into his Body and Blood - the one who is Holy, and he is the same as in the New Mass
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Yes I understand this. I guess it depends on your definition of “Holy” I guess I was searching for something more reverent , maybe I used the wrong word.

I do love going to Mass now. I love watching the Consecration. I just wanted to understand and learn and experience something that appears to much more holy ( there’s that word) and reverent in terms of the Mass. I think if we were more aware of the lack of reverence we are showing in the OF even in devout parishes like mine and changed the atmosphere a little maybe I wouldn’t be so interested in the seeing what the Latin Mass is all about. I don’t know.
 
Propers refer to the part of the Mass that changes from week to week. Basically, the “propers” in the EF are what is in the missalette in the OF. The old mass has a few passages, usually from the Old Testament or the psalms at the beginning, then an epistle reading, a portion of a psalm, sometimes coupled with a prayer, and a gospel reading. There are also prayers that are referred to as “secrets” and occur at about the same time as the “prayers of the faithful” (i.e., after the creed) in the new mass, and a psalm reading or prayer toward the end. These can be found translated for you in a missal. Collectively, the parts of the mass that change are referred to as the “propers.”

Hope that helps!
 
MariaTheresa said:
Thanks to everyone for your replies. I don’t know enough to pick up where your answers left off unfortunately. I have obviously heard this word “propers” but I am not sure of it’s actual meaning.
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Propers are the prayers which change from Mass to Mass. Common (or whatever official term for it) prayers are those which don’t change from Mass to Mass (not to be confused with Options for the Mass).
Yes I understand this. I guess it depends on your definition of “Holy” I guess I was searching for something more reverent , maybe I used the wrong word.
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According to the older catechism, Masses differ in solemnity, not in value.
 
One other thought: I really do believe that over time, as the EF gets celebrated more and learned by the next generation of the faithful, that the quality and zeal of worship in the whole Church will improve.
 
The propers are for both form:

Introit, Collect, Readings, Offertory verse, Secret, Communion verse, Postcommunion

In the New Mass the Introit, Offertory verse and Communion verse can be replaced by and approved hymn, and if sung the priest does not recites it.

The structure of the reading for the TLM : Lesson, Gradual, Gospel; and one year cyle
for the New Mass : OT reading, Psalm with antiphon, NT reading, Alleluia, Gospel; and 2 or (for Sundays) 3 years cycle . The New Mass covers significantly larger percentage of the Scriptures, than the TLM.

Also the rest of the propers is different, even if the Calendar points to the same feast.
 
In some EF Masses, especially on some certain feasts or solemnities, two or even three Collects, Secrets, and Postcommunions are said. On still other feasts, there are two or more Epistles. I don’t off the top of my head remember when exactly.
 
laszlo said:
The structure of the reading for the TLM : Lesson, Gradual, Gospel; and one year cyle
for the New Mass : OT reading, Psalm with antiphon, NT reading, Alleluia, Gospel; and 2 or (for Sundays) 3 years cycle . The New Mass covers significantly larger percentage of the Scriptures, than the TLM.
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This is one of the strong points of the OF, as it covers almost all the 4 Gospels in a 3-year cycle. Also the OT reading which is absent from the TLM and even the Divine Liturgy. I think the OF readins is a wonderful affirmation that the prophecies have indeed been fulfilled.
 
MariaTheresa said:
What is the name of this book ? sorry , just a little confused about how to find/ recognize it. Is this something that can be purchased online? Is that what you did ? How many times did you attend the Latin Mass before you went up for Communion with everyone else or did you do that that the first time? Did it make you nervous?

Thanks,
Maria
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The little red book was provided in the pews of the church. It only said Latin-English missile or something similar, lol, so I’m not sure who published it, but I’m sure similar books are available online. The Latin-English translations are also available on my sites, and I consulted those several times before attending the mass.

I’ve only been to one traditional Latin Mass, but it was held in an ordinary diocesan parish, with the Bishop’s permission and encouragement. As we are all one church, I went to communion the very first time! (The diocese’s “Ecclesia Dei Ministry” is simply named after the letter wrote by Pope John Paul II stating the traditional mass was still permitted).

