? for those who exclusively attend EF mass

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Mamaof10

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Have you always attended the EF mass and if not what led you to?
 
I’ve had all my sacraments in the OF. But I go usually exclusively to the EF now. The main reason is that the parishes around me lack something in regards to reverence and the beauty of the liturgy. I’m not going to say my diocese is super liberal. But it is not super traditional either. There are a few parishes that are decent. But that can change with different priests. But with the EF you get consistent reverence and beauty.

I don’t have an intrinsic problem with the OF. It’s just that the majority of them don’t hold up to the reverence and beauty I have found at the EF. Of course there are exceptions (think Clear Creek Abbey and the Canons of St. John Cantius in Chicago). And the OF can be just as beautiful as the EF. But that is not the norm in my experience. At least in my diocese.

Beware, this thread might end up as yet another endless argument about OF vs. EF. That seems to be the trend anyway. But that is not your fault OP. Just the nature of the forum at the moment.
 
It probably will, but I have hopes that at least a few others like yourself will stick to my direct question and personal opinion, thank you, God bless!
 
I went to the OF for a few years before learning about the EF Mass. I thought the OF Mass was the only Mass and it was the same in every parish. Then, when learning about the Mass online, I found out some places used stuff like the pipe organ, Latin, chant, &c. in their Masses. I really liked this and after a while, this led me to discovering the Traditional Latin Mass. I loved the Traditional Latin Mass right away and I thought it reflected the reality of what is taking place at Mass better than the OF.
 
I was raised in the EF. My family left the church when it was abrogated. I searched for it my entire life. Didn’t think it existed. I finally became Eastern Catholic. High solemn Latin Mass makes me cry tears of joy. I am transported to my mother’s knee, as a child. All the bells and smells…
 
Entwhistler said:
I don’t have an intrinsic problem with the OF. It’s just that the majority of them don’t hold up to the reverence and beauty I have found at the EF
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People have to go out of their way to find a Latin Mass in 2018- those who promote it have to offer something more to get people in the pews.

Believe me, when Latin Mass was said everywhere, they all weren’t any more reverent than any other Mass.
 
My father once told me Mass used to be in Latin and the priest faced the other way, but that’s all I knew of the old Mass.

Then, someone I knew in another state mentioned they were going to check out the “Tridentine Mass”–which they said was the way Mass used to be–at a local church with some friends–this was the first I heard of it still being done that way. Out of curiosity, I checked if there was one near me, and sure enough there was. Again, out of curiosity I went.

After this first time, I could not stay away. I was really surprised at the beautiful prayers which were now omitted. In all honesty, I was dumbfounded as to why we would have exchanged that for what we have.

Unlike many who had trouble going to Mass again at your average parish, in a lot ways experiencing the EF helped me. It helped me better understand what Mass really was and enabled me to see it better in the OF, despite all the things there or missing that obscured that reality. Of course, that made the abuses and irreverence more difficult to bear as well…
 
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I have to disagree.

“People have to go out of their way to find a Latin Mass in 2018.” More and more traditional Masses are being celebrated around the world, and the trend has not dipped since Summorum Pontificum.

“Believe me, when Latin Mass was said everywhere, they all weren’t any more reverent than any other Mass.” One of the main arguments in support of the TLM over the NO Mass is that, even when a TLM is celebrated “poorly,” it is still more reverent than a NO, because there is still no profanation of the Eucharist, silence to force one to enter into the mystery more deeply, etc. The abuses that lead to the reform in the 1960’s consisted mainly of priests celebrating Mass too quickly and cutting out prayers in order to say Mass quicker…there was still kneeling while receiving Communion on the tongue, the triple Confiteor, silence, etc.
 
I will try to summarize quickly. I am 22 years old and a cradle Catholic. Growing up, I attended a conservative Catholic parish and a conservative Catholic HS. I was first introduced to the Tridentine Mass after graduating from high school at St. Kevin’s in Dublin, Ireland. The grandeur and sublime essence of the liturgy captivated me, yet I still had no real idea of what I had just experienced and no real guidance as my family members are not traditionalists. When I got back to the States, I looked around to find a regular TLM.

