First EF Mass - Anything I need to know

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jwinch2 said:
It was an EF at a normally OF parish though they have been celebrating the EF for some time now to my understanding.
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Sounds like some not so good habits have carried over, you could help turn that around if you and some like-minded parishioners wanted to. I’d ask the priest to make a few instructional announcements from the pulpit or in the bulletin

We do not have greeters, no need for them since Mass isn’t a social affair. We don’t have a lot of talking in church before or after Mass and it is usually met with stern glares from the rest of the congregation. After Mass some noise carries in if the doors are held open and of course there is always a bit of baby noise, it’s their job after all. About all we hear before Mass is the communal praying of the rosary.

Don’t give up!
 
Bob_Aliano said:
Sounds like some not so good habits have carried over, you could help turn that around if you and some like-minded parishioners wanted to. I’d ask the priest to make a few instructional announcements from the pulpit or in the bulletin

We do not have greeters, no need for them since Mass isn’t a social affair. We don’t have a lot of talking in church before or after Mass and it is usually met with stern glares from the rest of the congregation. After Mass some noise carries in if the doors are held open and of course there is always a bit of baby noise, it’s their job after all. About all we hear before Mass is the communal praying of the rosary.

Don’t give up!
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Thanks. This was a one-time affair since we are out of town visiting family. In the town where we live, there is no EF Mass offered. However, as a point of reference, it was the people assisting with the set-up that were being loud, greeting each other, etc.
 
jwinch2 said:
Thanks. This was a one-time affair since we are out of town visiting family. In the town where we live, there is no EF Mass offered. However, as a point of reference, it was the people assisting with the set-up that were being loud, greeting each other, etc.
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That behavior isn’t acceptable in any church, EF or OF shouldn’t make a difference but it does seem more prevalent at OF churches in my experience and we do travel around the country and visit a number of parishes.
 
Bob_Aliano said:
That behavior isn’t acceptable in any church, EF or OF shouldn’t make a difference but it does seem more prevalent at OF churches in my experience and we do travel around the country and visit a number of parishes.
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I have noticed quite a bit of low talking or whispering before but that is the first time outside of a charismatic parish that I have seen that sort of thing…
 
jwinch2 said:
Agreed. My point was simply that many people on CAF seem to equate the EF of the Mass with people being respectful and reverent before, during, and afterwards.
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You’re more likely to see (or rather hear) silence at an all-EF parish or chapel. If it’s a church with a small or no vestibule at any church, good luck in trying to find a quiet spot in the church proper.
 
jwinch2 said:
Well, we just got home from our first EF Mass. It was nice, but that was about it. I have read many of the statements on here about how much more reverent it is or that I wouldn’t hear people talking before Mass and that everyone pays attention, or the homilies are better, etc. From our first impression, none of that was any different.

Don’t get me wrong, the homily was good and the experience overall was nice. However, there were really loud people greeting each other and making small talk before Mass and there were far more people not paying attention to what was going on, many not even making the attempt to follow along with the Missal, than I typically see at our parish OF Mass.

All in all, I would not go back. I am not giving up on the EF Mass and am willing to give it a shot somewhere else in the future, but my first impression is that I would rather go to a well done OF Mass. My wife agrees completely.

Sorry if this bothers anyone but I wanted to give an honest assessment of my experience.

Peace,
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Jason,

Thanks for reporting back.

I don’t see any talking before or after mass at my Parish, but it has one of the more reverent EF masses.

I’m glad you gave the EF a try and I hope you can visit one again.

There is a very reverent OF mass in my city, so I can understand why you might prefer your OF mass.

Aside from the talking, what else didn’t you like about it?
 
TrueLight said:
Aside from the talking, what else didn’t you like about it?
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I will try to answer. All of these things are things I suspected from watching the EF online and reading others’ thoughts on it, but I could not confirm until I experienced it for myself.

First, the Latin. I don’t mind some Latin in the liturgy from time to time but I do not prefer it to be the entire Mass. I cannot pray with my heart and mind engaged when I am trying to read the Latin at the same time. Perhaps, that comes with time, but I don’t think so as I have read quite a bit of Latin in my time. In an English Mass, I can close my eyes if I like, and just concentrate on listening to the priest and my prayers. I can get lost in the liturgy yet still understand what is going on. I cannot see myself doing that in a Latin Mass. I can see the getting lost part, as it is beautiful; but I cannot see doing so while still retaining an understanding and a level of participation in the Mass. I watched two or three people pray the rosary or do other prayers during the Mass, rather than do any of the responses or follow along. I can assure you that they had no idea what was being prayed in the Mass.

Also, I get the idea that the priest facing the altar is representative of facing East as well as leading the parish in prayer. However, I cannot see how anything is being led, when half of the words of the priest are drowned out by music played at the same time. If his words are so quiet (which I get is part of the EF Mass), then he isn’t leading anything. Rather, he is doing it by himself. Other than communion, the members of the parish are ancillary to the Mass, rather than part of it. I don’t enjoy that.

Finally, less Scripture. There was an Epistle, Psalm, and the Gospel reading. The Epistle and the Gospel was repeated in English, but not the Psalm. I like having the OT reading and cannot see why the Psalm would not have been repeated in English also.

