Funny happening last Sunday

[Walden]

A little background. I attend a conservative parish with a very “say the black, do the red” priest. Latin Gloria, Sanctus, and other hymns. However, there is no Extraordinary Form going on. It’s just a very by the book, reverent Ordinary Form parish. Mantillas everywhere. You get the picture.

Anyway, last Sunday was First Communion for some youngsters, so the place was packed. Lots of unfamiliar faces. That’s a good thing though. Everything went off without a hitch. Beautiful Mass.

Well, after every Mass I’ve ever been to since I started there, the choir leads most of the congregation in the St. Michael prayer and the Divine Praises. I love it. So Mass is over and the kiddies have processed out with Father. All of the “new” people got up to go to the reception, but as soon as they had stood up, the choir starts in with “In the name of the Father…etc.” Instead of kneeling to pray with some people or quietly walking over to the parish hall, most of them just stood there. They looked like they had no idea what was going on.

I couldn’t help but chuckle a little. I guess they got caught off guard a little. I probably would’ve done the same thing.

So this little story brings me to my question. Is this a common thing? Does anyone else attend a parish where the majority stay after Mass and recite a prayer or two together?

 

[Traddy]

Yes, definitely the majority of people at my parish stay after Mass. It’s an EF only parish.

 

[Toribus]

I’ve been to a lot of different parishes around Sydney, Australia. In the typical parish (ordinary form, altar serviettes, army of female EMHCs) the people will usually be gone before the recessional hymn is finished. Those that stay will applaud the band, then leave (or chat in the pews).

In the more black/red OF parishes, one of the key techniques used by pastors to cultivate reverence within the Church before and after Mass is congregational prayers of intercession and thanksgiving, led either by the priest himself or by the choir. People usually stay back and pray a bit after.

In the EF parishes, obviously most people remain and say prayers of thanksgiving after mass either in their pews or before one of the devotional images (most popular are Our Lady, reliquaries, St Joseph, or the parish patron).

At St Benedict’s parish in inner Sydney my Dominican Laity chapter will chant (simple) vespers in “choir”, splitting down the middle. This is followed by the traditional procession to the Lady Altar during the Salve Regina, then procession back to the pews while singing the prayer to Holy Father Dominic.

 

[Walden]

Those that stay will applaud the band

That was just funny…happened to me once when I was new in town. I figured out later it was a Lifeteen mass. Interesting thing I noticed was that the band looked older than me (and I’m 24).

I think even if you don’t want to stay to pray, the prayers give a “buffer” I guess. It keeps the church calm and quiet for those that do. In the parish I mentioned above, the people “mingle” in the church and tend to get loud.

Atmosphere is important I think. It says a lot about what we believe.

 

[Toribus]

That was just funny…happened to me once when I was new in town. I figured out later it was a Lifeteen mass. Interesting thing I noticed was that the band looked older than me (and I’m 24).

I think even if you don’t want to stay to pray, the prayers give a “buffer” I guess. It keeps the church calm and quiet for those that do. In the parish I mentioned above, the people “mingle” in the church and tend to get loud.

Atmosphere is important I think. It says a lot about what we believe.

Exactly. I’m 24 at the end of this year, though I’m told I sound a lot older when posting. Fortunately there is no “LifeTeen” in Australia, though some of the Sunday Night “Youth Masses” I’ve seen could give them a run for their money.

I find sacred images and traditional architecture are a great help to maintaining the proper devotional posture in church. It’s also a great help if in poorly-designed churches there is at least a side chapel or section of pews facing a devotional image where people can go to pray - others will at the very least move away from them and (hopefully) keep their voices down.

 

[maryjk]

So this little story brings me to my question. Is this a common thing? Does anyone else attend a parish where the majority stay after Mass and recite a prayer or two together?

I am just a few miles from you, and we don’t. And our pastor came from your town.

 

[Walden]

I am just a few miles from you, and we don’t. And our pastor came from your town.

I thought it might be a little unusual in your run of the mill parish.

Fungomery is all over the map as far as parishes go. There’s something for everyone.

I would like to see us get the EF going somewhere in town like they have in North Alabama. That’s where I’m originally from. Moving here was a bit of a change.

 

[marley333]

After each mass at my church the rosary is prayed.

 

[littleviolet]

This is common in most churches that have embraced the traditional ways. This was the practice before Vatican II. The Salve Regina was chanted at low mass then the prayer to St. Michael was added too.

 

[amsjj]

After the Latin Mass, we say the Leonine Prayers, followed by three petitions to the Most Sacred Heart. This isn’t common, so I do think some newcomers get confused the first time.

I do enjoy that “extra bit” of prayer time after Mass; it’s always good to be on my knees to God!

+++

On a sidebar, does anyone have those missals where after the Leonines, there are prayers for the King/Queen of England? I laughed when I first saw it and wondered if they were meant for English parishes. I now have my own missal so don’t see it anymore.