For the past few years, I have attended an exclusively traditional parish. Frequently attending the TLM has worked wonders in my spiritual life, giving me a greater understanding of Holy Mass and the holy priesthood, the necessity of confession, and introduced me to traditional devotions and theology. I was, and continue to be, inspired to learn more about our great faith after attending the traditional Latin Mass frequently. I just do not see the same devotion, reverence, care for the Eucharist and all the sacraments, propensity to espouse orthodox doctrine at the Novus Ordo versus the traditional Latin Mass. I am NOT sayin Novus Ordo priests are worse, bad, sinning, etc., but when I find a traditional Mass I find fellow Catholics and religious who are very serious about their faith and growing in holiness.

A turning point for me was attending a Low Mass with my now-deceased Catholic grandmother who was born in 1917 was the turning point from tepidness to conviction with Tradition for me. This was her first Latin Mass since the wholesale changes in 1969. While it took her a bit to recollect the ways of the old liturgy, she eventually followed along smoothly. Even at the age of 98, at the time for Communion, she calmly knelt down at the communion rail and received the Eucharist on the tongue. I was moved to tears because of her profound devotion and belief in the Real Presence. After Mass, she just smiled and said, “It was just like the good ol’ days.” Afterwards, I could no longer continue to turn a blind eye and accept the many novelties so prevalent in many New Masses.

I continue to attend the EF pretty much exclusively EVEN IF the parish I attend celebrates the NO Mass reverently because I know that, because the laxity of the rubrics allows numerous other NO Masses to be celebrated with brevity, half-heartedness, etc. I have personally witness the deterioration of the faith of many Catholics my age because they never understood the Mass, and the NO Mass doesn’t challenge you in your faith. In the TLM, the silence of the Canon compels one to pray!

Those are just some of the other reasons that I attend the Traditional Latin Mass almost exclusively. Other reasons are the reformed lectionary, the elimination of commemorations, the complete changing of the calendar and dropping of feasts, the support for banal architecture and music, and the dropping of the Offertory. Each of those topics could have a whole forum on their own. The Ottaviani Intervention is a good starting point for those interested. God bless.
 
Wow thank you for your response, that was beautiful! I recently found a parish that offers TLM and am looking forward to attending for the first time. I am a convert of 9 years and just in the last few months found out there is something different than a novus ordo mass, I feel called to tradition and have been doing a lot of reading, I really appreciate your response, God Bless!
 
That’s amazing! I wish you the very best! I was in your shoes for a long while, not knowing there were several different liturgies of the Church, but I will pray for you and many others that are attending it for the first time! Two close friends of mine just attended their first one and were awe-struck by the reverence and solemnity of it. By the way, even if for whatever reason it is not quite what you thought or you aren’t attracted by it at first after attending, continue to go 4, 5, or 6 weeks in a row and it will grow on you very much. Steve Skojec didn’t enjoy the traditional Mass at first cause it wasn’t what he was used to, and now he runs his own traditional Catholic website. Deo gratias.
 
Yes, allow me to chime in with nheiny, the first time I went to EF Mass, it wasn’t quite what I expected either. Also, it’s much harder to follow along, if you are thinking of doing that.
I would definitely try it a few times before you make any decisions.
God bless, and hope it is meaningful for you!
Also, you might consider bringing a veil / scarf with you. Most ladies at EF will probably veil. : )
 
I don’t attend the EF exclusively. There is one church that offers it but it is earlier than I like. But I do attend it more and more, especially if they have a special Mass in the evening or day of recollection. But I try to keep up my connection to my neighborhood parish. (There is a diocesan approved Latin Mass community, but no parish).

There is a natural, or “organic” unity to the Mass, especially a sung High Mass. Besides its internal unity, there is a focus on the almighty-ness of God, on our need for salvation, that is mentioned in the OF but less prominently. It clearly builds on the other sacraments in a way the OF does not.

There is no way to compare the music written for the OF with the music written for the EF.

None of this in any way invalidates the OF. I am tempted to say that the OF has a kind of beauty of its own, but really, the only time it is really beautiful or reverent is when it closely imitates the EF - like a reproduction that is often pretty authentic.

The translation into English that was done several years ago greatly improved the OF - meaning that it made it more like the EF.
 
