first time at Latin Mass...

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sarahraegraham

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Hello everyone! 😃

Well, on Saturday I attended my first TLM for the morning daily mass. I tried to follow along with the missal, but it ended up being easier to just observe and try to take it all in.

Then I came home and told my husband about it and we both agreed to go to our home parish that evening for Saturday mass and then go to the TLM on Sunday morning for the High Mass to see what it was like. My husband has been a little relunctant about the TLM since I’ve been studying it. The language barrier was probably his number one concern. That and he really likes our parish priest and the participation in the Novus Ordo. I wasn’t sure what to expect about how either he or I would feel about the TLM afterwards.

Well, his sentiments ended up being very close to my own. He was amazed about several things: (1) reverence and respect, (2) absolutely zero inappropriate dress (this is a big one, because he’s always upset when every time we go to Mass he has to worry about seeing cleavage everywhere :mad:), (3) extremely well-behaved children, even one singing all the latin hymns along with the choir!, (4) the beauty of the gregorian chant, (5) confession immediately before mass with a line out the door, (6) the silence in the church before, during and after mass and that people stayed for a looong time afterwards to pray, (7) how adorable and precise all the little altar boys were (I just love seeing little boys all dressed up!), (8) you can be sure no one is receiving Christ unworthily, and (9) he/I felt like we were the worst people in there, as far as behavior and dress. We were glancing around once in a while to see the people, what they were doing, etc.

Some of the things that are a concern at this point for him and in some ways myself as well are the language because we don’t have any experience with it, the priest facing away and not being able to see everything he’s doing, less participation (more my husband than me, he really enjoys reciting the creed, the gloria, etc.), and the incense bothers him (but he says he will use a little Vicks next time, lol).

All in all, our impressions were both the same: that was AMAZING! Such a difference from the lack of true reverence in our experience at the NO (although our parish and priest are very orthodox and we have no abuses at all). My husband did express the concern that now he will begin to become more “aware” of the lack of those things listed above at our home parish. He’s concerned about becoming sad I guess, and I can understand that. Personally, I would really love to continue to attend and learn about the TLM while continuing at our home parish. I think that we can enjoy both easily enough. I doubt we would ever attend the TLM exclusively, but who knows? I find beauty and spiritual nourishment in both.

I did have a “doh!” moment at the TLM though: I am not used to receiving on the tongue, so when the priest came around for communion I just opened my mouth and he had to tell me to stick out my tongue. :doh2:

So I just wanted to share our experience so far, and see if anyone wanted to comment on it or offer suggestions about anything. 👍
 
At first you will be a little lost, but after a few months you will learn to follow along. You’ll be surprised at how the “active participation” is actually a lot deeper than at the Novus Ordo. It will be more of an active spiritual participation, whereby you will unite yourself spiritually with what is taking place, rather than externally.

I usually say it will take about 6 months before you really understand what is happened. It may be sooner if you study it on your own outside of Mass.
 
I’m really pleased that you enjoyed your first experience at the Tridentine Mass. It truly is an amazing thing to behold.

Regarding “active participation:”

Ironically, I find it hard to participate at the Ordinary Form of the Mass. I find it impossible to pray and meditate on the sacrifice of the Mass. I struggle to remember all of the different responses and I find that my mind strays from Christ as a result! There seems to be a lack of devotional silence at the Ordinary Form of the Mass.

When I attend the Tridentine Mass, I am able to pray along with the Priest. I find the moments of silence allow me to focus on the bloodless sacrifice that is taking place before us. I can commune with my God while the one sacrifice of Calvary is made present among us. I feel that I can participate at Mass better if I am able to join my prayers with the prayers of the priest at the Altar. You will find that you are able to do the same after a few weeks of attending the EF.

Participation at the EF is far more spiritual and prayerful in my opinion. Perhaps you could share these thoughts with your husband. Maybe they’ll help him understand the ways in which the laity participate at the EF.
 
