Considering attending an EF mass but need advice

[PerfectTiming]

I’m 20 and yesterday I wore a veil to mass for the first time. I’ve been thinking for a while I wanted to try it and I really felt like it was something God wanted me personally to do. It was an OF mass and I was the only one with a veil, but no-one paid any particular attention to me.

My parish does on occasion have EF masses during the week, though I don’t know how often they run. I’ve never been to an EF mass before but I want to go at least once, partially out of curiosity and partially because now I want to wear a veil it might be nice to not feel the odd one out. But because I’ve never been I feel really nervous about it, especially the whole Latin thing. I mean I can understand some Latin because I speak Spanish and Portuguese and understand French but obviously I don’t know the responses or the order of the mass or anything.

Can anyone give me any advice or point me towards something that might explain it to me?

 

[archangel04]

I’m 20 and yesterday I wore a veil to mass for the first time. I’ve been thinking for a while I wanted to try it and I really felt like it was something God wanted me personally to do. It was an OF mass and I was the only one with a veil, but no-one paid any particular attention to me.

My parish does on occasion have EF masses during the week, though I don’t know how often they run. I’ve never been to an EF mass before but I want to go at least once, partially out of curiosity and partially because now I want to wear a veil it might be nice to not feel the odd one out. But because I’ve never been I feel really nervous about it, especially the whole Latin thing. I mean I can understand some Latin because I speak Spanish and Portuguese and understand French but obviously I don’t know the responses or the order of the mass or anything.

Can anyone give me any advice or point me towards something that might explain it to me?

You can wear your vail at the OF when ever you want, you have that right. As long as your not doing it to feel hollier than thou. At the EF not every woman wears one it’s not required. My advise if you go to the EF is pretty much pay attention to the mass, don’t worry much about the missal since you will probably get lost, at least thats what happen to me. Go to youtube and search latin mass, or tridentine mass where they have videos of the mass. Also, you mention your parish has daily EF mass, just know that most daily EF masses are what they call “low mass” where there so no singing and the priest words are usually silent so you really won’t hear anything. Compare to a Sunday “high mass” which of course does have chant and the priest does speak in a louder voice.

 

[wsxyz]

Can anyone give me any advice or point me towards something that might explain it to me?

If you want to read the text of the Mass, here’s a link:

sanctamissa.org/en/tutorial/ordo-missae-0.html

I suggest you go maybe 2 or 3 times to experience the Mass without trying to follow everything in a Missal while you are there. Of course, preparation beforehand is fine and will be useful. Once you have a little familiarity with the Mass and know what to expect, you wil have an easier time following in a Missal if you want to.

 

[wsxyz]

Sorry I should have included this in my first reply…

If you are not averse to spending about $15, there is a very nice book in comic book format called “Know Your Mass” that explains the Mass.

amazon.com/Know-Your-Demetrius-Manousos-F-M/dp/1892331446

 

[TrueLight]

Some churches either have the small Latin/English missal booklets in the pews or sell them in their bookstore.

You can buy it here: missal booklet for $7.

 

[wsxyz]

Another good one is this one:

angeluspress.org/oscatalog/item/8266/for-the-visitor-at-mass

To the O.P. - these little missalettes are usually available at the Church when you go to a traditional Mass, so you don’t have to buy your own. But it is nice to be able to have one at home and read through it at your leisure.

 

[PerfectTiming]

You can wear your vail at the OF when ever you want, you have that right. As long as your not doing it to feel hollier than thou.

Oh no not at all, it’s just something I feel called to do. When I wore a veil to mass I felt like I was doing what God wanted me to do. I don’t think I’m better than anyone else for doing it, it’s such a personal thing. That’s all it is. I do plan to keep wearing my veil to OF mass.

Also, you mention your parish has daily EF mass, just know that most daily EF masses are what they call “low mass” where there so no singing and the priest words are usually silent so you really won’t hear anything. Compare to a Sunday “high mass” which of course does have chant and the priest does speak in a louder voice.

Oh okay I didn’t know there was a difference. I don’t know which they do, it’s only once a month or so that they have an EF mass.

wsxyz:

If you want to read the text of the Mass, here’s a link:

sanctamissa.org/en/tutori…-missae-0.html

I suggest you go maybe 2 or 3 times to experience the Mass without trying to follow everything in a Missal while you are there. Of course, preparation beforehand is fine and will be useful. Once you have a little familiarity with the Mass and know what to expect, you wil have an easier time following in a Missal if you want to.

Thank you, that’s really helpful. I do worry about not knowing what to do at what time.

TrueLight:

Some churches either have the small Latin/English missal booklets in the pews or sell them in their bookstore.

You can buy it here: missal booklet for $7.

Thank you!

 

[Cider]

Just go and follow what everyone else does. Check in the narthex when you get to church they might have missal booklets for the EF there, if they do not keep any in the pews.