High Mass vs Low Mass

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I know that the High mass lasts longer…but can anyone tell me what the difference is??..`sorry if this sounds like a stupid question but I just came back to the chruch and find myself lacking in so much info:o …I’m going to buy a book soon to brush up on all my lack of knowledge, this site has been a fantastic learning expierence:thumbsup:
 
High mass is chanted/sung. Low mass is spoken.

Kinda anticlimactic, huh?

Josh
 
It probaby varies place to place. I know that at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the high Mass is the noon Sunday Mass. During the Mass the full choir participates instead of just a cantor, incense is used, and usually if there is a special celebrant in town (i.e. Cardinal, Bishop, etc.) that is usually the Mass they participate in. It does tend to be a little longer due to the choir and other factors.
 
I thought that the terms “high Mass” and low Mass" applied only to the Tridentine rite; and that the new rite did not contain this distinction–but it can be celebrated with varying degrees of solemnity.

JimG
 
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JimG:
I thought that the terms “high Mass” and low Mass" applied only to the Tridentine rite; and that the new rite did not contain this distinction–but it can be celebrated with varying degrees of solemnity.
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Come to think of it the priests refer to the noon Mass as the “solemn” Mass not the “high” Mass. Sorry, minor confussion of a person that is a little to young to remember the Tridentine Mass.

:banghead:
 
Let’s see if I can provide a simple answer to what is really a more complex question. Remember that since Vatican II there is no “high Mass” or “low Mass” – that distinction has been eliminated.

In the Mass of Pius V (the so-called Tridentine Mass) the low Mass was the normative Mass for most Catholics. This Mass was spoken throughout and celebrated by a priest. What most Catholics thought of as a High Mass was, in fact, a Missa cantat – a sung Mass that was celebrated by a priest. A High Mass is always celebrated by the bishop with priests, deacons and subdeacons taking their appropriate roles. Real High Masses were very rare because of the need for deacons and subdeacons. However, priests could always take the place of the deacon or subdeacon since they were, in fact, deacons and subdeacons as well as being priests. This option was used quite frequently. Of course, the High Mass was also sung.

I hope that helps.

Deacon Ed
 
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kayla:
I know that the High mass lasts longer…but can anyone tell me what the difference is??..`sorry if this sounds like a stupid question but I just came back to the chruch and find myself lacking in so much info:o …I’m going to buy a book soon to brush up on all my lack of knowledge, this site has been a fantastic learning expierence:thumbsup:
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Thanks for asking. I didn’t know the difference either. Good thread.
 
Deacon Ed:
In the Mass of Pius V (the so-called Tridentine Mass) the low Mass was the normative Mass for most Catholics. This Mass was spoken throughout and celebrated by a priest. What most Catholics thought of as a High Mass was, in fact, a Missa cantat – a sung Mass that was celebrated by a priest. A High Mass is always celebrated by the bishop with priests, deacons and subdeacons taking their appropriate roles. Real High Masses were very rare because of the need for deacons and subdeacons. However, priests could always take the place of the deacon or subdeacon since they were, in fact, deacons and subdeacons as well as being priests. This option was used quite frequently. Of course, the High Mass was also sung.
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What you call a real High Mass we used to call a Solemn High Mass, though it didn’t require a Bishop. Usually they were only for Masses of the Dead, but we had one for our Wedding. My wife’s uncle was celebrant and her cousin, a priest, was deacon. One of my high school classmates was a transitional deacon and took the part of sub-deacon.
 
A solemn high Mass is attended by a deacon, a subdeacon and acolytes, no Bishop required but may be present. It is sung by the priest and a choir.

A high Mass also known as missa Cantata is sung by the priest with attendance by a choir.

Low Mass is is recited by the priest assisted only by a server or two.

Joe probably got married at a nuptial Mass and can be a solemn Nuptial Mass.
 
The Tridentine High Mass is the most beautiful thing on this side of Heaven. The Choir sings throughout the majority of it, only stopping for the readings, sermon, and Eucharistic Prayers. The Priest and the Altar Boys Chant, the Priest even chants the Epistle and Gospel readings. I think the icing is seeing all six of the tall candles lit on that magnificent marble altar. The flickering illumination adds to the mystery as light passes through the rising incense of the censur. 🙂
 
The Tridentine High Mass is the most beautiful thing on this side of Heaven
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I am trying to remember who first said this originally but can’t - do you remember? At any rate, I agree - it is that.
 