Dempsey1919 said:
I feel that I can participate at Mass better if I am able to join my prayers with the prayers of the priest at the Altar.
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Yes, me too. I can’t express in words how much I get from Mass when I unite myself with the Priest and pray the prays in unison with him. Once you are familiar with the Mass you are able to follow along with the Priest perfectly based on the various movements (bows of the head, signs of the cross with his hands, genuflections, etc.) that he performs.

At the offeratory, you can place your sins and petitions in the chalice being offered to God. Your sins for expiation and your petitions to be granted. It is really a beautiful way of hearing Mass.
 
sarahraegraham…

I was in your shoes a couple of years ago. I hadn’t been to a TLM since childhood…many, many years ago…LOL. I asked many questions of the folks here, went to the bookstore and purchased the little ‘red’ booklet and did some studying before attending my first TLM. I called the priests there so as to inquire about the appropriateness of wearing dress pants (affirmative there:) ) and then I went. I wasn’t quite sure the first time, but something drew me back and I have been going daily since. I always said, I have the best of both worlds…a reverent NO and a most beautiful TLM. I went to the NO Saturday evenings and High Mass on Sunday morning. As time went by the times going to the NO grew further and farther between. I am not sure just why except for the fact that, even though the NO is reverently celebrated…it just isn’t for me anymore. I don’t want to hear a homily about Benjamin Button for one thing.😉

The TLM oratory goes above and beyond what my NO church does…like 3 Masses this week for the Annunciation. I wonder if the day would even be mentioned at my daily Mass at the NO.

I continue my financial support fo my NO parish and I still continue my designated time as Adorer, but I am finding myself drawing away. Like Fr. Serpa said in one of his posts…“Go where you are fed.” I am fed “well” at my TLM.👍

God Bless…
 
How does one go about studying TLM? I would like to attend one, but am uncomfortable for the reasons above - that I will be lost not knowing what to do.

Is there a website that prepares you to attend one?

Thanks and God Bless,
Snert
 
Snerticus said:
How does one go about studying TLM? I would like to attend one, but am uncomfortable for the reasons above - that I will be lost not knowing what to do.

Is there a website that prepares you to attend one?

Thanks and God Bless,
Snert
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There are some very good sites. sanctamissa.org/en/ is one. I also purchased the little red booklet that many TLM churches have in the pews. It gave me a pretty good understanding of what happens and ‘what comes next.’…and I read up on it before I finally went.

Plus, follow what others do and in time it will become “second” hat to you. Now, I can pray along and stay up to speed with the priest. It is a most beautiful experience.
 
BlyssfulDreamer said:
There are some very good sites. sanctamissa.org/en/ is one. I also purchased the little red booklet that many TLM churches have in the pews. It gave me a pretty good understanding of what happens and ‘what comes next.’…and I read up on it before I finally went.

Plus, follow what others do and in time it will become “second” hat to you. Now, I can pray along and stay up to speed with the priest. It is a most beautiful experience.
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Well, unfortunately for me the closest TLM is about an hour away. So I can’t plan on going to one often unless my parish eventually chooses to have one. Not likely, but I can certainly pray for it! 🙂

I’m hoping I can get Holy Saturday off to attend a TLM for the vigil this year. If so, I’d just like to be prepared beforehand. I remember when I came back to the Church I was so nervous at my first Mass back that I would forget all the gestures and responses. It was awkward at first but no big deal, really. I probably made a few mistakes, but I got used to it real quick. I’m hoping that this will be the same type of experience.

Thanks for the link and God Bless,
Snert
 
Hi, glad to hear you are interested in the TLM. I have been going for about 20 years and can still get lost!! One thing you may want to consider is a Father Lasance missal. It has english and latin next to each other. It also has pictures with descriptions of what the priest is doing durning the mass and when certain prayers would not be said durning the mass. The missal is a little pricey ($40- $50) but is well worth the investment. It is not just a Sunday missal but a daily missal as well and also has lots of prayers in the back that you normally don’t find in other missals. Just do a search for this missal and there are several websites. There may also be some books on TLM that you can order from those websites as well.

Another suggestion is if the church with the TLM is has any low masses, go to them. They are easier to follow and keep up with the priest.

Good luck with the transition, we need more people interested in the latin mass!

