I attended my first TLM today and really enjoyed it. I found it to be very beautiful. I can see why some people prefer it and some don’t, however. I took some previous advice given here and left the missal at home so that I could just concentrate on what was going on. But that led me to feel a little insignificant (I know this sounds greedy of me), so I grabbed one of the missals in the pew and found the proper place. After reading the different prayers that were being said, I realized that the priest was praying for me (and everyone) on my behalf and I felt very humbled (this is when I really started appreciating the TLM). I plan to go back as often as possible.
I do have some questions:
When the priest approaches me with the Holy Communion and blesses me (is that what he’s doing with the blessing motion?), do I look at the Eucharist, him, or just stare straight ahead?
Where should my hands be? On the communion rail or off? I saw some people doing both.
After I receive Holy Communion and I am returning to the pew, do I turn around and genuflect before doing so? Again, some did and some didn’t. I did not do it and got a couple of dirty looks.
On a side note, I arrived at the parish kind of early as the OF Mass was not yet finished. I normally don’t pay attention to how others are dressed (as long as it’s modest, I don’t fuss about it) but there was a drastic difference in how the OF Mass goers were dressed and how the TLM’ers were dressed. It looked like a baseball game had just ended and dinner at NYC’s Le Bernardin was beginning. Anyways, I mention all of this because the people in the OF Mass were dressed low for even my standards: Nationals jackets and cleavage everywhere. It was just strange how two totally different environments collided at a parish. There were some people at the TLM dressed in jeans, but they looked respectable.
I think you can do either, I like to put my hands down by my sides instead of on the communion rail.
After I receive Holy Communion and I am returning to the pew, do I turn around and genuflect before doing so? Again, some did and some didn’t. I did not do it and got a couple of dirty looks.
Again, I think you can do either, I don’t (and no one in my parish does) genuflect before going to the pew after receiving. Jesus is out of the tabernacle, he is inside you, a genuflect is not mandatory.
When the priest approaches me with the Holy Communion and blesses me (is that what he’s doing with the blessing motion?), do I look at the Eucharist, him, or just stare straight ahead? .
Good question! I’ve never thought about it! I’m vaguely aware of Father speaking and making the blessing, but honestly at that moment, I’m focused on the Lord. It’s like everything else just goes away for a bit…
I have my books in my hands and I rest them on the rail. Others either do the folded hands or the “praying hands” position, again usually on the rail, but I’ve seen a few do otherwise. Whichever feels right for you.
After I receive Holy Communion and I am returning to the pew, do I turn around and genuflect before doing so? Again, some did and some didn’t. I did not do it and got a couple of dirty looks. .
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I’m vaguely aware of Father speaking and making the blessing, but honestly at that moment, I’m focused on the Lord. It’s like everything else just goes away for a bit…