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I was also raised in the VI/VII transitioning church. My father being raised protestant there was still some bitterness in no marriage in the church but only in the rectory.
The OF offers what it sells in addressing a pastoral form for modern man. Clearly why hurry up mass appeared to be the norm you recognized during the full transition. I forget much as I fell away, which had little or nothing to do with the form of the mass. Catechesis was part of my ignorance of the faith. I believe the laity expecting that the Humanae Vitae stuff would acquiesce to modern thought was a greater part. Truth in the mystical body is critical to transmission of the faith. Mary brought me home to her son, Jesus, with my mother’s prayer certainly a great part. I remember well when she told me after we attended mass together how relieved she was that I had come home to the faith. Shortly after, my father moved from his agnostic view expressed for most of his life to belief. He told me that my faith was no small part of his new understanding.
The form of the mass is not the greatest part and modern ears do better with the vernacular than we did trying to find the latin and maybe a translation in the Missal during latin mass. Of course, the latin high mass is an inspiring interaction of beautiful sights, sounds and odors. Yet valid and licit are the parts that matter most.
 
When I moved to California I started looking for a parish where I felt at home. Everywhere I visited seemed too “casual” for me. It’s hard to describe it. Then one day I visited a Latin Mass. Never heard of it before, went just out of curiosity. I still remember feeling like I was floating on air when I walked out of that Mass. Nonetheless, it took a long time before I began attending it pretty much exclusively. I still attend the Novus Ordo sometimes with my son because that’s what he prefers. It took time to get used to the silent Canon and to become comfortable with the flow of the Mass, to learn how to use the missal, etc.

I recently came back from vacation where we went to NO Masses. One of them was very solid I might add, conservative priest and a great homily. Anyway, last night I again went to my usual parish where we had a sung Mass for the feast of the purification. When I heard the Gregorian Chant again, I felt this peace come over me and everything felt right with the world. I thought, everyone deserves to feel that way in church, go where you feel at peace and at home, whether it be OF or EF.
 
Lisa, if I may ask, has your son attended the Latin Mass with you?

You stated, “I still attend the Novus Ordo sometimes with my son because that’s what he prefers.” May I ask, why your son prefers the New Mass versus the Old?
 
Yes, he’s been to Latin Mass quite a few times. I even bribed him with his favorite restaurant the first 10 times he went, because our pastor said it takes about that long to get comfortable with it. But he just doesn’t like it. He doesn’t participate, doesn’t follow in the missal, and is pretty much just there to get it over with when he does come.

When I first went to Latin Mass, he was probably 6 or so. All the kids at my parish are very quiet and well behaved at Mass, but he couldn’t sit still and took off running! Just recently I found out the reason -he was diagnosed with ADD. But at the time, I couldn’t handle bringing him to the Latin Mass and just went where he behaved best. Plus he went to Catholic school and got used to the NO there as well. All in all, he was raised in the NO. Then when he was about 13, I wanted to attend the TLM more, but he was way older then and it just didn’t stick. When it came time for confirmation he insisted on a NO parish, and he’s been an active member there for a couple years now. He is an usher and involved in youth ministry.

Like I said earlier, I think everyone deserves to feel at home at church, so I made peace with him going to NO of his choice. I’d much rather have him involved there then coming with me merely out of obligation. I want to ensure that when he is grown (which will be in under a year), he continues going to church on his own and has his own church life he finds fruitful.
 
Why is silence inherently more reverent?
The Eastern liturgies never have a moment of silence… there’s no concept of a “low Mass” in the East. Even in the Roman Rite, the low Mass has never been the liturgical ideal.

FYI, OF Masses can and often do have lots of silence as well.

Of course the EF is beautiful. So is the OF when properly celebrated.
 
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Where did I state that silence is inherently more reverent? I am very much aware of the Eastern Divine Liturgies and while they do not have a “Low Mass,” there are several prayers that the priest says silently, making his presence known in persona Christi.

From my own experiences, OF Masses very much lack silence. The time to pray with the most ardent devotion, the Canon of the Mass, the priest has to say it for all to hear. At the heart of the Mass, during the mysteries of our faith, I find the EF much more conducive to prayer than the OF. I have personally been told to stop praying and watch what the priest is doing during the Eucharistic Prayer, which left me flabbergasted.

And @LumineDiei, I did not mean to delete my previous comment, but instead edit it. By anyway, if you are referring to me, in what way did I denigrate or make disparaging comments about the Mass in the OF? I simply stated my reasons for exclusively attending the EF and what I view as very legitimate things in the OF that multiple Popes, including Benedict XVI, have mentioned about the OF.
 
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