There are other things which I could probably dig up, but those are the first that come to mind.

So, I guess at this time I would have to say that while I prefer more traditional practices (chant, incense, sung prayer, organ vs. other instruments) within the OF of the Mass, and definitely am a traditionalist when it comes to teaching and spirituality, I am not a traditionalist when it comes to preferring the EF over the OF of the Mass. While I do intend to give the EF another chance at some point, I prefer the OF at this time providing it is done properly, and particularly with the new translation.
 
My first experience with the EF mass was terrible. I had dreamt about an EF for years, and then, suddenly: “Is this it? I prefer a latin OF”. However, if you go 2, 3, 4 times, you will eventually fall in love for this mass. 🙂

In my opinion, nobody should attend only ONE EF mass. You should commit to go 4-5 times, and then, if you don’t like, forget about it!
 
sicutincensum said:
In my opinion, nobody should attend only ONE EF mass. You should commit to go 4-5 times, and then, if you don’t like, forget about it!
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I don’t have that option where I live or I may consider it. When I travel to another place that has an EF Mass nearby, I will likely give it another shot.
 
I think in the beginning, when you are not used to it, it can be a little perplexing/awkward.

One of my first threads on CAF went something like, “Do you really understand everything that is going on in the Latin mass?” I didn’t understand everything, but it felt right. So I went out and purchased “The Latin Mass Explained” and it helped a lot.

I thought I had to understand every word and that is just not true. I’ve been attending EFs enough to know what is happening at different points and the symbolism so I can align my prayers at the different points.

I can also close my eyes and pray when the choir is singing as well as I prepare myself to receive communion.

At an EF mass, you will have some people who are new and some who have been attending for a while.

At my Latin mass, most of the people seem to know the responses and gestures, but occasionally, you will see some people who are obviously new. I say a short prayer for the newbies - because they, like you, have gone out on a limb to try something new.

I have heard about people praying the Rosary. I personally don’t like that, but I haven’t seen that yet.
 
TrueLight said:
At my Latin mass,** most of the people seem to know the responses and gestures, but occasionally, you will see some people who are obviously new.** I say a short prayer for the newbies - because they, like you, have gone out on a limb to try something new.
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Before I got my own copy of the 1962 Missal, I would generally look in the forward pews for signs it was time to do a certain thing. This actually had the opposite effect on a few occasions:
  1. First time, my chosen (unbeknownst to them) guide went to scratch their nose. I ended up realizing halfway through my own Sign of the Cross that NO ONE else was doing it. 😊
  2. Again, watching someone who seemed to know what they were doing, they got up. Well, I see them start to rise, so I start to rise ( the congregation isn’t as in sync as the Altar Boys). Turns out they were just leaving the sanctuary for a moment for whatever reason. Cue Jon acting as if he was ust adjusting himself on the kneeler. :p:shrug:
Adventures in new things!

I definitely recommend going early, and honing in on someone with a Missal who appears older and just saying, 'Hi, I’m N., I’m new here. Could I sit with you so I can follow along better?"

Personally, I find the bare bones Low Mass to be more friendly for learning. I’m able to ID words easier and find my place in case I get off track during a silent portion. The only “place” I definitely know I’m at during worship, in the sung Mass, is church. I get so lost. Can’t identify any words when the choir sings. It’s (sung Mass) beautiful, but, at this point largely a situation of viewing more than actively participating via the missal. That is one of the many reasons I attend daily Mass as much as possible- it’s not confusing for me. Though, really, the sung version wouldn’t either, if I could identify more than a melody and syllables which are 2 minutes a piece. 😃 Beautiful syllables though.
 
jonbhorton said:
Before I got my own copy of the 1962 Missal, I would generally look in the forward pews for signs it was time to do a certain thing. This actually had the opposite effect on a few occasions:
  1. First time, my chosen (unbeknownst to them) guide went to scratch their nose. I ended up realizing halfway through my own Sign of the Cross that NO ONE else was doing it. 😊
  2. Again, watching someone who seemed to know what they were doing, they got up. Well, I see them start to rise, so I start to rise ( the congregation isn’t as in sync as the Altar Boys). Turns out they were just leaving the sanctuary for a moment for whatever reason. Cue Jon acting as if he was ust adjusting himself on the kneeler. :p:shrug:
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Ha ha!
 
jonbhorton said:
I definitely recommend going early, and honing in on someone with a Missal who appears older and just saying, 'Hi, I’m N., I’m new here. Could I sit with you so I can follow along better?"
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I tried doing that the first time I went. I went early and there was one lady at the right back pew. I walked all the way back and sat in her pew, with the intention of asking her. When I started to move along the pew towards her I got an expression on her face that pretty much said “What on earth are you doing?”. I felt like a fool so I quickly ‘went to the toilet’, aka, finding the priest. :o
 
MartyrForJesus said:
I tried doing that the first time I went. I went early and there was one lady at the right back pew. I walked all the way back and sat in her pew, with the intention of asking her.** When I started to move along the pew towards her** I got an expression on her face that pretty much said “What on earth are you doing?”. I felt like a fool so I quickly ‘went to the toilet’, aka, finding the priest. :o
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http://www.ciccparenting.org/newsimages/sat_choice.jpg
 
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