First EF MASS...very beautiful

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Blessed_Karl

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Hello everyone. Two years of reading about the EF and I finally decided to get up and go to one. It was a sung mass and was amazing.

A few thoughts:

1st-It was very very beautiful. I was fascinated by even the most minute details and rituals such as the servers holding the priest’s capa to the sprinkling of holy water and incense to,well, everything. It seems that the priests and servers timed everything they did with precision and attached such importance to everything.

2nd- at times it was a little difficult to understand. I had a free missal I got when I entered the church. I was able to follow along most of the way but sometimes I found myself falling behind the priest. He did not enunciate all the words and many of the words were spoken silently. Nevertheless, this missal thankfully said, at each part of the mass, what the priest physically did. Thus I was able to get little hints about where we were at times.

3rd- I have NEVER been to a mass with Gregorian Chant, Latin, Ad orientem worship, or kneeling to recieve the Eucharist. All of these things were AMAZING. The chant was beautiful and the ad orientem worship did indeed give a sense of the sacred.

4th-the prayers of the mass. Honestly some of these prayers had me wondering “why were these cut out of the NO missal?!” They were beautiful with focuses on the Trinity and sin and salvation. I actually managed to buy a cheap three dollar paperback missal at the church and I went over it today just to look at some of these prayers.

5th- THe community. I hate to hear the “TLM does NOT inspire community! The priest is there by himself on the altar and ya’all watch!”
  1. There were responses on the part of the laity
  2. I don’t know how but just watching the priest…in some sense I did feel united to what was going on at the altar.
  3. The peopel at this church were SO nice. After mass there was food and socializing. I knew NO ONE there. I had never been to this church before. But people were talking to me and being so kind and introducing themselves to me. This never happened at any other Catholic church I ever went to before…
6th: This is for all of you who are in doubt about the relevance or have just never been given the chance to go. Of for those of you who are on the fence or looking for something: DO IT.
-It seems wierd at first. But it really is worth it. Do it, do it more than once and then make up your mind.
I went to the Traditional mass yesterday for the first time…if it weren’t for family obligations I would go to that church every Sunday.

7th: BTW: the church is Holy Rosary Church in Jersey City. Great liturgy, great pastor, great people.
 
I am glas you enjoyed the Extraordinary Mass. I wish it was celebrated like that around here. Our Extraordinary is a low Mass, ever since the MP was released. It’s more utilitarian than beautiful but at least it’s there.
 
It’s great to hear your reactions - it’s more or less the same I had. I’ve also found the same thing at trad parishes, where they are very welcoming (and by that, I mean more authentic than just having someone stand at the door saying “Hello” as you walk in).

I hope you continue attending!
 
Congratulations…I am really glad you got a chance to experience it…I wish everyone could as well.
 
Blessed_Karl said:
  1. The peopel at this church were SO nice. After mass there was food and socializing. I knew NO ONE there. I had never been to this church before. But people were talking to me and being so kind and introducing themselves to me. This never happened at any other Catholic church I ever went to before…
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Mention this at FE. I think a couple of them go to Mass at this parish.
 
I think Jacfamala (on here and FE) is from that same parish? He/she (?) was recently on another thread in the TradCath board here.
 
it sounds like you had a wonderful experience of a high mass or solemn high mass. you are so lucky to have that near you. not all bishops allow a high mass or solemn high mass. i hope you take advantage of something so special as often as you can.
 
I am interested in attending a Latin mass and a couple parishes have Latin masses where I live. How long is the mass? - I don’t care about the time but want to know what to expect. Also, do the women were veils? Thanks
 
Dachsie(name removed by moderator)

A low Mass last about an hour; sometimes less. A high Mass or a Missa Cantata can last up to 1 1/2 hours. Many people prefer a low Mass but I am “hooked” on High Masses with gregorian chant and polyphony. A Pontifical Solemn High Mass can be about 2 hours long but worth every minute.

It will be well worth ANY extra effort to attend any of theses Masses.

Blessed Karl found that out.
 
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