Good things about the TLM/EF

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Saint_Gemma

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This thread is a place to list good things about the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (traditional Latin Mass). This is not the place to list bad things about the EF, or anything about the NO/OF.
  1. It was the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite for hundreds of years.
  2. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI liked it enough to liberate it from years of suppression.
  3. A High Mass is beautiful.
  4. A Low Mass is easy to celebrate.
  5. Thousands of Saints attended it.
  6. It is the same everywhere.
  7. Many obedient Catholics attended it prior to the promulgation of the OF, and many obedient Catholics attend it today.
 
Saint_Gemma;3729388]“6. It is the same everywhere.”

This is one thing I love about it. I attended a TLM when I was in Rome. There were pilgrims from all over the world, yet there were no language barriers. Beautiful! 🙂
 
Saint_Gemma said:
  1. It is the same everywhere.
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Actually, no, it isn’t. At least not any more than a NO mass is the same everywhere. There’s a very common “flow” to the mass (as there is to the NO), but I’ve attended TLM’s in several places in the U.S. and in several European countries and there are actually a surprising number of differences in posture, sung responses, etc.

Just a few weeks ago I visited my old FSSP TLM parish that I hadn’t been to in nearly three years. Most of the postures (standing/kneeling) had changed, and the congregation had virtually stopped singing. Same parish, big changes.
 
I’m afraid that your list doesn’t really include anything about the Extraordinary form itself, just things you seem to like about it. Can you go into the liturgy a little more? I am really curious to read what is said.

The above poster has a good point about what I mean.
 
I like The Prayers at the Foot of the Altar. Before the Mass even begins, the priest and faithful prepare themselves by acknowledging our faults and tendency to sin. Very humbling and very fitting to ask for God’s mercy in such an unhurried and reverent way.
 
Saint_Gemma said:
This thread is a place to list good things about the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (traditional Latin Mass). This is not the place to list bad things about the EF, or anything about the NO/OF.
  1. A High Mass is beautiful.
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I also love the architecture associated with the classical Latin Mass. We are in the process of renovating our 100 year old church. It had been “remodeled” in the 70’s and all the beautiful things were taken away. We acquired some marble altars and communion rail from a church that was closing in Boston. It will be awe-inspiring when it is finished!
 
Crack open a Missal from 1962 or earlier and it can tell you exactly what prayers are said and what goes on during the Mass
Timothysis said:
I’m afraid that your list doesn’t really include anything about the Extraordinary form itself, just things you seem to like about it. Can you go into the liturgy a little more? I am really curious to read what is said.

The above poster has a good point about what I mean.
Click to expand...
 
I love the prayers as well. There are so many beautiful prayers-I like this one at the washing of the Priest’s hands:
I wash my hands among the innocent, and I go around Your altar, O Lord, that I may hear the voice of praise, and tell of all Thy wondrous works. O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. Take not away my soul, O God with the wicked: nor my life with men of blood. On their hands are crimes, and their right hands are full of bribes. But as for me I have walked in my innocence; redeem me, and have mercy on me. My foot has stood in the right way;s in the churches I will bless Thee, O Lord. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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I love saying the Confiteor before Mass begins and again before I receive Communion. It reminds me of God’s forgiveness and mercy.

I also love the Gospel of John at the end of every Mass.
 
tcraig said:
Actually, no, it isn’t. At least not any more than a NO mass is the same everywhere. There’s a very common “flow” to the mass (as there is to the NO), but I’ve attended TLM’s in several places in the U.S. and in several European countries and there are actually a surprising number of differences in posture, sung responses, etc.

Just a few weeks ago I visited my old FSSP TLM parish that I hadn’t been to in nearly three years. Most of the postures (standing/kneeling) had changed, and the congregation had virtually stopped singing. Same parish, big changes.
Click to expand...
Okay, the language and the words of the Mass itself are the same everywhere.
 
The priest gets to face the Lord while offering the Sacrifice, and the people spend most of their time kneeling before God. The prayers are humbel, and the form itself is nothing but reverent, focused on God. What’s better for worship that focusing 110% on the One being worshipped?
 
…The priest gets to face the Lord while offering the Sacrifice, and the people spend most of their time kneeling before God. The prayers are humbel, and the form itself is nothing but reverent, focused on God. What’s better for worship that focusing 110% on the One being worshipped?..

…agreed, on all your points…I attended my first TLM last Saturday, which was the Feast of Corpus Christi, and thus had the pleasure of attending a solemn Mass…I had done a great deal of study on the TLM, and I thought I was well positioned to follow the prayers and observances, but it turns out my study was of the Low Mass, consisting of somewhat differing liturgical situations. I’m looking forward to attending next week to see if I understand a little more…at any rate, I need to observe the kneeling and standing much more closely, but that aside, I must say I loved kneeling at the altar rail receiving the Blessed Host…
…also, nothing I say should be taken as any criticism of the Novus Ordo, which it it most definitely not…with proper reverence, the NO is commendable as well, and I would love to hear the NO done in Latin, with the current participation of the congregation included…as I’ve studied the prayers, I would like to recite them as well…
 
What isn’t good about the TLM?

I love the prayers at the foot of the altar, the complex acolyte/priest responses to each other, the full confiteor, the kneeling for all of the Mass except the Gospel (where you stand anyway) and Sermon, kneeling to receive communion, the silent Canon (useful for focusing oneself before communion), the Last Gospel, the Leonine prayers- each action seems to carry amount of historic and theological weight.

The Latin I like in that it gives me an excuse to use a Missal (I’m a visual person), although I definitely wouldn’t mind a vernacular TLM.
 
The EF is a licit and valid Mass.

The EF Good Friday prayer for the conversion of the Jews is hard to interpret in a heretical way.
 
Fitswimmer said:
I love the prayers as well. There are so many beautiful prayers-I like this one at the washing of the Priest’s hands:

I love saying the Confiteor before Mass begins and again before I receive Communion. It reminds me of God’s forgiveness and mercy.

I also love the Gospel of John at the end of every Mass.
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Yes, after reading the last gospel in my missal for so many years, I really impressed my protestant friends by being able to quote so much of the beginning of John’s gospel:)

The prayer to St. Michael after mass reminds me that we are in a war zone but God gives us helpers in the fight.
 
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