How long should a daily TLM last?

[FrRJBoyd]

Oh… if you don’t mind, I have a question: What are your thoughts on the Old Mass? Have you enjoyed saying it, and what, if anything, have you got from it?

I waited five and a half years since my ordination in 2002 to say the TLM. I had requested the indult, but did not receive it. At any rate, I offered a sung Mass on September 14, 2007; it was like a second “First Mass”! My First Mass in 2002 was in a beautiful Church, included the Gregorian propers for Pentecost and Byrd’s Mass for 4 voices as the Mass setting. The Gospel was chanted (in English). The petitions were borrowed from the Ukranian rite, and concluded with the “O God our refuge and strength” from the prayers after Low Mass. I tried to make it the best Novus Ordo Mass I could offer. However, in my opinion, it still fell short of the depth of the TLM. It’s not simply the accident of the language of the Mass (though Latin is more beautiful than English --especially when sung); the substance of the prayers and the appropriateness of the gestures of the TLM reflect the wisdom of the Church’s 2,000 year tradition, rather than the “modern” scholarship and insipid translation that characterize the Novus Ordo in English. Please don’t misunderstand me. Both the Novus Ordo and the TLM are the Sacrifice of Calvary re-presented, and the general Mass fruit of infinite value. However, while the Novus Ordo appeals to the senses (for some), the TLM is conducive even to contemplation. The TLM is the Mass that fed saints for centuries. The personal Mass fruit, in my opinion, has the possibility of being higher with the TLM. I would really like to only offer the TLM.

 

[Like]

I waited five and a half years since my ordination in 2002 to say the TLM. I had requested the indult, but did not receive it. At any rate, I offered a sung Mass on September 14, 2007; it was like a second “First Mass”! My First Mass in 2002 was in a beautiful Church, included the Gregorian propers for Pentecost and Byrd’s Mass for 4 voices as the Mass setting. The Gospel was chanted (in English). The petitions were borrowed from the Ukranian rite, and concluded with the “O God our refuge and strength” from the prayers after Low Mass. I tried to make it the best Novus Ordo Mass I could offer. However, in my opinion, it still fell short of the depth of the TLM. It’s not simply the accident of the language of the Mass (though Latin is more beautiful than English --especially when sung); the substance of the prayers and the appropriateness of the gestures of the TLM reflect the wisdom of the Church’s 2,000 year tradition, rather than the “modern” scholarship and insipid translation that characterize the Novus Ordo in English. Please don’t misunderstand me. Both the Novus Ordo and the TLM are the Sacrifice of Calvary re-presented, and the general Mass fruit of infinite value. However, while the Novus Ordo appeals to the senses (for some), the TLM is conducive even to contemplation. The TLM is the Mass that fed saints for centuries. The personal Mass fruit, in my opinion, has the possibility of being higher with the TLM. I would really like to only offer the TLM.

God bless you, Fr. Boyd!

I need to ask your address so as to kidnap you & bring you to our small Island.

Seriously, you have given me great hope for the future of the Church!:extrahappy:
Please keep me in your prayers as I pray for you and the Church!

 

[CradleCath]

I waited five and a half years since my ordination in 2002 to say the TLM. I had requested the indult, but did not receive it. At any rate, I offered a sung Mass on September 14, 2007; it was like a second “First Mass”! My First Mass in 2002 was in a beautiful Church, included the Gregorian propers for Pentecost and Byrd’s Mass for 4 voices as the Mass setting. The Gospel was chanted (in English). The petitions were borrowed from the Ukranian rite, and concluded with the “O God our refuge and strength” from the prayers after Low Mass. I tried to make it the best Novus Ordo Mass I could offer. However, in my opinion, it still fell short of the depth of the TLM. It’s not simply the accident of the language of the Mass (though Latin is more beautiful than English --especially when sung); the substance of the prayers and the appropriateness of the gestures of the TLM reflect the wisdom of the Church’s 2,000 year tradition, rather than the “modern” scholarship and insipid translation that characterize the Novus Ordo in English. Please don’t misunderstand me. Both the Novus Ordo and the TLM are the Sacrifice of Calvary re-presented, and the general Mass fruit of infinite value. However, while the Novus Ordo appeals to the senses (for some), the TLM is conducive even to contemplation. The TLM is the Mass that fed saints for centuries. The personal Mass fruit, in my opinion, has the possibility of being higher with the TLM. I would really like to only offer the TLM.

