-Don’t become frustrated. It is your first experience. It will be different than what you are used to.
-Keep in mind that often times the priest and the servers are silently saying prayers as the *schola *is chanting, so you may find yourself several pages behind in the missal without even realizing anything happened! (You will very quickly begin to understand the flow of the Mass as you continue to attend, so try not to spoil your first experience by fumbling around in the missal the entire Mass!)
-Take in the sights, sounds, and smells. The Traditional Mass deliberately affects all of the senses. Watch the nuanced and deliberate gestures of both priest and servers. Notice the attention to detail and the reverence shown to the Most Blessed Sacrament.
-Listen for the cues if you are lost. For example, the bell will be rung once at the Hanc Igitur, just moments before the Consecration and during the Roman Canon, the priest will slightly elevate his voice at the words “Nobis quoque peccatoribus”.
-In your spare time, read up about the history of the Mass. Learn about why it is the way it is. Everything - and I mean everything - in the Mass, down to the smallest detail has a profound meaning. I HIGHLY recommend a reading, or at least a perusal of “The Holy Mass” by Dom Prosper Guéranger. It is an invaluable resource for anyone serious about understanding the “hows and whys” of the Traditional Mass.
-Try to make sure that the first Traditional Mass you attend is a Sung Mass (Missa Cantata) or a Solemn High Mass. At these Masses, the fullness of the beauty of the Liturgy will be on display, with chant and incense. Chant and incense will not be part of the Low Mass, which, while sublime in its own way, may leave a “first timer” underwhelmed (of course the intrinsic worth of any Mass is equal, however, the external trappings of the Liturgy do indeed vary in quality and will provide distinct sensory experiences).