R
runningdude
Guest
I’m writing this thread as follow up to my previous post describing my experience growing up with the Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite, and not knowing that there was a more ancient form, today’s Extraordinary Form, that preceded it. I encourage you to please read my impressions about the Ordinary Form first, to understand my perspective going into the Extraordinary Form. For posters on my previous post, welcome back!
Here is the link to my previous post: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=500363
In my last post, I talked about how I grew up with a very reverently celebrated Ordinary Form, yet after reading many of the posts about the Extraordinary Form, started developing a burning desire to experience the reverence of the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite for myself. Today I’d like to share my impressions about my first traditional mass, which I attended yesterday at the parish designated by the diocese to host the Eclessia Dei ministry.
I’ve been preparing directly or indirectly for several months to visit the ancient Latin Mass. I’d read the English translation of the missal, studied the Latin text as best I could. I’d read about its history, and dates of its major and minor revisions. About the controversies and “suppressions” of other not-quite-so-ancient liturgies. I’d even attended reverently held Ordinary Form masses in Haitian Creole (a language that borrows from French and African dialects), as well as a mass in Spanish, so that the language barrier would be less of a shock.
The day I went was an immaculately beautiful fall day. I missed a turn on the way driving to the mass, and found myself on a gorgeous country back road. I arrived at the church and panicked, because the parking lot was empty! Fortunately there turned out to be a few cars parked in the back, so I hadn’t missed the mass, but it was sad that there were so few in attendance. Luckily I was just 10 minutes early, and more came.
I estimate the church was built in the fifties. I’d seen it before from the outside and didn’t think much of it. Entering though, it was clearly set up for the Extraordinary form. I can’t tell if it was a recent renovation to restore it from a past mauling in the “Spirit of Vatican II”, or if it was the original alter, but I thought it was appropriate. As I was early, it was a fitting environment to pray and reflect on the meaning of the mass.
It wasn’t a particularly grand, but clearly Catholic, with an alter set up for the priest to lead the the parish, the Tabernacle placed in the “seat” of honor in at the back of the sanctuary, complete with shroud, and a true crucifix, and tasteful imagery and icons. The cathedra was placed to the side, though I don’t believe the priest ever actually sat down!
This was a low mass, much to my disappointment, so the priest did not chant the mass, and there was no choir. The parish provided English-Latin missals, but I couldn’t hear well enough to follow along, so I just listened to get a feel for the liturgy. Parts of it did feel familiar. I recognized parts of the Gloria, and the Kyrie Leison, but I was at much of a loss for what was going on until the Epistle and Gospel were read.
These too felt familiar, as well as the homily, but between Gospel and Homily, there were prayers in English, that I wasn’t expecting. Following the Gospel, I figure out the creed was being recited, although I can’t remember if it was the priest and deacon/acolyte saying it, or it the congregation was also reciting it, or if they were supposed to recite it or not. The congregation also seemed to recite some of the responses, but I’m not sure if these were the deacon’s parts or not the congregation was reciting.
The moment of Consecration totally snuck up on me. Most of the prayers were recited by the priest silently, as I understood he was supposed to. But all of a sudden, I saw a wave of movement throughout the parishioners. I thought we were standing up, so I stood, then the deacons/acolytes started ringing the bells and the priest elevated the host, and I plunged to my knees! I followed enough to know when the sacred cup was elevated, but then I got lost again until the distribution, kneeling at the alter rail. Following the distribution, I got lost again.
Because I kept getting lost, honestly I walked away feeling as though I had missed out on parts of it. I missed reciting the Our Father, which if we did recite it, it was in Latin and went right over my head. Growing up in Ordinary Form of the mass, the Our Father was always a pivotal moment for me, when the congregation came together to pray in the words our Lord taught us, directly to our Lord present in the form of the consecrated the Host!
