Going to first Tridentine Mass

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Hi, everyone. So I am going home this weekend for Thanksgiving Break (thank goodness!) I noticed that there is a church nearby that has the Latin Tridentine Mass. I have always wanted to go to one, but have never been able to until now. I am going to check it out to see what it is like. Is there any advice that you all can give me? I have only been to masses that are done as they are done now, so I am looking to find out what I can expect. Thanks for any help you all can give me!
 
I just went to my first TLM yesterday … and I was in such awe at the whole Mass and the beauty of the church I went to; in Ocala.

I totally full-heartedly emphatically support you going to one, hopefully a well-done one, and you will not regret it. Be sure to use a little missal or buy your own big one if you want. Its going to be hard for me to go back to Novus Ordo now, since going to the Tridentine, I’ll tell you that much.
 
Perhaps God has given you a special grace? I pray and hope that many, many more Catholics will follow in your footsteps.
 
I am privileged to be able to attend the Tridentine Mass (the “Extraordinary Form” of the Mass) every day. Love it. Love the deep reverence, the awareness of the sacred, that is palpable. Be sure to tell us your perceptions.
 
JerseyCatholic said:
Hi, everyone. So I am going home this weekend for Thanksgiving Break (thank goodness!) I noticed that there is a church nearby that has the Latin Tridentine Mass. I have always wanted to go to one, but have never been able to until now. I am going to check it out to see what it is like. Is there any advice that you all can give me? I have only been to masses that are done as they are done now, so I am looking to find out what I can expect. Thanks for any help you all can give me!
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  1. As you probably know, the Mass will be all in Latin.
  2. Look to see if your church that your attending offers ‘little missalettes’. Usually, you will find them by the entrance into the church.
  3. If you don’t know when to stand, sit, or kneel, simply follow what the other members of the congregation are doing.
  4. The Mass (especially the Canon) will be for the most part silent.
  5. You should receive kneeling and on the tongue.
… (Other members of CAF please fill in what I’ve missed)

I hope you enjoy your first experience at the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite! You might find it confusing at first, but give it a few tries, okay.🙂 It took me a few months…
 
. As you probably know, the Mass will be all in Latin.
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Even the homily?
  1. Look to see if your church that your attending offers ‘little missalettes’. Usually, you will find them by the entrance into the church.
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What if they don’t?
  1. If you don’t know when to stand, sit, or kneel, simply follow what the other members of the congregation are doing.
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Sounds like a plan.
I hope you enjoy your first experience at the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite! You might find it confusing at first, but give it a few tries, okay. It took me a few months…
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I will definitely let you all know how it went on Sunday afterward.
 
Make sure you don’t get overwhelmed trying to follow every line in the missalette - just try to enjoy your first TLM. Mind you, I only started attending this fall when I went away to school, but I’m lucky enough to be steps away from a parish where a High Mass is offered every weekend!

All I can say is that I’m hooked. The sense of mystery that I feel in the Tridentine Mass is unmatched by anything else I have experienced in my life as a Catholic. I still love the OF of the Mass, but I can’t help but feeling that, at least in my area, it is a Mass with closed captioning. I was speaking with a friend this summer, and she said her favourite part of the reforms of Vatican II was that now she could “see and hear everything that the priest is doing.” I don’t know, I just don’t feel like that’s necessary - I enjoy not having everything explained to me. It’s hard to put into words, but the Latin Mass’ liturgy makes me feel as though I’m finally being treated as an adult member of the faithful.

But maybe this criticism is more applicable to the English translation of the Mass that we have right now…I’m really looking forward to the more accurate one that’s coming out soon.

Maybe one more thing that is different - you don’t make a response when you receive communion (so no ‘Amen’). At least that is noted in the missalette in my parish.

Anyways, enjoy! And let us know how it goes.

PS - it’s not a sense of nostalgia that motivated me to attend my first TLM (I’m only in my twenties), but upon doing so, I instantly felt like I had come home. Here’s hoping that you have a similar experience.
 
Even the homily?
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Tho Homily will be in English.
What if they don’t?
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If they don’t have missalettes, I would at least print out the propers and the canon. The “propers” are the changeable prayers in the Mass (i.e. Introit, Collect, Epistle…) They usually change everyday.

Perhaps, someone can recommend a website to prints these out.
I will definitely let you all know how it went on Sunday afterward.
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Yes, please let us know how it goes!🙂
 
mattkubes said:
PS - it’s not a sense of nostalgia that motivated me to attend my first TLM (I’m only in my twenties), but upon doing so, I instantly felt like I had come home. Here’s hoping that you have a similar experience.
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+a billion. Same here, brother. Arriving at home is EXACTLY what it felt like and I’m sure a lot of young people out there feel the same.
 
