Attending a Tridentine Mass for the first time

[preV2tradcath]

Hello and thank you for responding,
What do all those initials mean? How do I know what an EF is? This church only offers the Latin/Tridentine Mass. The Mass we attended was entirely in Latin, with very helpful red Missals that had Latin on the left page and English on the right. Do you ever feel left out of the Mass because it is completely quiet? How do I convince my dearest Husband to make this our home Parish?
Thank you again,

Consecrated One

EF = ExtraordinaryForm of the Mass. This is what Pope Benedict called the Traditional Latin/Tridentine Mass in his apostolic letter Summorum Pontificum on the pre Vatican II liturgy.
You canclick here to read Summorum Pontificum.

 

[consecrated_one]

Very informative.
Thank you very much,
Consecrated One

 

[Semper_Eadem]

Been to a Tridentine Mass once - Mater Ecclesiae in Berlin, New Jersey USA. Not a bad Mass, but I could do without the incense.

The only thing I don’t like about the Tridentine Mass is the kneeling. It takes me awhile to kneel and get up - by the time I’m kneeling, the Priest has already moved on down the rail and left me there - I have to wait until the next “go around” to receive.

 

[consecrated_one]

Hello,
No insence, no Kyrie, no Gloria
Women in jeans
Never heard more than 10-20 words from the Priest.
Best part - kneeling to recieve Our Lord.
It wasn’t what I had longed for, or been told to expect.

Consecrated One

 

[preV2tradcath]

Hello,
No insence, no Kyrie, no Gloria
Women in jeans
Never heard more than 10-20 words from the Priest.
Best part - kneeling to recieve Our Lord.
It wasn’t what I had longed for, or been told to expect.

Consecrated One

There would be no Gloria today because it is a Sunday in Advent, though they should have done the Kyrie. A Low Mass doesn’t have incence, and the simple form of the Missa Cantata doesn’t either. It may have been one of those 2 Masses. I am not sure what you heard the priest say, but there are a lot more that he says in a low voice during an EF Mass. There are some things that only the altar boys hear, and others that even they aren’t suppose to be able to hear.
Just a possible explination of what happened.

 

[lorraine_peters]

My response goes beyond initial question, but literally has saved my life. I returned to
the Church about 6mos ago after a 44yr absence. I knew I wanted a traditional
one from my experiences of youth ( I am 62yrs ). I attend a FSSP church. My absence
includes a lot of mental illness and immorality. The mental illness is a constant.
Our 3 priests rotate “being on call” as doctors do. There is an after hours number
that pages the priest on call and he returns your call within 2mins or less.

2 Fridays ago I was extremely suicidal ( 2 past attempts ) and I got the immediate
support I needed. I don’t know how many Catholic Churches do this ( regardless
of form ). I thank God for the divine mercy and grace He has shown me in bringing
me back HOME ! ! !

 

[consecrated_one]

Greetings!
I appreciate both of your replies. I’m certainly grateful God has put you in a position with so many Priests who are able to provide such constant support.

Thank you for explaining why the Mass I was at differed from the more elaborate and moving Latin Masses I have heard so much about. I know the group had a fill- in Priest who may not have been very familiar with the Latin Mass, but God bless him for trying his best.
Thank you again for your help.
God Bless you both,
Consecrated One

 

[corsair]

Consecrated one,

I’m a little curious about your concern that the Mass may not be an approved Mass. As long as the Mass is in an approved parish by an approved priest (by the diocese) then it is OK. The only time I would be concerned is if it was sponsored by Society of St. Pius V, CMRI or an “independent” priest.

There those here who would want me to include Society of St. Pius X but that would not be entirely correct. SSPX Masses are valid but not licit (as yet) so its kind of like splitting hairs. I attend SSPX chapels several times a year when I’m near one. But most of the time I attend FSSP (Fraternity of St. Peter, approved by the Pope). When I can’t afford the gas to drive 120 miles each way, I attend a local OF (Ordinary Form) Mass.

God Bless

 

[consecrated_one]

Thank you very much,

Consecrated One

 

[fabricdragon]

Consecrated one,

I’m a little curious about your concern that the Mass may not be an approved Mass. As long as the Mass is in an approved parish by an approved priest (by the diocese) then it is OK. The only time I would be concerned is if it was sponsored by Society of St. Pius V, CMRI or an “independent” priest.

There those here who would want me to include Society of St. Pius X but that would not be entirely correct. SSPX Masses are valid but not licit (as yet) so its kind of like splitting hairs. I attend SSPX chapels several times a year when I’m near one. But most of the time I attend FSSP (Fraternity of St. Peter, approved by the Pope). When I can’t afford the gas to drive 120 miles each way, I attend a local OF (Ordinary Form) Mass.