:takethat:
 
This is all so exciting to me. Always you hear the same things I think-- the EF is more reverent, people behave properly etc. I think I now prefer to join in with the Latin singing than “say” the Creed etc. Great stuff! 👍
 
sarahraegraham said:
Some of the things that are a concern at this point for him and in some ways myself as well are the language because we don’t have any experience with it,…
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You will be surprised how you just take to the TLM after you have been going for awhile. For me it was the same thing, I felt frustrated that I couldn’t keep up, because I wanted to follow the prayers of the priest. Then just recently I noticed that I was figuring it out without thinking, and was able to read the breathtakingly beautiful prayers on the English side of my missal and pray along with the priest. It does take time, and you don’t need to learn how to speak Latin. In time you will begin to know where you are in the Mass and how to find your place. It is just like learning anything new.
… the priest facing away and not being able to see everything he’s doing, …
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A friend of mine has the most wonderful quote on her blog “*Seek not the face of the priest in the Mass, but the face of Almighty God!” *
…less participation (more my husband than me, he really enjoys reciting the creed, the gloria, etc.),
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You will be surprised - your prayer becomes your participation. Not just speaking things outloud, but your internal prayer. I have found that when I go to the TLM a couple of times, then to the NO, I feel like I am reciting from rote and being as prayerful as I am when at the TLM.
…and the incense bothers him (but he says he will use a little Vicks next time, lol).
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Hey - whatever works for you! 😉 Maybe finding a seat off to the side a bit or not so close to the altar might help as well.

Enjoy!!! The TLM truly is a beautiful thing.

~Liza
 
I just wanted to reiterate the usefulness of the little red booklet. I think this is the link for it:

ecclesiadei.org/Booklet%20Missals.htm

It costs $6.50 and if your church doesn’t have them, I’d highly recommend picking one up. It is very clearly written and has pictorial indications of what the priest is doing at different parts of the mass, as well as when the bells are rung, etc. I found it to be an extremely helpful guide for following along with the Mass.

It also looks like Angelus Press publishes a similar booklet for only $3.95 that appears to also have the illustrations and some additional prayers:

angeluspress.org/oscatalog/item/6636/sunday-missal-booklet
 
Extempore said:
I just wanted to reiterate the usefulness of the little red booklet. I think this is the link for it:

ecclesiadei.org/Booklet%20Missals.htm

It costs $6.50 and if your church doesn’t have them, I’d highly recommend picking one up. It is very clearly written and has pictorial indications of what the priest is doing at different parts of the mass, as well as when the bells are rung, etc. I found it to be an extremely helpful guide for following along with the Mass.
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Ha! Great minds think alike? I had just picked up that URL to paste it in here and saw your posting.

Yes, this booklet is very helpful. My wife was struggling a bit to understand the TLM (this was 8 years ago, now) and she was helped a lot by reading through that book a couple of times, especially the Offertory and the Canon.

I agree with some others here that eventually the “participation” thing can kind of wear off. I used to be a big crusader for “active participation” and I’m still very much in favor of having the laity chant the ordinary of the Mass. But I find that I don’t follow along as much in my missal as I did when I first started going to the TLM. I used to read along, but now most often I set it aside and pray in silence, undisturbed.

To the OP, I’m so glad that your initial experience was so good. God bless.
 
Be aware that the Coalition Ecclesia Dei booklet has the Mass for Trinity Sunday. The proper prayers vary (as in the OF Mass). You can find the EF propers for each Sunday and other feasts here.

Here is a pdf of the Mass of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - it’s not as informative as the booklet, but free:

