Contemplative aspect of the Gregorian Mass

[Ora_et_Labora_1]

I have heard many times that the Gregorian Mass is a Mass more given to contemplation given that the majority of the Canon is silent. What I would like to know is was it always like that, or was this something that devolped gradually or after Trent? As to the other Western “rites” (I believe the appropriate term is “usage”?) that still exist, and others that existed before Trent, did they also have this pervalence of silence? I ask because in the Divine Liturgy there is virtually never a silent moment given that it is sung in its intirety, and so I was left wondering.

 

[IntegraCatholic]

I have heard many times that the Gregorian Mass is a Mass more given to contemplation given that the majority of the Canon is silent. What I would like to know is was it always like that, or was this something that devolped gradually or after Trent? As to the other Western “rites” (I believe the appropriate term is “usage”?) that still exist, and others that existed before Trent, did they also have this pervalence of silence? I ask because in the Divine Liturgy there is virtually never a silent moment given that it is sung in its intirety, and so I was left wondering.

Yes, this is an ancient custom in all the West. Correct me if I am wrong (I’ve never been to an Eastern Rite), but the Canon portion of the Eastern Rite is also silent, is it not? The singing that is going on is not actually the priest saying the Canon but rather the choir singing something else, no? I could be completely wrong, but that is what I always assumed, especially considering they have an iconostasis and all that. The reason for this is two-fold: 1. the priest is here (and at other places when he speaks silently) interceding immediately on behalf of the faithful to God; the faithful do not have any direct liturgical role in what is being said at this point, and 2. our Lord was born in silence at Bethlehem and adored by our Lady and the Magi in silence; it is the most fitting expression of reverence for so sacred an event.

 

[Ora_et_Labora_1]

Yes, this is an ancient custom in all the West. Correct me if I am wrong (I’ve never been to an Eastern Rite), but the Canon portion of the Eastern Rite is also silent, is it not? The singing that is going on is not actually the priest saying the Canon but rather the choir singing something else, no? I could be completely wrong, but that is what I always assumed, especially considering they have an iconostasis and all that. The reason for this is two-fold: 1. the priest is here (and at other places when he speaks silently) interceding immediately on behalf of the faithful to God; the faithful do not have any direct liturgical role in what is being said at this point, and 2. our Lord was born in silence at Bethlehem and adored by our Lady and the Magi in silence; it is the most fitting expression of reverence for so sacred an event.

Correct: the priest is behind the iconostasis saying the prayers silently while the congregation/choir sings something else. I am a Roman Catholic and attend the Gregorian Mass on Sundays It is always a Low Mass; I’ve never been to a High Mass. Does the Choir sing during the Canon, or is it completely silent as well?

 

[IntegraCatholic]

Oh, yes, the choir sings the Sanctus during the first part of the canon and the Benedictus after the Consecration (unless it is short, when they just sing it entirely before the Consecration). There isn’t really any silence at all during a high Mass. The only time there would be is after the consecration and before the Pater, but even with a short Sanctus/Benedictus, the organ may be played or a motet sung.

The low Mass is silent because it is designed as a private Mass with no ceremony. The solemn Mass (with deacon and subdeacon) ought to be the principle Mass of a parish everyday with the other priests saying private Masses or public low Masses. This allows for both authentic Catholic expressions of worship: the more contemplative through the low Mass and the more external (though still contemplative) in the high Mass. Unfortunately, due to lack of clergy, having the high Mass so frequently is rarely possible. At the FSSP parish I go to, we used to be able to have high Mass 2 or 3 times per week, though, lamentably, this is no longer the case. We now only have high Mass on Sunday to poorly orchestrated and uninspiring polyphonic settings.

 

[PadraigPearce]

One of the main things the old mass has going for it, in my opinion, is that the silent portions of the mass are built in and are just as meaningful as the audible portions. The silent parts are usually when the priest is praying silently, so it creates a very prayerful silence. Even with the choir singing and liturgical actions happening at the altar the overall vibe is one of quiet and contemplation. In the Ordinary Form mass, those prayerful silences are almost non-existent. you might have a moment after the homily when the priest takes a moment to pray, or during the offertory, but it seems to be designed to have you doing something all the time, to take you out of yourself and force you to participate as a member of the congregation. (And yes, I know we always pray as the body of Christ, but there are different ways to participate, and this includes just praying silently.)