I have gone to a few Tridentine Masses, I enjoy it greatly and want to try to go every Sunday. There are some differences you might want to be aware of. First, people dress up more at Tridentine masses, men usually wear shirts and ties, and women usually wear head covering. If you are a woman I would suggest getting a hat so you don’t feel out of place. The people in the pews don’t say many responses, unlike the current mass. Most of the mass is a dialogue between the priest and the altar servers. There are some forms of the Tridentine mass where the people respond to many parts, but not usually. When you receive communion you kneel at the altar rail. The priest says corpus christi and you do not respond by saying amen, you just silently receive on your tongue. I suggest not trying to follow along at all in a missal, it is too complicated your first time.
 
jfoges said:
I have gone to a few Tridentine Masses, I enjoy it greatly and want to try to go every Sunday. There are some differences you might want to be aware of. First, people dress up more at Tridentine masses, men usually wear shirts and ties, and women usually wear head covering. If you are a woman I would suggest getting a hat so you don’t feel out of place. The people in the pews don’t say many responses, unlike the current mass. Most of the mass is a dialogue between the priest and the altar servers. There are some forms of the Tridentine mass where the people respond to many parts, but not usually. When you receive communion you kneel at the altar rail. The priest says corpus christi and you do not respond by saying amen, you just silently receive on your tongue. I suggest not trying to follow along at all in a missal, it is too complicated your first time.
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I’m thinking about going to one as well. Can you explain more about the women clothing requirements? I had SSPX friends who were quite against women wearing pants…
 
Dancelittleewok said:
I’m thinking about going to one as well. Can you explain more about the women clothing requirements? I had SSPX friends who were quite against women wearing pants…
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I am a man, but I have noticed that most women wear head coverings, a mantilla or a hat. Now that you mention it, I think most women wore skirts or dresses, not sure of the difference. I would just go with what ever was traditionally considered “proper” for a woman to wear to church. Ask your grandma what she wore 😛
 
Dancelittleewok said:
I’m thinking about going to one as well. Can you explain more about the women clothing requirements? I had SSPX friends who were quite against women wearing pants…
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At the EF I attend, ladies dress in varying ways. My suggestion is “business casual” at a minimum. Whether it’s pants or a skirt is secondary. Some women wear a a hat or chapel veil. Some do not. In any case, it’s Holy Mass, not a fashion show (not even for styles that passed 50+ years ago, though there are those who would argue otherwise). Dress appropriately for Holy Mass and it’ll be fine.
 
mattkubes said:
PS - it’s not a sense of nostalgia that motivated me to attend my first TLM (I’m only in my twenties), but upon doing so, I instantly felt like I had come home. Here’s hoping that you have a similar experience.
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j2c99 said:
+a billion. Same here, brother. Arriving at home is EXACTLY what it felt like and I’m sure a lot of young people out there feel the same.
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Those words are music to my admittedly “old” ears! 🙂 In any case, I commend both of you, (and all those of the younger generation who have had a similar experience with the EF). 👍
 
jfoges said:
The priest says corpus christi and you do not respond by saying amen, you just silently receive on your tongue.
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Actually the priest says (in Latin) “May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ keep thy soul unto life everlasting.” And I’m not going to argue whether it’s better than the OF method of distributing communion. 🙂
 
ProVobis said:
Actually the priest says (in Latin) “May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ keep thy soul unto life everlasting.” And I’m not going to argue whether it’s better than the OF method of distributing communion. 🙂
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When the priest says it i Latin, it will be
Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam. Amen.
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As others have indicated, the priest says it all for you.
 
Dancelittleewok said:
I’m thinking about going to one as well. Can you explain more about the women clothing requirements? I had SSPX friends who were quite against women wearing pants…
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I go to an SSPX chapel, and while you won’t see me in pants, and we rarely see women in pants at mass we don’t toss ladies out if they arrive in pants. No one would say anything. Chapel veils or mantillas are expected although I sometimes see women with uncovered heads.
 
Cider said:
I go to an SSPX chapel, and while you won’t see me in pants, and we rarely see women in pants at mass we don’t toss ladies out if they arrive in pants. No one would say anything. Chapel veils or mantillas are expected although I sometimes see women with uncovered heads.
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I closest thing I have to covering my head is a baseball cap or bandanna or a scarf…
 
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