God Bless you, Father.

 

[Silver_Thread]

I’ve been saying the TLM since September 14, 2007, and I was just wondering what people think about the average length for a daily TLM. I know St. Alphonsus Liguori seems to come down on the side of approximately 30 min. for a “private” Mass without communion of the faithful; certainly he says it should not be less than 20 min. But I really haven’t been able to say the Mass in much less than 40 min. (I think 38 min. is my “record”). It’s not a problem with the Latin or uncertainty in the rubrics; it just seems like I’m going at a reasonable and respectful pace, and I don’t think I could maintain the same reverence if I went faster. Am I missing something?

I like to arrive a half hour early and stay at least 10 minutes after Mass. A sung mass at our Church usually last approx 1 hr. 10 min. I so look forward to Sunday Mass. Besides, I make a weekly donation and I want my monies worth. :D

 

[Joe17]

The average people are saying, 30-40 minutes, is my general experience. The prayers at the foot of the altar are more or less said at the same speed. Being an altar server, it seems to me that the silent prayers may be said quiker that the vocal prayers, at least by some priests. Some priests speak quicker than others. The TLM is the only Mass they say. Just my observation.

Pray, Fr Boyd, for counsel in this area.  Our Lord could be leading you to where he really wants you.

Joe

 

[Silver_Thread]

The average people are saying, 30-40 minutes, is my general experience. The prayers at the foot of the altar are more or less said at the same speed. Being an altar server, it seems to me that the silent prayers may be said quiker that the vocal prayers, at least by some priests. Some priests speak quicker than others. The TLM is the only Mass they say. Just my observation.

Pray, Fr Boyd, for counsel in this area.  Our Lord could be leading you to where he really wants you.

Joe

I would like to know where you are coming from.How in God’s name can we be discussing the length of time of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? It’s asinine!

 

[Joe17]

I do not, nor do I believe any of the posters(as if I could speak for them) mean any disrespect to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I think the inquirer, being new, is wondering what others have experienced. It was posted that St Alphonsus Marie de Ligouri spoke about Mass being under 20 minutes was not the way to go, to put it mildly. Something holy should always be done reverently and devoutly, not just hashed through.

That is all that this posting is about.

Please pray for me and I will pray for you.

Joe

 

[Wise_Queen]

I do not, nor do I believe any of the posters(as if I could speak for them) mean any disrespect to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I think the inquirer, being new, is wondering what others have experienced. It was posted that St Alphonsus Marie de Ligouri spoke about Mass being under 20 minutes was not the way to go, to put it mildly. Something holy should always be done reverently and devoutly, not just hashed through.

That is all that this posting is about.

Please pray for me and I will pray for you.

Joe

And I will pray for you all also. Some Latin Mass priests think a sermon should be an hour… and with that combined with the Mass the children are starving and wilting by the end…needs of families should be taken into consideration as well as still the need to be reverent. If a pries rushes through Mass he is not being reverent and it comes across to the children and faithful that he doesn’t care about what he’s doing.

Wise Queen

 

[bpbasilphx]

I think the enviornment where the mass is said has a big influence.

A Low Mass at a side altar would just go faster than in a big church at the high altar, even with the same size congregation.

The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom takes about an hour and 15 min (of course, this is all sung). Yet once in a mission situation when the Liturgy was celebrated in a private home with about a dozen faithful, the same Liturgy took 45 minutes, and no text was left out, though the smaller venue required a certain abbreviation of the ceremonial.

I also think that language affects the speed, too. It takes fewer and shorter words to say something in English than it does in other languages. (Bilingual signs in Spanish and English illustrate this.)

