Thanks.
I’ll be wed in a traditional Latin nuptial Mass this August (prayers, pls?) and father was explaining the difference. Usually it’s a Low Mass but with a little more pomp; bigshots have Solemn nuptial Masses. The rite of marriage happens before Mass begins, and after the Pater Noster there is a special blessing for the bride. Also, I think normally the Gloria and Credo are omitted, unless it’s also a special feast. The readings are always the same (not chosen by the couple) and read by the priest (not by the couple’s friends) and the music is mostly just the propers being sung, so we had very little work to do planning the Mass.
Wait a minute. This isn’t really right.
Of course, you’re right wasserfall. I didn’t mean to state it was some kind of rule. The Church doesn’t have a criteria for establishing “bigshots,” but we were happy when father suggested that a Low Mass is the usual kind.
I have been to many nuptial Masses in the EF and all but one were High Masses. Speaking as one who has been in the latin liturgy movement for many years, I think I can say that you will see that is the norm these days.
Well, we will have a schola singing the propers, but otherwise I think the rubrics are for Low Mass. Frankly, I don’t totally understand how to classify the kind of nuptial Mass it will be, but as long as we get married that’s okay with me.
I think you’re both talking about a missa cantata, but you’re calling it a high mass, and Rich is calling it a low mass.
That applies to actual traditional parishes/chapels, but these days some “novus ordo” couples are having traditional nuptial masses because they are solemn and grand. In such cases, the priest might well be diocesan, none of the participants or attendees traditional, and so who knows what might happen.
As an MC of many years’ experience, I am aware of the distinctions. However, in the 1962 missal (there were slight revisions in 1960 rubrics and terminology), there are two kinds of High Mass: Solemn (with deacon and subdeacon) and Sung (priest only). Thus, when one uses the term High Mass, it may be either a Solemn Mass or a Missa Cantata. In fact, in the 1962 missal, the correct term for the former is Solemn Mass, rather than Solemn High Mass, as previously.
I didn’t mean to imply that you were missing a distinction, Mr Chatter.
I guess we’ll see if it’s two or six when we get there. I’m just really thankful for a girl that loves the traditional Mass as much as I do.
You think that’s more important than how many candles are lit at mass?