Yes, the Solemn High Mass has been done away with (sigh!) because the minor order of sub-deacon has been done away with.

Solemn High Mass wasn’t confined to just Masses for the Dead (Requiem). Most people couldn’t afford it. I guess some were performed for Weddings. (If you saw the opening to the movie with Roberta Duval, Charles Durning, and Robert DeNero. I forget the name. It was about the murder of a LA women in the late 40’s)

Mostly parishes had a SHM on Christmas and Easter. Most monasteries every Sunday.

A Missa Cantata was sung at Requiem Masses, and in monasteries and seminaries during the week.

It was called Low Mass or High Mass
  1. because it was said in either a high or low voice.
  2. The High Mass took place at the High altar, low Mass at the low altar.
 
The High Mass took place at the High altar, low Mass at the low altar
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What? I don’t remember any “low altar”.Can you verify this for me.

I go to Tridentine Mass weekly and we just have a high altar where both Masses are celebrated.
 
Perhaps he means one of the side altars. I think I read someplace that daily mass would sometimes be celebrated at one of the side altars, but I could be wrong. I am quite sure that all Sunday masses, High and Low, were celebrated at the main altar at the center of the sanctuary. As for the quote, I do not remember who said it, maybe it was Bishop Sheen, but I agree with it. If the N.O. mass is celebrated correctly it can be very nice, but it can not compare to a Tridentine High Mass.
 
That is possible. I had not heard about the high voice and low voice before either, had you?

I did a search on the web and the quote about the Tridentine Mass seems to be attributed to Fr. Frederick Faber ((1814-1863)
 
“That is possible. I had not heard about the high voice and low voice before either, had you?”

No, I am just as clueless as you, Vatican II happend long before my time. There may be a hint though. The cantor at my chruch is very traditional and he told me that with the exception of feasts and solemnties, the priest would celibrate a requiem mass for daily mass, because they were the shortest ones. He said he always wondered why on Sundays they would wear colored Chasubles whereas durring the weekdays they would wear black. The reason why they could do this is because they were praying for the dead. I do not know if this helps or if I have the facts compleatly wrong.
 
"High voice " or “low voice” means sung or receited, get it?
Yes, priests would celebrate Mass on the side altars as well. If you go to any large church or cathedral (The Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception in Wash, DC is one example) you will see several chapels and altars. I remember going to the church of St. Francis of Assisi in NYC in the old days and seeing several Masses (during the week) being celebrated at various times.

No, in Europe before VATII they built another altar closer to the people in the aisle at the foot of the steps. This was sometimes called the “people’s altar” where daily Mass was said. This was why those Masses were called “Low Masses”.

In my parish there was daily Mass, and then if scheduled, a Requiem Mass. maybe people grew up with only 1 priest in the parish, and he couldn’t celebrate 2 Masses in 1 day during the week. I guess I was blessed. Requiem Masses or Masses for the dead can’t be celebrated on Sunday.
 
Mike C said:
"High voice " or “low voice” means sung or receited, get it?

Yes - I got it, I just have never heard of it before - ever - in all my 71 years.

I was taught that the High Mass meant that it was one of High Pomp and Circumstance

*and that the Low Mass was in contradistinction to the High Mass with its external pomp. *

So your comments about high and low voice and high and low altars are just new to me.

No, in Europe before VATII they built another altar closer to the people in the aisle at the foot of the steps. This was sometimes called the “people’s altar” where daily Mass was said. This was why those Masses were called “Low Masses”.

In the U.S. where I grew up, we had both low and high Masses - one altar for both.

There was never an altar “in front” of the high altar but there were side altars and chapels but the High Altar was the Main altar of the Church. Only since Vatican II have I seen altars in front of the High Altar.

Since I was raised in the U.S and not Europe, there may be differences but I have never heard of a “low altar”.
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There never existed a second smaller altar infront of the main altar in Europe or here.
Well the Ponitifical Solemn High Mass needed a bishop. The Solemn High Mass doesn’t need a bishop present.
 
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