ewtn.com/liturgy/traditional/9-14-07Mass.pdf
 
Latin Missal Quick Start
This was difficult for me but after a few Masses and some research it became very easy.
Around the middle of your missal is the “Main” part of the missal that you primarily use during the Liturgy. I put the “Red” ribbon marker there. It begins with the sign of the cross and you just follow along at a “medium” pace reading the missal and follow Father as he prays the Liturgy in Latin.
After the sign of the cross, he recites Psalm 42…Judica Me, then the Confiteor, (His public confession), then the server recites the Confiteor, representing us (our public confession) then the Priest goes up to the Altar as it says in the missal.
The way the missal is used is; you flip from the “Main “part of the Mass to the “Propers of the day” then back again to the “main” section. The “Propers” being, The Introit, Collect, Epistle, Gradual, Gospel, Preface, and Communion verses. The Propers change but not the main “Order of the Mass”
After Father goes up to the Altar he goes to the “Epistle” side (The right side) to read the Introit and that’s our cue to flip to the propers of the day to the “Introit” That’s where I place my “green” ribbon marker. There are many “visual cues” if you try to be aware of Fathers movements and many audible cues, “Dominus Vobiscum” (The Lord Be with You) “Oremus (Let us Pray) servers responses, and of course the “bells” at the “Sanctus (Holy,Holy,Holy) and at the Elevations.
After the Introit ,you hear Father pray the “Kyrie Elison”,then the Gloria, you just keep reading along as he is reciting in Latin, you eventually learn the pace that Father goes ,so after a few Masses you follow along pretty easily. After the Gloria, it’s time to flip to the “green” marker again and read the 'Collects" for the day, then the Epistle is read, followed by the "Gradual”.
Then Father then goes to the "Left "side of the altar to read the Gospel and when done Father goes to the Ambo and reads the Epistle and The Gospel in English and gives announcements and a “Sermon” After the Sermon the Credo is said (back to the Red ribbon)
Then comes the next part of the Mass “The Mass of the Faithful” Most of the rest of the mass is in the main red ribbon section except for the Preface (I put my Purple marker there) and the Communion verses. If you just read along the English parts in the missal and be aware of the “cues” after a few Liturgys you’ll be a pro. You will be “Praying the Mass” following Father as he is Praying the Mass in Latin.
Some just use their Missal for the “Main” part of the Mass; others flip only to the Epistle and Gospel readings to follow along but not to the other propers for the day. I love my Missal and use it to Pray every part of the Mass. As far as standing, sitting, kneeling, just follow what everyone else does, this also will come natural after a while.
This is a very rough and abbreviated explanation but it will at least get you started on what’s going on. My first Latin Mass was totally strange to me and I thought I would never go again but after I understood it, it is “The most beautiful thing this side of Heaven.”
I downloaded the “Full Mass” from the link below and put it on my mp3 player, to “practice” and tune my ear to the Latin. I followed along reading my missal while listening to it and it really helped me.The readings (Propers) are from Trinity Sunday (The first Sunday after Pentecost) in your missal. (Baronius Missal page 738, Angelus Missal; page 696)
latinmassireland.org/thelati … audio.html

Propers for Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days can be found here
uvoc.org/Propers/Propers_2008…_Calendar.html

Weekday Propers are found in the front of the Missal in the “The Liturgical Calendar”

Hope this helps someone to understand what an absolute treasure our Catholic Mass Missal is.
.
forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_khaki/quote.gif
 
DavidPalm said:
Ha! Great minds think alike? I had just picked up that URL to paste it in here and saw your posting.

Yes, this booklet is very helpful. My wife was struggling a bit to understand the TLM (this was 8 years ago, now) and she was helped a lot by reading through that book a couple of times, especially the Offertory and the Canon.
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Exactly!

I remember having a hard time understanding for the first few months and the red booklet was awesome. What always threw me off was at the High Mass when the schola would chant during the Offertory, etc.

Fortunately, the parish where we all went made it very easy by having a good supply of the booklets and an insert with the readings in Latin/English. I think that the pictures really made a difference after a while with being able to recognize where in the Mass you are by the posture of the priest.

But to the original poster: I wouldn’t worry too much the first few times you attend. Many people find it to be less confusing and more calm to simply take everything in for the first few times you go. After that its nice to start learning what is going on and what prayers are being said so that you can appreciate and understand the many facets of what is going on at Mass. 🙂
 
Extempore said:
Exactly!

