Attended my second Traditional (high) mass

[Rich_C]

I believe in the large Cathedrals of Europe during the Middle Ages the music during a High Mass was far more complicated than today. Each choir, musician, and leader had a different text for thier part of the Mass. There was no complete text for the people, only the priest and the musicians.
I’ll start a thread on the subject, and look it up later today.

It’s true. At one time what is in the missal was bound in several different books for different persons to use during Mass, each to their role. The details escape me, though.

The development of low Mass and the missal came about the same time because both provided a way for priest to travel lightly and say Mass without much assistance, such as on missions.

 

[jam070406]

Historically since the Mass is a prayer and not a Protestant-like “service”, people’s understanding of every word and gesture the priest gave was not important to them. In fact, Catholics 1000 years ago would have looked very confused if you wanted a complete translation of the Mass. Silence was also a major part of the Mass and considered very important. If one chose to pray during those “silent” parts they were many times encouraged to.
It irritates me when I hear modern Catholics say things like “those little old ladies who prayed the Rosary during Mass…” As if they were doing something wrong. The Mass was and is a prayer, praying is to be encouraged. When the priest prays toward the Tabernacle the people pray with him.
In fact, I’ll have to look it up, but I don’t think handmissals were even used until the 19th century.

This really is an excellent point! I am able to enter into deep deep prayer at the EF. It’s beautiful.

 

[newyorkcatholic]

It’s true. At one time what is in the missal was bound in several different books for different persons to use during Mass, each to their role. The details escape me, though.

The development of low Mass and the missal came about the same time because both provided a way for priest to travel lightly and say Mass without much assistance, such as on missions.

This is still seen in a Pontifical Mass. Or even in High Mass, the subdeacon chants the Epistle and the deacon chants the Gospel from a separate book … the Missal stays on the altar. Originally they were separate - the “Sacramentary” and the “Lectionary.” (Terms that have been revived, even if the books they refer to look quite different in many ways).

 

[SeekNFind]

I am planning to attend my 3rd latin Mass (and 1st as a Catholic). The first two times I went, I had trouble following but I plan to really try and understand/follow-along. The only thing I’m worried about is receiving on the tongue. I receive in my hands because I’m worried about the host falling out of my mouth but I guess I’ll try it on the tongue tomorrow. We’ll see!

 

[Cat]

I believe in the large Cathedrals of Europe during the Middle Ages the music during a High Mass was far more complicated than today. Each choir, musician, and leader had a different text for thier part of the Mass. There was no complete text for the people, only the priest and the musicians.
I’ll start a thread on the subject, and look it up later today.

And I’m fairly certain that these musicians were considered patrons of the Church, and received a salary for their work. In fact, I think a lot of musicians relied on the Church for their living while they composed and performed. The Church used to be a center for the development of beautiful music.

Perhaps if musicians received an adequate monetary compensation for hard work, you would see more of them making beautiful music in the Catholic parishes in the U.S…

And of course, when people are paid by a company, they are beholden to that company, to follow the Mission Statement of that company and do what the company wants them to do, instead of doing what they want to do. Getting paid a salary and knowing that you can be fired and lose that salary makes people a lot more compliant to company policies.

I just find it odd that Catholic musicians generally have to make a living doing everything BUT composing and presenting beautiful music for Mass. No wonder we don’t see really good Mass music, either traditional or modern, in many local parishes today. Exceptions would be in the big cities, or parishes in university towns and cities. But the rest of us–sigh. I consider us lucky to have a full-time music minister at our parish who is extremely talented. But I don’t think his salary is as much as he could make in a Protestant church as a music minister. Why not? If we want good music in Mass, shouldn’t we be willing to pay for it? (In another thread, I list “expense” as one of the reasons why I don’t think the Latin Mass will last, although others assure me that the Latin Mass can be offered extremely cheap.)

A little off-topic, but after all, music is a major part of the EF Mass, and the kind of music that makes a beautiful EF Mass is kind of rare these days.

 

[JustaServant]

I just find it odd that Catholic musicians generally have to make a living doing everything BUT composing and presenting beautiful music for Mass. .

Many of the great composers of Classical Beethoven, Motzart, Handal, and many many others composed music for the Mass.

 

[ProVobis]

I just find it odd that Catholic musicians generally have to make a living doing everything BUT composing and presenting beautiful music for Mass. No wonder we don’t see really good Mass music, either traditional or modern, in many local parishes today.

Perhaps a sign of the times? A lot of parishes went into hard times by having to purchase an overload of copyrighted material. So where do they have the funds to pay musicians?

 

[Rich_C]

I am planning to attend my 3rd latin Mass (and 1st as a Catholic). The first two times I went, I had trouble following but I plan to really try and understand/follow-along. The only thing I’m worried about is receiving on the tongue. I receive in my hands because I’m worried about the host falling out of my mouth but I guess I’ll try it on the tongue tomorrow. We’ll see!

As the priest gives you Holy Communion, an altar server will hold a golden plate under your chin, called a “paten,” to prevent the Host from falling on the floor in the worst case.

I hope that helps you relax. Also, remember not to say, “Amen.” Have a blessed Mass!

 

[SeekNFind]

As the priest gives you Holy Communion, an altar server will hold a golden plate under your chin, called a “paten,” to prevent the Host from falling on the floor in the worst case.

I hope that helps you relax. Also, remember not to say, “Amen.” Have a blessed Mass!

I was shaking a bit lol.

So, I don’t think I’ll be going regularly to the Latin Mass. I was super distracted trying to follow along in the missal. I was not able to hear what the priest was saying. No one seemed to be saying the responses. Maybe I need to go to a Missa Cantata or High Mass with the music and incense. . .Hey, I gave it three tries.

 

[Rich_C]

See my PM.

Generally, the best advice I received when I assisted at my first Extraordinary Form Mass last spring was to start with a Solemn Mass or High Mass, and just watch prayerful and experience it, and wait until I’d been to a few before trying to follow in the hand missal.

I got swept up in the beauty of it, and prayed more deeply than I imagined. Later I had time to learn the content of the missal well and learn the cues that tell the laity what’s happening. Remember at one time in your life the Ordinary Form Mass was over your head, too and you didn’t know what to do next. With time you’ll know the EF as well as you now know the OF.

It’s worth the learning curve, trust me.

 

[SeekNFind]

See my PM.

Generally, the best advice I received when I assisted at my first Extraordinary Form Mass last spring was to start with a Solemn Mass or High Mass, and just watch prayerful and experience it, and wait until I’d been to a few before trying to follow in the hand missal.

I got swept up in the beauty of it, and prayed more deeply than I imagined. Later I had time to learn the content of the missal well and learn the cues that tell the laity what’s happening. Remember at one time in your life the Ordinary Form Mass was over your head, too and you didn’t know what to do next. With time you’ll know the EF as well as you now know the OF.

It’s worth the learning curve, trust me.

Thank you for your comment and PM.