First EF Mass

[Rachel_1]

Hi,
I had the pleasure of attending my first EF Mass today here: louisville-catholic.net - Generally I go to my parish mostly (I attend daily Mass) but I drive 50 miles to this parish 3 times a week when I can’t go to my parish.
I finally decided to attend an EF Mass which this parish has. I thought it was beautiful, very reverent however I couldn’t follow along for anything. I even had a missal to follow along, but it was impossible.
Of course before Aug I had never even been to a Mass at all except once (when I didn’t pay attention) so I’m still learning everything from the OF too.
Does anyone have a way to help a newbie learn how to follow along in an EF Mass?
Should I just keep going to the EF Masses and maybe somehow I’ll start understanding or be able to follow along eventually?

 

[Revs96]

If you’ve never been to or seen a particular EF Mass before (Low, Sung, Solemn, or Pontifical) then you’ll be lost the first 1 or 2 times until you get used to it. The first time I went to a Low Mass, never having been to one, I found it hard to follow along, even with a missal. The second time was much easier as I knew what to expect at each point. The third time I was really into the flow of things. Now I serve the EF regularly. You can use www.sanctamissa.org to familiarize yourself with the different types of Masses and even watch recordings of them.

 

[Swiss_Guard]

Does anyone have a way to help a newbie learn how to follow along in an EF Mass?

The Coalition in Support of Ecclesia Dei has books and videos which help explain the EF Mass. They also have a booklet missal which has directions on what to do at the different parts of the Mass in the margins. Check out their website at www.ecclesiadei.org

 

[Revs96]

To simplify the different types of Masses described on SanctaMissa,

Missa Lecta-Read Mass (Low Mass)-recited by a priest. no incense. two lit candles on Altar.

Missa Cantata-Sung Mass (High Mass)-chanted by a priest. might have incense. six candles

Missa Solemnis-Solemn Mass (Solemn High Mass)-chanted by a priest, deacon,
and subdeacon. always has incense. six candles.

Missa Pontificalis-Pontifical Mass (Pontifical High Mass)-chanted by a bishop,
priest, deacon, and subdeacon always has incense. seven candles.

 

[Rachel_1]

To simplify the different types of Masses described on SanctaMissa,

Missa Lecta-Read Mass (Low Mass)-recited by a priest. no incense. two lit candles on Altar.

Missa Cantata-Sung Mass (High Mass)-chanted by a priest. might have incense. six candles

Missa Solemnis-Solemn Mass (Solemn High Mass)-chanted by a priest, deacon,
and subdeacon. always has incense. six candles.

Missa Pontificalis-Pontifical Mass (Pontifical High Mass)-chanted by a bishop,
priest, deacon, and subdeacon always has incense. seven candles.

Hmm, I saw four lit on the top and two lower but I am not sure if they were lit or not (I sat kind of in back because I knew I’d probably be lost lol). There was incense (which smelled GREAT btw and didn’t make me sneezey!)
I don’t know if it was a priest, deacon, bishop or what saying Mass. I know it wasn’t the normal priest that does OF, although he was there like helping out. Whoever was doing the Mass had a little black hat thingy on if that helps.
BTW, I should clarify that I’m not meaning any disrespect by how I’m explaining. I’m very much new to all of this. I’m in RCIA right now.
Also, I couldn’t tell if they were chanting or singing? It kind of sounded like both?

 

[preV2tradcath]

Hmm, I saw four lit on the top and two lower but I am not sure if they were lit or not (I sat kind of in back because I knew I’d probably be lost lol). There was incense (which smelled GREAT btw and didn’t make me sneezey!)
I don’t know if it was a priest, deacon, bishop or what saying Mass. I know it wasn’t the normal priest that does OF, although he was there like helping out. Whoever was doing the Mass had a little black hat thingy on if that helps.
BTW, I should clarify that I’m not meaning any disrespect by how I’m explaining. I’m very much new to all of this. I’m in RCIA right now.
Also, I couldn’t tell if they were chanting or singing? It kind of sounded like both?

A deacon can’t say Mass, so it must have been a priest. The deacon can proclaim the Gospel. At a solemn high Mass it is the deacon who chants it.
The biretta is the hat he wore in the procession.
I am the head server for our EF (or Traditional Latin) Mass. We light 6 candels for a Missa Cantata, though I have read that 4 are acceptible.

 

[mick321]

Hi,
I had the pleasure of attending my first EF Mass today here: louisville-catholic.net - Generally I go to my parish mostly (I attend daily Mass) but I drive 50 miles to this parish 3 times a week when I can’t go to my parish.
I finally decided to attend an EF Mass which this parish has. I thought it was beautiful, very reverent however I couldn’t follow along for anything. I even had a missal to follow along, but it was impossible.
Of course before Aug I had never even been to a Mass at all except once (when I didn’t pay attention) so I’m still learning everything from the OF too.
Does anyone have a way to help a newbie learn how to follow along in an EF Mass?
Should I just keep going to the EF Masses and maybe somehow I’ll start understanding or be able to follow along eventually?

Welcome to the varsity. The mere fact that you expressed interest in learning Latin for the Holy Mass puts you ahead of many Catholic priests in that regard.

Attend and assist in the Extraordinary Form Low Mass as often as possible. Spoken Latin is easier to follow than the sung and chanted Latin of the High Masses.

Obtain one of the red Latin-English Booklet Missals available here:
amazon.com/English-Booklet-Missal-Praying-Traditional/dp/9994674188

Read it in your spare time until you are familiar with the order of the mass. Find the prayers which you are already know in English. Begin with Sign of the Cross, the Confiteor, the Gloria, the Nicene Creed and the Pater Noster. Read them aloud in Latin and pay special attention to the opening line of each.

Next time you attend mass, listen to how the priest and servers pronounce the words of the prayers. Practice at home. Add more prayers from the Mass and the Rosary. Pray more. Don’t look back.

Fantastic online resource with line by line translation of the Ordinary of the Mass is available here:
gmr.sourceforge.net/grammar/gmr.html