Despite getting lost in the language which I expected, and personally missing some of the elements of the ordinary form, I did have the feeling throughout that I was in the presence of something ancient and sacred. The way the priest and deacons moved, the reverent silence observed by the congregation, and knowledge that roughly these same actions have been repeated throughout the centuries was very moving to me.
continued…
Here is the link to my previous post: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=500363
In my last post, I talked about how I grew up with a very reverently celebrated Ordinary Form, yet after reading many of the posts about the Extraordinary Form, started developing a burning desire to experience the reverence of the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite for myself. Today I’d like to share my impressions about my first traditional mass, which I attended yesterday at the parish designated by the diocese to host the Eclessia Dei ministry.
I’ve been preparing directly or indirectly for several months to visit the ancient Latin Mass. I’d read the English translation of the missal, studied the Latin text as best I could. I’d read about its history, and dates of its major and minor revisions. About the controversies and “suppressions” of other not-quite-so-ancient liturgies. I’d even attended reverently held Ordinary Form masses in Haitian Creole (a language that borrows from French and African dialects), as well as a mass in Spanish, so that the language barrier would be less of a shock.
The day I went was an immaculately beautiful fall day. I missed a turn on the way driving to the mass, and found myself on a gorgeous country back road. I arrived at the church and panicked, because the parking lot was empty! Fortunately there turned out to be a few cars parked in the back, so I hadn’t missed the mass, but it was sad that there were so few in attendance. Luckily I was just 10 minutes early, and more came.
I estimate the church was built in the fifties. I’d seen it before from the outside and didn’t think much of it. Entering though, it was clearly set up for the Extraordinary form. I can’t tell if it was a recent renovation to restore it from a past mauling in the “Spirit of Vatican II”, or if it was the original alter, but I thought it was appropriate. As I was early, it was a fitting environment to pray and reflect on the meaning of the mass.
It wasn’t a particularly grand, but clearly Catholic, with an alter set up for the priest to lead the the parish, the Tabernacle placed in the “seat” of honor in at the back of the sanctuary, complete with shroud, and a true crucifix, and tasteful imagery and icons. The cathedra was placed to the side, though I don’t believe the priest ever actually sat down!
This was a low mass, much to my disappointment, so the priest did not chant the mass, and there was no choir. The parish provided English-Latin missals, but I couldn’t hear well enough to follow along, so I just listened to get a feel for the liturgy. Parts of it did feel familiar. I recognized parts of the Gloria, and the Kyrie Leison, but I was at much of a loss for what was going on until the Epistle and Gospel were read.
These too felt familiar, as well as the homily, but between Gospel and Homily, there were prayers in English, that I wasn’t expecting. Following the Gospel, I figure out the creed was being recited, although I can’t remember if it was the priest and deacon/acolyte saying it, or it the congregation was also reciting it, or if they were supposed to recite it or not. The congregation also seemed to recite some of the responses, but I’m not sure if these were the deacon’s parts or not the congregation was reciting.
The moment of Consecration totally snuck up on me. Most of the prayers were recited by the priest silently, as I understood he was supposed to. But all of a sudden, I saw a wave of movement throughout the parishioners. I thought we were standing up, so I stood, then the deacons/acolytes started ringing the bells and the priest elevated the host, and I plunged to my knees! I followed enough to know when the sacred cup was elevated, but then I got lost again until the distribution, kneeling at the alter rail. Following the distribution, I got lost again.
Because I kept getting lost, honestly I walked away feeling as though I had missed out on parts of it. I missed reciting the Our Father, which if we did recite it, it was in Latin and went right over my head. Growing up in Ordinary Form of the mass, the Our Father was always a pivotal moment for me, when the congregation came together to pray in the words our Lord taught us, directly to our Lord present in the form of the consecrated the Host!
Despite getting lost in the language which I expected, and personally missing some of the elements of the ordinary form, I did have the feeling throughout that I was in the presence of something ancient and sacred. The way the priest and deacons moved, the reverent silence observed by the congregation, and knowledge that roughly these same actions have been repeated throughout the centuries was very moving to me.
continued…
