Can I ask a couple of stupid questions?

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leonie

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I’ve only been to a couple of Tridentine Masses. I’m hoping in light of recent developments, that my parish will begin offering one.

What would be involved that is not needed in the Pauline? For example, it seems you need a trained choir? There also seem to be a lot of servers—we use five in our Pauline. And, I’m happy to see that the local indult doesn’t use girl servers–is this specifically prohibited in the Tridentine?

Would training servers and developing a choir be a significant impediment to haviing a Tridentine Mass?
 
I’m not really qualified to answer your question. But I believe the Latin low mass could be prayed instead of the high mass, which has all the bells and whistles. The low mass, although I’ve never been to one, doesn’t use a choir and uses only a couple altar boys. Again, this is my completely uneducated perception.

As far as training people for the TLM…it would require a lot more than just being able to recite words. Reciting words is not praying the Mass. One would need a solid understanding of the translation. I think the better idea, for starters, would be to find a priest and a couple servers already trained in that form of the Roman Rite.

I’m seriously considering taking a poll at my parish to see how many would be interested in praying the TLM, and exercise Article 5 of the Motu Proprio.
 
There’s nothing wrong with having servers who are men. I was an altar boy from 1960 through 1968. Yes, I would have to brush up on the server’s actions but the Latin would not be difficult since we regularly sing Latin polyphony with my choir. Most parishes still have male parishoners over 50 and many of them were altar boys in the '60s.

A choir would not be a problem either. In my cathedral choir many of us are once again, over 50, and are used to Latin plainsong and chant. We have sung plainsong and chant as an ensemble within the choir in the past. It’s a matter of practice.

So parishes don’t have to go about reinventing the wheel. Parishes have resources at their fingertips…To quote a well-known movie…“I’m not dead yet!”
 
I have a stupid question too. Where would a convert like myself, who has never been to a TLM, and has limited familiarity with Latin, start to become educated? I’m very interested in learning more but am unsure where to begin.
 
Okay, another stupid question, would the Altar have to be moved? We have the “facing the congregation” type altar.
 
Mary, the first thing you will need is a 1962 missal. The missal contains the Ordinary of the Mass and there are clear explanations in small red letters. The Latin is on the left side of the page and the English translation is on the right.

I own two missals. One is an abbreviated version which back then was called one’s “little” missal. I got mine when I made my first Communion in 1958. The second is the full size missal or “big” missal which I got when I was confirmed in 1963. One learned to “follow” along with the Latin and reading the English. Over time, one observes that the Latin is not all that bad and one starts recognizing that many English words have their roots in Latin.

Do you have a Catholic bookstore near you? See if they have a copy and flip to the middle of the missal - that’s where the Mass is to be found.
 
leonie said:
Okay, another stupid question, would the Altar have to be moved? We have the “facing the congregation” type altar.
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That’s a very good question and one that I don’t have an answer to. We’re in the same boat as a cathedral parish.
 
brotherhrolf said:
Do you have a Catholic bookstore near you? See if they have a copy and flip to the middle of the missal - that’s where the Mass is to be found.
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I went to the Catholic bookstore here in town, they looked at me like I was crazy, and told me it was out of print. I laughed and said no it wasn’t. They asked why I needed it, and I said for attending the TLM. Someone said they didn’t offer those anymore. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I told them St. Anne’s offers it, and that there is a large Latin Mass community in Pittsburgh. They look confused. I bought my medals and left.
 
brotherhrolf said:
Thank you for that. It could be done quite easily although there would be considerable space behind the altar.
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beggars can’t be choosers 😉
I think it’s the easiest thing, and would make priests more receptive.
 
PatienceAndLove said:
I went to the Catholic bookstore here in town, they looked at me like I was crazy, and told me it was out of print. I laughed and said no it wasn’t. They asked why I needed it, and I said for attending the TLM. Someone said they didn’t offer those anymore. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I told them St. Anne’s offers it, and that there is a large Latin Mass community in Pittsburgh. They look confused. I bought my medals and left.
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Ouch. It’s definitely still in print. Amazon has them and our Catholic bookstore here probably has them in stock.
 
PatienceAndLove said:
beggars can’t be choosers 😉
I think it’s the easiest thing, and would make priests more receptive.
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Although the old high altar was taken down when the cathedral was remodeled in 65, all of the statuary, tabernacle, candle sticks etc was saved. Some of it is still in use. The vestments are still in the sanctuary as well. The choir loft got restored in 92 - we’re in business.
 
brotherhrolf said:
Although the old high altar was taken down when the cathedral was remodeled in 65, all of the statuary, tabernacle, candle sticks etc was saved. Some of it is still in use. The vestments are still in the sanctuary as well. The choir loft got restored in 92 - we’re in business.
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totally!

I guess we lucked out at St. Joe’s. We still have the high altar, along with the new one.
 
brotherhrolf said:
That’s a very good question and one that I don’t have an answer to. We’re in the same boat as a cathedral parish.
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Same here, although my cathedral parish is pretty much set up in other ways for a TLM. Even though there aren’t any communion rails, the sanctuary is elevated (the priest has to walk up a couple of steps to reach it).
 
Harking back to my youth, the only requirements as far as personnel for an ordinary High Mass would be one priest, 2 servers, and an organist who can sing. The rest of us including the congregation was superfluous. Need two servers so that one can lift the chausible and the second ring the bells at the elevations.

Low Mass can be done with one priest and one server.👍
 
rwoehmke said:
Harking back to my youth, the only requirements as far as personnel for an ordinary High Mass would be one priest, 2 servers, and an organist who can sing. The rest of us including the congregation was superfluous. Need two servers so that one can lift the chausible and the second ring the bells at the elevations.

Low Mass can be done with one priest and one server.👍
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That’s reassuring. 🙂
 
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