How far would you travel to attend the Ordinary Form of the Mass?

[AdDeum]

You might find though, that if the EF became normative and the OF the exception (I guess then we’d have to switch their names…), you will probably find many sloppy and poorly done EFs, even, (gasp!) with abuses. The same priests would be celebrating it as now mangle the OF. What makes you think that if they ignore a rubric in the OF they wouldn’t do the same in the EF? You’d also hear some pretty bad Latin.

On the other hand you’d probably find the OF preserved in local monasteries, for example the local Benedictines near where I live. It is a beautiful and reverent liturgy with Gregorian chant, chanted French readings and EP, etc.

In that case you might find yourself drawn to traveling to the monastery to attend the OF. The present situation of the EF is unique in that it is celebrated by those intent on maintaining this form of the Mass. As such I think it benefits from a more careful presentation than if it were the norm in every village and neighbourhood parish.

Both Masses are equally valid. I can understand being drawn to a reverently done EF when the only local OF is sloppy and full of, umm, “innovations”. But in my case I have the good fortune of a Benedictine OF only 35 minutes away (or an SSPX EF about the same distance in the opposite direction). I am much more drawn to my monastery as I’m affiliated with it as an oblate, than going to an SSPX chapel at the moment.

I did recently drive 1 1/2 hours to go to a NO mass in latin. I liked it quite a bit actually… And it was very reverent. Too bad, most of the NO masses (at least around here) are not that reverent. Either way, I still like the TLM better… Personal preference I guess.

 

[EcceAgnusDei]

What a stupid poll based on a stupid hypothesis .

This made me giggle. If you don’t like the thread, then leave it alone, or at least state your reasons why. You remind me a teenager who says, “this is lame because it sucks.”

• PAX

 

[Jimdandy]

Mass Is Mass

 

[LilyM]

The nearest parishes to where I live are just under and just over an hour each way respectively. Some folk drive/commute longer than that daily for work, so once a week doesn’t seem too much to go for a preferred Mass.

I’m not wedded to the OF, so I don’t think I’d change parishes for it even if it were closer.

 

[Holly3278]

I would simply learn and attend the Extraordinary Form of the Mass or the Traditional Latin Mass.

 

[superamazingman]

I can honestly say I love both forms equally, although in general, the EF is celebrated with more reverence. To be honest, all other things being equal (including reverence and music, etc), if the Masses in my area were 50% EF, 50% OF, I’d probably attend both forms about equally. So that’s my answer.

 

[TimothyH]

Indeed, a poll on who drives the furthest to satisfy their personal attachment to a particular Form may not be a “OF vs. EF thread.”

If the Ordinary Form were in Latin and the Extraordinary Form were in the local vernacular, then I would do the same as I do now: Make a bee-line to the nearest fount of grace, which is my closest Catholic Church, regardless of the Form.

I’ve attended probably hundreds more Latin Masses than most here, but the Form is not the big draw, it’s the Formless which is.

Sublime.

-Tim-

 

[GaryTaylor]

Actually even 30-minutes wouldn’t be a reality though its closest. My parish is 15-minutes, the OF even closer. Right down the block in fact, so its usually a time managment situation.