I remember having a hard time understanding for the first few months and the red booklet was awesome. What always threw me off was at the High Mass when the schola would chant during the Offertory, etc.
Click to expand...
Also, you just look for certain very obvious cues to get yourself synced back up if you’re lost. You can trigger off of the Gospel (all stand), the Credo (stand again), the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei to find your place.
 
jpy15026 said:
Latin Missal Quick Start
This was difficult for me but after a few Masses and some research it became very easy.
Around the middle of your missal is the “Main” part of the missal that you primarily use during the Liturgy. I put the “Red” ribbon marker there. It begins with the sign of the cross and you just follow along at a “medium” pace reading the missal and follow Father as he prays the Liturgy in Latin.
After the sign of the cross, he recites Psalm 42…Judica Me, then the Confiteor, (His public confession), then the server recites the Confiteor, representing us (our public confession) then the Priest goes up to the Altar as it says in the missal.
The way the missal is used is; you flip from the “Main “part of the Mass to the “Propers of the day” then back again to the “main” section. The “Propers” being, The Introit, Collect, Epistle, Gradual, Gospel, Preface, and Communion verses. The Propers change but not the main “Order of the Mass”
After Father goes up to the Altar he goes to the “Epistle” side (The right side) to read the Introit and that’s our cue to flip to the propers of the day to the “Introit” That’s where I place my “green” ribbon marker. There are many “visual cues” if you try to be aware of Fathers movements and many audible cues, “Dominus Vobiscum” (The Lord Be with You) “Oremus (Let us Pray) servers responses, and of course the “bells” at the “Sanctus (Holy,Holy,Holy) and at the Elevations.
After the Introit ,you hear Father pray the “Kyrie Elison”,then the Gloria, you just keep reading along as he is reciting in Latin, you eventually learn the pace that Father goes ,so after a few Masses you follow along pretty easily. After the Gloria, it’s time to flip to the “green” marker again and read the 'Collects" for the day, then the Epistle is read, followed by the "Gradual”.
Then Father then goes to the "Left "side of the altar to read the Gospel and when done Father goes to the Ambo and reads the Epistle and The Gospel in English and gives announcements and a “Sermon” After the Sermon the Credo is said (back to the Red ribbon)
Then comes the next part of the Mass “The Mass of the Faithful” Most of the rest of the mass is in the main red ribbon section except for the Preface (I put my Purple marker there) and the Communion verses. If you just read along the English parts in the missal and be aware of the “cues” after a few Liturgys you’ll be a pro. You will be “Praying the Mass” following Father as he is Praying the Mass in Latin.
Some just use their Missal for the “Main” part of the Mass; others flip only to the Epistle and Gospel readings to follow along but not to the other propers for the day. I love my Missal and use it to Pray every part of the Mass. As far as standing, sitting, kneeling, just follow what everyone else does, this also will come natural after a while.
This is a very rough and abbreviated explanation but it will at least get you started on what’s going on. My first Latin Mass was totally strange to me and I thought I would never go again but after I understood it, it is “The most beautiful thing this side of Heaven.”
I downloaded the “Full Mass” from the link below and put it on my mp3 player, to “practice” and tune my ear to the Latin. I followed along reading my missal while listening to it and it really helped me.The readings (Propers) are from Trinity Sunday (The first Sunday after Pentecost) in your missal. (Baronius Missal page 738, Angelus Missal; page 696)
latinmassireland.org/thelati … audio.html

Propers for Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days can be found here
uvoc.org/Propers/Propers_2008…_Calendar.html

Weekday Propers are found in the front of the Missal in the “The Liturgical Calendar”

Hope this helps someone to understand what an absolute treasure our Catholic Mass Missal is.
.
JPY,
What a help this post has been and I thank you for your information and inspiration. You are a treasure too! 👍 😃
Click to expand...
 
Propers for*** 2009***

uvoc.org/Propers/Propers_2009/Propers_Calendar.html

The two of most popular missals are Baronius and Angelus Press, Fr Z does a great review of both. I have and love them both,for me the Angelus wins by a very,very slim margin.
**
Baronius** wdtprs.com/blog/2008/01/review-baronius-press-1962-hand-missal/
**
Angelus **wdtprs.com/blog/2008/02/review-angelus-press-hand-missal/

I check prices first with my favorite Catholic source, All Catholic Books : )
allcatholicbooks.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=ACB
.
 
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