God Bless

not the OPoster, but i know i would be concerned because i dont know what all those initials mean, and i g et them mixed up… but i KNOW some of the churches that do Latin are not in good standing (i guess that would be CMRI and possibly SSPX) and i wouldnt know how to tell if it was a “approved” church or not.

so its useful to ME to have the intials ineed to know laid out on a “approved, iffy, perfectly fine” basis.

i will confess that the first time i saw the abbreviations for the Redemptorists … i thought it was one of the “not in full communion” groups. and got very worried!

 

[Aboveallbereal]

What was your impression consecrated one? I personally always feel a bit guilty about “looking down” on the vernacular mass - it is the mass after all - but I have to say the beauty of the old ways just attracts me much more.

 

[Akini]

My first time to attend Latin Mass was in the late 50s and early 60s. I can vividly remember those years. Comparing Latin Mass with today’s, I can tell you the Latin Mass was very deep and solemn. It was truely Heaven on Earth as described in the Book of Revelation. Now, the celebration of Mass does not bring out the same deep feeling and reverence.

Forgive me if I sound too sentimental

 

[kites4sale]

I accept with information:You can expect it to be extremely reverent, so you’ll want to have your Sunday best, complete with a veil. If you don’t already have one, upon entering you’ll want to get a Latin-English Missal - usually a paperback, red in color, available at the front door. This Missal will be without the Proper for the day so check the pews to see if there are printed copies of the Proper for that day. You might also see if there are any good Missals in the lost and found. These will have all the Propers.

Nice thread - some good stuff to consider.

 

[Helen2009]

Yes, very nice thread. Thank-you! I have learned a lot from reading these posts. I have never been to a Latin Mass and am quite ignorant on the subject. (But not quite as ignorant now )

 

[whatischarity]

Having been to both the Latin Mass and the Mass in english, I would agree the Latin Mass is quieter and more reverent with all the attention being on the altar. On the other hand, there is much more partiicpation by the faithful during the English Mass and since the priest says the prayers aloud in English there is no issue following along. Since the congregation participates in the responses it can be more engaging than the latin Mass. One part of the rubrics of the English Mass on Sunday that I really like is getting the opportunity to wish other congregants the peace of Christ. Since one of the fundamental purposes of the Mass is to strenghten the bonds of Charity between those who are members of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Sign of Peace seems to me to be a really beneficial feature.

 

[Melek]

EF Masses have incense? I love incense. From what I’m reading here it sounds like EF environments are very spiritual. I might have to someday attend one.

 

[preV2tradcath]

EF Masses have incense? I love incense. From what I’m reading here it sounds like EF environments are very spiritual. I might have to someday attend one.

Just make sure it is a high Mass. There is no incense at a Low Mass.

 

[ljubim]

Hi consecrated one!

Did it change your life? That’s what it did for me :heaven:

 

[jonpd]

Having been to both the Latin Mass and the Mass in english, I would agree the Latin Mass is quieter and more reverent with all the attention being on the altar. On the other hand, there is much more partiicpation by the faithful during the English Mass and since the priest says the prayers aloud in English there is no issue following along. Since the congregation participates in the responses it can be more engaging than the latin Mass. One part of the rubrics of the English Mass on Sunday that I really like is getting the opportunity to wish other congregants the peace of Christ. Since one of the fundamental purposes of the Mass is to strenghten the bonds of Charity between those who are members of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Sign of Peace seems to me to be a really beneficial feature.

There is a lot of misunderstanding on the concept of participation. One does not have to be saying back the responses in order to participate. By following along in the missal you are just as involved in what is going on, in fact you are probably more involved.

An analogy I like to use (being a baseball fan) it is like the difference between watchng a game on TV where an announcer is telling you what is happening (that would be the OF) , and seeing a game in person at the stadium where you have to pay attention to know what is going on (the EF). Often when I watch a game at a stadium I keep score which forces me to pay attention to the action, analogous to using the missal.

Of course a Mass is easier in the sense that it is mostly the same every time (whereas every baseball game is different) so after a while you get to pick up the cues such as gestures by the priest, bells, etc. which help you keep your place in the missal.

 

[Adeodatus]

I’m glad that you decided to attend Mass in the Extraordinary Form! I find it truly edifying, serene and a great blessing.

If you’re worried about what is or is not approved, just avoid the group called SSPX. There was a controversy and some excommunications (now lifted) that is still being somewhat hashed out… no reason trying to wrap your head around that right now.

Just go to TLM (Tridentine Latin Mass) offered by the FSSP or by some other priest (where I attend it is offered by either a Jesuit or a diocesan priest) and reap the sweet fruit of this blessing! :heaven: