FSSP - I am in desperate need of your help

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celtic1967

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Hello friends

I will be traveling to the United States shortly to visit The FSSP’s Our Lady of Guadalupe seminary in Denton, Nebraska. It is not a standard Vocation retreat so i will be a solo visitor taking part in there daily schedule.

Here lies the problem and I could do with as much help and advice as possible.

I have never attended a Traditional Latin mass ( due to none being available to me ) I do not know when to stand ,sit, respond ( not that I would be able to respond anyway ) I have tryed to watch a few latin masses on the internet but all this has done is confuse me even more.

Could anyone help me with a good introduction to the mass and things that will help me with my visit.
Everything I have found so far seems to be concerned on what the Priest is doing and not on what I should be doing.

fssp.org/en/journeeD.htm

Also looking at there daily schedule they have Lauds,Sext,Vespers and Compline
I had no idea what these where upon reading them. Could any one give some advice on what to expect.

Also i was told to bring a missal could anyone recommend me a good one ?

My main concern is them believing that I would already have knowledge of all these things. And im quite sure most who visit do or that they are at least regular attendees to the Traditional Latin mass .

I just dont want them to think I am some sort of joke that has just sailed to
America in my giant bannana boat. And them wondering what on earth I am doing there ?

To put it simply I dont want to blow my chances of joining the FSSP by looking like an idiot.

If your wondering why I have decided into looking at the FSSP as a vocation when all these obstacles are in the way.
Well while looking at potential orders I was looking for something solidly traditional
and when I found the Traditional Latin mass my heart was on absolute fire coming from a NO parish I was in awe with the beauty the majesty and the reverence of the mass.
I knew that this was the way that God should be honored.
I am 21 years old and I can say I honestly dont know any other pratising Catholics at my age ( how sad ) I know if this mass could be seen by other young people from Scotland how much their faith would grow and vocations of the young people would increase.
I still wonder why the older generations of my parish are so against the mass when it does so much good for the church .
To be honest I dont know how I could manage with being a Priest unable to say the Traditional Latin mass.
Thanks everyone in advance for any comments you would like to make I will be sure to take them all on board.

In Christ
Chris
Ave Maria
 
May God bless you in your vocation search.

First of all I would suggest that you should definately let them know that this is your first experience with the EF, Latin Mass. You will not be looked upon as a joke. Certainly they know that you are discerning and are there to learn.

However - To help you out, here is a **LINK to a TLM tutorial **with a video of mass being celebrated.

Hope this helps.

Peace
James
 
A good rule of thumb, at the Latin Mass, is to take your cue from the alter servers, sit when they sit, stand when they stand and kneel (lots of kneeling!) when they kneel. Communion will be served on the tongue, when you are kneeling at the alter rail. Just tip your head back and stick out your tongue (you might feel weird the first few times, but, thats how to do it) so the priest can place the host there. You might be more comfortable siting in the back the first few times, so you can follow along with the congregation and not feel so obvious. I had a St. Joseph Missal as a child, but there are many translations out there, you should drop by your local Catholic bookstore and talk to the staff ,or you can check them out online. It looks like you will be praying the Liturguy of the Hours while you are there. Several times a day, the community will be called and assemble for prayer. You should get more specific instructions, when you arrive, about when and where you will do this. It most likely will be said in Latin, but there should be books or phamplets available, so you can follow along. Be sure to tell them, first thing, that you are eager to expirence all that they have to offer, but you are not familar with the traditional latin and would apprieciate their assistance and understanding. Hopefully, they will assign someone to walk you through it! Go for it, Good Luck!! :highprayer:
 
You might want the Baronius press missal because that is the one published in conjunction with the FSSP, although personally I prefer the Angelus press one. Either one is fine. It’s the same 1962 mass.

As for when to stand, sit ect just follow everyone else, although if you study the missal before going you could mark or make a mental note of the rubrics at certain places.

by the way, I did a google search and came up with this TLM in Glasgow. unavocescotland.org.uk/uvsmassesevents.htm

Also the SSPX have a chapel in Glasgow Saint Andrew’s Church, 202 Renfrew Street, G3 6TX Tel: 01698 259 637 Mass: 0945 Every Sunday

sspx.co.uk/page6.htm

You can experience the TLM at either of those churches before your trip
 
celtic1967 said:
Hello friends

I will be traveling to the United States shortly to visit The FSSP’s Our Lady of Guadalupe seminary in Denton, Nebraska. It is not a standard Vocation retreat so i will be a solo visitor taking part in there daily schedule.

Here lies the problem and I could do with as much help and advice as possible.

I have never attended a Traditional Latin mass ( due to none being available to me ) I do not know when to stand ,sit, respond ( not that I would be able to respond anyway ) I have tryed to watch a few latin masses on the internet but all this has done is confuse me even more.

Could anyone help me with a good introduction to the mass and things that will help me with my visit.
Everything I have found so far seems to be concerned on what the Priest is doing and not on what I should be doing.

fssp.org/en/journeeD.htm

Also looking at there daily schedule they have Lauds,Sext,Vespers and Compline
I had no idea what these where upon reading them. Could any one give some advice on what to expect.

Also i was told to bring a missal could anyone recommend me a good one ?

My main concern is them believing that I would already have knowledge of all these things. And im quite sure most who visit do or that they are at least regular attendees to the Traditional Latin mass .

I just dont want them to think I am some sort of joke that has just sailed to
America in my giant bannana boat. And them wondering what on earth I am doing there ?

To put it simply I dont want to blow my chances of joining the FSSP by looking like an idiot.

If your wondering why I have decided into looking at the FSSP as a vocation when all these obstacles are in the way.
Well while looking at potential orders I was looking for something solidly traditional
and when I found the Traditional Latin mass my heart was on absolute fire coming from a NO parish I was in awe with the beauty the majesty and the reverence of the mass.
I knew that this was the way that God should be honored.
I am 21 years old and I can say I honestly dont know any other pratising Catholics at my age ( how sad ) I know if this mass could be seen by other young people from Scotland how much their faith would grow and vocations of the young people would increase.
I still wonder why the older generations of my parish are so against the mass when it does so much good for the church .
To be honest I dont know how I could manage with being a Priest unable to say the Traditional Latin mass.
Thanks everyone in advance for any comments you would like to make I will be sure to take them all on board.

In Christ
Chris
Ave Maria
Click to expand...
I’ve been in the area before actually… beautiful… the seminary is beautiful… there is a convent only milers away… the traditional and orthodox Bishop Bruskewitz of Lincoln is near Denton… and if you get a chance to stop by St. Francis of Assissi (FSSP) Parish (in Lincoln), the priests there had packets for us on praying the Mass… they gave explanations, the prayers, responses, almost EVERYTHING! 😃 …I have relatives in the area… they’re very blessed to have the Bishop of Lincoln near by! Even most the diocesan priests around Denton are very traditional, pius, and orthodox men… as well as the nuns!

You can buy a missal on their website… fsspolgs.org …go to the book store on their site… they should probably have something there for you… you might also check out www.sanctamissa.org (run by the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius–awesome group).

Their daily schedule: fsspolgs.org/horarium.html

The FSSP in Scotland: fssp.org.uk/scotland.html

Pax Domini tecum,
Peace of the Lord be with you,

p.s., many pronunciations in Latin are like Spanish as far as vowels go… and watch the people around you ifyou don’t know what to do… not so much the altar server and priest though…
 
celtic1967 said:
Hello friends

I will be traveling to the United States shortly to visit The FSSP’s Our Lady of Guadalupe seminary in Denton, Nebraska. It is not a standard Vocation retreat so i will be a solo visitor taking part in there daily schedule.

Here lies the problem and I could do with as much help and advice as possible.

I have never attended a Traditional Latin mass ( due to none being available to me ) I do not know when to stand ,sit, respond ( not that I would be able to respond anyway ) I have tryed to watch a few latin masses on the internet but all this has done is confuse me even more.

Could anyone help me with a good introduction to the mass and things that will help me with my visit.
Everything I have found so far seems to be concerned on what the Priest is doing and not on what I should be doing.

fssp.org/en/journeeD.htm

Also looking at there daily schedule they have Lauds,Sext,Vespers and Compline
I had no idea what these where upon reading them. Could any one give some advice on what to expect.

Also i was told to bring a missal could anyone recommend me a good one ?

My main concern is them believing that I would already have knowledge of all these things. And im quite sure most who visit do or that they are at least regular attendees to the Traditional Latin mass .

I just dont want them to think I am some sort of joke that has just sailed to
America in my giant bannana boat. And them wondering what on earth I am doing there ?

To put it simply I dont want to blow my chances of joining the FSSP by looking like an idiot.

If your wondering why I have decided into looking at the FSSP as a vocation when all these obstacles are in the way.
Well while looking at potential orders I was looking for something solidly traditional
and when I found the Traditional Latin mass my heart was on absolute fire coming from a NO parish I was in awe with the beauty the majesty and the reverence of the mass.
I knew that this was the way that God should be honored.
I am 21 years old and I can say I honestly dont know any other pratising Catholics at my age ( how sad ) I know if this mass could be seen by other young people from Scotland how much their faith would grow and vocations of the young people would increase.
I still wonder why the older generations of my parish are so against the mass when it does so much good for the church .
To be honest I dont know how I could manage with being a Priest unable to say the Traditional Latin mass.
Thanks everyone in advance for any comments you would like to make I will be sure to take them all on board.

In Christ
Chris
Ave Maria
Click to expand...
Hi Chris, I love the Tridentine Mass too 🙂 (and I’m also in my early 20s ;))
I think for most Masses of this form, you don’t have to respond, the altar servers do this. Would it be possible for you to just see when people around you sit, stand, kneel, and simply follow them? Or would it be just you and the priests/altar servers? I wish I could give you detailed information but I’m sort of new to this Mass as well…

Lauds, etc, are part of the Liturgy of the Hours. These are liturgical prayers that are said by religious (and many laity) at different hours of the day… for example, Vespers takes place in the evening. There should be a book that you follow that would probably be given to you? If it’s sung, you will essentially have to chant the Psalms, etc… (in a group with others, so you can just follow them.) It’s a little confusing at first but you get used to it. I used to attend Vespers last year and it’s really beautiful. People generally stand for these prayers, and I was taught that when you say/sing the Glory Be, you should bow your head.

For the missal, I think FSSP follows the 1962 missal… so something like this:
baroniuspress.com/book.php?wid=56&bid=4
they’re a little pricey though… maybe others here would know for certain 🙂

Just thinking about the Latin Mass again… I think it follows the same order as the Novus Ordo. So you stand for the Gospel, etc…

Hope it goes well… the FSSP is great 👍

God bless!

ps: maybe it would help to read the translation of the ordinary?
ewtn.com/library/LITURGY/TRIDMASS.TXT
 
It seems strange that someone would feel drawn to something they have never experienced, and make an overseas trip to visit a group who makes it a way of life. It may be too late now, but if I were you, I would’ve spent a lot of time familiarizing myself with the Traditional Latin liturgies before making such a long and expensive trip. If you feel drawn to the traditional Latin Mass, great- lots of people are. Some are drawn to it because it’s old and mysterious. Some are drawn to it because it is reverent and the music and other things associated with it are very inspiring. Some are drawn to it because it is more of a personal- rather than communal- experience. All of these can be good things. I’m not sure they are enough to make someone seriously want to discern with a particular community though. I don’t know how things work where you are from, but here, universities must be accredited for their coursework to really mean anything. If you start going to the FSSP seminary, and decide to back out, you will have spent a lot of money, and you will have a bunch of college credits that don’t count anywhere because the school is not accredited.

Buy a traditional Missal and study the liturgy (its history, the significance of each of the prayers, the significance of the traditional arrangement of churches, etc.). Also, go to the Traditional Latin Mass- experience it a few times before your trip.
 
Hello everyone

Thanks for all the encouraging comments and advice they mean the world to me.
Cider thanks for finding out that information for me. I dont actually stay in Glasgow but hopfully I will get the chance to take the train into Glasgow at least once before my visit and attend a mass.
Thanks monica for the video thats exactly the sort of thing ive been looking for.
m134e5 I am not going to the States to visit the FSSP alone there are other orders I will be going to visit aswell.
m134e5 do you have any good links to its history, the significance of each of the prayers, the significance of the traditional arrangement of churches, etc. that would be helpful to me ? Thanks
A few quick questions

When receiving communion is it ok to bless myself ?
but I do not say amen ?

Also I have been looking at mabye buying the FSSP Training DVD for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. I do unsterstand it is a video for Priests but I think it might help with my understanding of the mass.Has anyone any oppinions from seeing it or know of a better option ?

fsspdvd.com/

Thanks

In Jesus and Mary
Chris
 
celtic1967 said:
When receiving communion is it ok to bless myself ?
but I do not say amen ?
Click to expand...
Hi.

It’s fine to bless yourself, and don’t say “amen” at Communion.

I find Fisheaters a fine site for all things trad Catholic.

fisheaters.com/TLMinstructions.html

That link’ll show you when to sit and stand etc. as well as where to thump you breast, make the sign of the Cross etc. Often I’ve seen other things done though, like not standing for the Pater Noster. In a Low Mass people often carry on kneeling through the Epistle reading, though I don’t think this is technically correct. Just do what everyone else does. No one will notice if you do anything wrong.

God bless.
 
celtic1967 said:
Hello everyone

Thanks for all the encouraging comments and advice they mean the world to me.
Cider thanks for finding out that information for me. I dont actually stay in Glasgow but hopfully I will get the chance to take the train into Glasgow at least once before my visit and attend a mass.
Thanks monica for the video thats exactly the sort of thing ive been looking for.
m134e5 I am not going to the States to visit the FSSP alone there are other orders I will be going to visit aswell. Just to make sure that you are aware of this before you go, the FSSP is not an order… they take no religious vows, rather they are a "Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right canonically established by Pope John Paul II in 1988."
m134e5 do you have any good links to its history, the significance of each of the prayers, the significance of the traditional arrangement of churches, etc. that would be helpful to me ? Thanks
A few quick questions

**
Definitely check out that site that I posted: sanctamissa.com/en/ (you’ll get the history, the rubrics, videos, etc…) It’s a great source of information… the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius (who run the site) actually have been on EWTN before, they have said the Pontifical High Mass on EWTN, they have said the Novus Ordo in Latin, etc. They are traditional, and the Pope knew one of their priests).

When receiving communion is it ok to bless myself ? …there’s nothing wrong with that so long as you do it once the priest has moved to the next person, and just be aware that when you go to the altar rail/communion rail, there may be a white cloth on the rail that you sometimes put your hands under… you hold this up so that the cloth is at the same level as the rail rather than hanging on the side of it… this catches any particles from the host that the paten (golden plate held under your chin by the server) may possibly miss.
but I do not say amen ? The priest will say “Amen” for you… the fact that you are up at the altar rail… already says “Amen… ‘so be it’ or ‘I believe’”. They just don’t want an incident to occur where the person receiving Communion might say Amen while the Host is being placed onto the tongue–that wouldn’t turn out so well.

Also I have been looking at mabye buying the FSSP Training DVD for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. I do unsterstand it is a video for Priests but I think it might help with my understanding of the mass.Has anyone any oppinions from seeing it or know of a better option ?
From the clips I have seen of it—it’s great! And, EWTN helped put it on which is another great thing!! 😃

fsspdvd.com/

Thanks

In Jesus and Mary
Chris
Click to expand...
My comments in BOLD. 😉 😃
 
Hello

Alan thanks for the great site I will have a good read through it. Truevaticanii I appreciate both your posts some great advice thanks.

Chris
Ave Maria
 
Hello

Just a couple more questions.
Because I cant speak the correct responses in Latin do you think the best thing to do would be to remain silent ?
Also how different is the confession going to be ? Do I still say the same things as I would normally ?

Thanks
 
Celt,

Out of curiosity, why are you interested in testing your vocation with a society of priests who primarily will offer Mass in the Extraordinary Form when you have never seen the EF?
 
Hello giuseppeTO

Athough I have spent hours watching the EF on the internet I have never attended one.
I dont think I could ever descibe to you in words WHY it is just a gut feeling. Do put it blutly it just feels right it feels Catholic.
In the last few years while growing in the Catholic faith and studying Catholicism, Church history and finding out more about the significance of the mass. The reverence and majesty of the EF just feels right to me. It feels Roman Catholic whereas the Ordinary Form doesnt I have seen so much that makes me gringe.
You must remember that I have not grew up in a practizing Catholic family so everything I know I have had to learn myself ( Thanks to the great people on this board ). I have had no one to explain the EF to me unfortunately.
The beautiful vestments,music, lauguage, churches the whole mass. It just lights my soul on fire and screams to me this is what it means to be Catholic whereas the NO doesent . It is the most beautiful thing this side of heaven.
And just as I feel as if I am being drawn towards the Priesthood I also feel as if I am being drawn towards the traditional latin mass.

I want to find a congregation of Priests who are traditional and who are not afraid to tell it like it is. And unfortunately there seems to be very few of them out there.

In Christ
Chris
Ave Maria
 
I have never attended a Traditional Latin mass ( due to none being available to me ) I do not know when to stand ,sit, respond ( not that I would be able to respond anyway ) I have tryed to watch a few latin masses on the internet but all this has done is confuse me even more.
Click to expand...
I would not worry, do what the other people in the congregation are doing. A little guide for beginners would be to follow what the servers are doing (standing, kneeling, or sitting).
Could anyone help me with a good introduction to the mass and things that will help me with my visit.
Everything I have found so far seems to be concerned on what the Priest is doing and not on what I should be doing.
Click to expand...
I would recommend this great traditional Mass website: SanctaMissa.org
Also looking at there daily schedule they have Lauds,Sext,Vespers and Compline
I had no idea what these where upon reading them. Could any one give some advice on what to expect.
Click to expand...
Those are three canonical hours, taken from the Breviarum Romanum(Roman Breviary)

Those hours may(?) be in your missal. Otherwise you need to buy a breviary. To learn more about the traditional Roman Breviary, I reccomend this Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/TheRomanBreviaryGroup/
Also i was told to bring a missal could anyone recommend me a good one ?
Click to expand...
I use the Angelus Press daily missal. It’s great!

Hope what I have said helps!🙂
 
Hi Chris:
I have been attending an FSSP Mass for about 3 years. They are wonderful. Don’t be desperate; just tell them that the Latin Mass is new to you and they will guide you. Certainly they won’t think ill of you if you happen to stand or kneel momentarily in the wrong place.

A great, easy to read book is “The Latin Mass Explained” by Monsignor George Moorman. It explains all the vestments, prayers, vessels, altar cloths, and theology. It is in stock on Amazon.

Have a great trip and don’t worry.
 
celtic1967 said:
Hello giuseppeTO

Athough I have spent hours watching the EF on the internet I have never attended one.
I dont think I could ever descibe to you in words WHY it is just a gut feeling. Do put it blutly it just feels right it feels Catholic.
In the last few years while growing in the Catholic faith and studying Catholicism, Church history and finding out more about the significance of the mass. The reverence and majesty of the EF just feels right to me. It feels Roman Catholic whereas the Ordinary Form doesnt I have seen so much that makes me gringe.
You must remember that I have not grew up in a practizing Catholic family so everything I know I have had to learn myself ( Thanks to the great people on this board ). I have had no one to explain the EF to me unfortunately.
The beautiful vestments,music, lauguage, churches the whole mass. It just lights my soul on fire and screams to me this is what it means to be Catholic whereas the NO doesent . It is the most beautiful thing this side of heaven.
And just as I feel as if I am being drawn towards the Priesthood I also feel as if I am being drawn towards the traditional latin mass.

I want to find a congregation of Priests who are traditional and who are not afraid to tell it like it is. And unfortunately there seems to be very few of them out there.

In Christ
Chris
Ave Maria
Click to expand...
Beautiful post Chris. You made my day! You will do fine - be sure and keep in touch and let us all know how you are doing.

In Christo,

G-
 
celtic1967 said:
Hello

Just a couple more questions.
Because I cant speak the correct responses in Latin do you think the best thing to do would be to remain silent ?
Also how different is the confession going to be ? Do I still say the same things as I would normally ?

Thanks
Click to expand...
It is perfectly acceptable to remain silent and listen as others give the responses. This will help you to learn the proper pronunciations.

As to the confession, yes it is somethat different than the confession in the OF. since you will likely have a missal or missalette available to you, just read it along in the english.
If you have nothing else (missal or missalette) you can just say whatever you normally say.

Again, when you get there, just let them know that this will be your first expereince ATTENDING an EF mass, though you have looked at them on video. You can be sure that the folks at the seminary will help you all they can.

Be sure you let us know how it goes.

Peace
James
 
My deepest thankyou to everyone.

Hopefully your posts have also been helpful to others who are only just learning the EF. I will repost on this thread how I get on with my visit to the FSSP.

Hi Monty61 I just ordered the book you recommended,thanks :).

giuseppeTO It has made my day that I have made yours. 👍

In Christ
Chris
Ave Maria
 
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