They had a communion rail and only offered on the tongue, but I didn’t find it a big deal. The kneel, tongue, walk away routine was so quick and rapid, that it was a bit disconcerting, but the Body of Christ is the Body of Christ :D.
 
As an 18 year old person in australia i obviously grew up in a novus ordo parish (at least until my parents stopped attending when i was 12). Unfortunately it was one of those folksy guitar mass affairs which actually turned me towards indifference.

Ironically it was spending time at a protestant school (a whole new level of irreverant mediocrity at this schools “services”) for my secondary education that led me to properly research my faith and led me to the extraordinary form which when i watched it performed via video on the internet i found the tradition and reverence i was looking for. Thankfully i now know there is one parish in my entire city where mass is celebrated to the EF, so i now know where to go for a properly reverent experience.

So as to my perspective on the ordinary form I think it can be conducted reverently, it is obviously equally valid as with the EF but personally from my experiences of it, and the general situaiton at least in my part of australia (say hi to St Mary’s parish and the now expelled heretics) I honestly prefer the extraordinary form as it offers the timelessness, the reverence and the tradition in the fullness of the catholic faith, which unfortunatelly is not always expressed in the ordinary form. Those folksy masses are really just a load of hippies trying to be “cool” when in fact they are repulsing the young people of the church.
 
Hello J: Your post is inspiring. When I was 18, there was not EF available where I lived. I used to pray the services with an old missal, and listen to chant on vinyl records! It is wonderful that all over the world we can come together again at the traditional mass.

I really do believe that as more and more traditional masses are said, and we become re-acquainted with our traditions, that we will experience a tremendous renewal in the Church. With all the scandals that have been going on for 30 years or more, the resumption of the traditional mass the perfect medicine for what ails the Church.

God bless, and keep attending as often as you are able!
 
Thankyou for your kind words 🙂

and of course I will definitely attend as much as possible, which unfortunately at this moment is very little since driving isn;t possible for me at this present time and my parents are typical of the people of my country (irreligious with all the accompanying symptoms) and thus I must wait a few months till i get a provisional licence.

I’ve already promised to myself the first thing ill do when i get my licence is drive to mass 🙂
Just on a sidenote, I think the best way to get young people involved is to obviously restore the reverance and timelessness that the church so desperately needs to re-acquaint itself with and ensure in our schools and most importantly amongst families a proper catechesis.

The family is the first school and I think one of the fundamental causes of the current moral declien in the west is almost entirely due to the lack of teaching by parents to their children on the teachings of the faith. (Not just bible stories and vague fables about morals) All the problems in our society can inevitably be traced back to a failure at the family level to teach their children morals, and in the catholic community that means the authentic tradition and true teachings of the faith.

To ensure a proper catechisis though we need parents to live by example, live IN the faith. They need to not enforce the faith but lead children on a journey into the truth while explaining and genuinely teaching church dogma and WHY the church teaches what it teaches.This is of vital importance considering the anti-theist attitude of western society in general.

Just today, I had someone go on a diatribe against christianity in general and the Catholic Church in particular, stating such falsehoods as:

that everything the pope says is right (example used being if he said paedophilia is right), that it was an opressive monster in the middle ages, that it evolved from a fusion of the pagan cult of osiris, oriental beliefs and judaism, insulting the martyrs calling them mental retards for being killed in the name of God instead of rejecting the truth (and actually believing christianity to begin with lets not leave that out) , and of course saying catholicism is separate to christianity (this from a supposedly educated atheist) while of course saying immediately afterwards that catholicism is “(insert expression referring to fecal matter excreted from the posterior end of a cow)” (as is religion in general as said by this person) and opressive compared to supposed “christianity”.

This being an ordinary anti-theist godless reponse to the truth from a society that has fallen into a self absorbed degeneracy that can only lead to destruction. It is also a perfect example of why children need to properly catechised to respond to such an anti-catholic society in the west and to ensure they understand their faith.
 
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