 

[603304529]

Father,

One thing that I know different priests do, that can make a difference to the timing of a TLM is the time that they spend cleaning the sacred vessels after Holy Communion, and then setting up the ciborium with the paten and burse, and the other bits and pieces (sorry, I can never remember the proper names).

Other things like the Last Gospel can take 1 minute or 3 minutes - I once served for one old priest who actually closed his eyes and recited the whole thing off by heart, very quickly, but still distinctly - ie, without irreverence.

Its a handful of these things that can make the difference between a 30 minute and 40 minute Mass…

Mick

 

[FrRJBoyd]

Father,

One thing that I know different priests do, that can make a difference to the timing of a TLM is the time that they spend cleaning the sacred vessels after Holy Communion, and then setting up the ciborium with the paten and burse, and the other bits and pieces (sorry, I can never remember the proper names).

Other things like the Last Gospel can take 1 minute or 3 minutes - I once served for one old priest who actually closed his eyes and recited the whole thing off by heart, very quickly, but still distinctly - ie, without irreverence.

Its a handful of these things that can make the difference between a 30 minute and 40 minute Mass…

Mick

Thanks, Mick, that is very true. My OP was nine months ago; I’ve been saying the TLM for a year now, and a low Mass takes me about 35 min. without a congregation. I don’t want to go any faster.

God bless,

Fr. Boyd

 

[brotherhrolf]

Father, this is from an altar boy who served the 6 am weekday Masses back in the late 50’s through '65. We may have had 15 or 20 people attending. Thirty-five to forty minutes was the norm in my parish. BTW this was a suburban parish. I can’t recall ever serving Mass at either of the two side altars. This was the norm at “school Masses” in grade school and in high school as well. You’re doing OK

 

[Jacafamala]

It takes an hour where I assist, but that includes the nuns chanting.

 

[palmas85]

I’ve been saying the TLM since September 14, 2007, and I was just wondering what people think about the average length for a daily TLM. I know St. Alphonsus Liguori seems to come down on the side of approximately 30 min. for a “private” Mass without communion of the faithful; certainly he says it should not be less than 20 min. But I really haven’t been able to say the Mass in much less than 40 min. (I think 38 min. is my “record”). It’s not a problem with the Latin or uncertainty in the rubrics; it just seems like I’m going at a reasonable and respectful pace, and I don’t think I could maintain the same reverence if I went faster. Am I missing something?

Hi Father. I served numerous Masses, way too many to even remember them all, from the mid 50’s until 1966. A daily Mass depending on the Priest, would run from 35 minutes or so on up. If the congregation did not receive Holy Communion the it would be about 25-35 minutes, again depending on which Priest was there. You are right in the ballpark Father and doing fine:thumbsup:

 

[Claire_from_DE]

In the olden days a 25 minute daily mass wasn’t uncommon. There was no homily, although I seem to remember the gospel was re-read to us in English. The priest spoke really fast. The way you are doing it is much better, I think. Our daily NO mass takes about 30-35 minutes with a short homily. I don’t see how you could say the EF mass faster. Perhaps you could begin 10 minutes earlier if people have to leave for work at a certain time?

 

[SanJudas]

Maybe we can compare Father saying the Mass to we laypeople saying the Rosary. I can say a five-decade Rosary in seventeen minutes flat if I really lay on the gas, but somehow it just doesn’t feel right. A twenty-five minute Rosary seems much more reverent and I have time to meditate on each Mystery. I pattern my speed on the EWTN Rosary with Mother Angelica. She and the sisters take about twenty-five minutes with their televised version, and that seems about right to me. No rushing through pauses or slurred speech, but with ample time to digest the meaning of each Mystery and the virtues it teaches.

I imagine it might be the same for the Father saying Mass. If a priest finds himself hurrying through certain prayers at a pace that a listener would find hard to comprehend, or if he is occasionally mispronouncing words, he is probably going too fast. At the TLM I attend the Father pronounces everything up to the Canon clearly and audibly, because he knows that many are following along in their missals and some are trying to learn to pronounce Latin correctly. This would also be a great help to a newcomer to the Latin Mass as well.

 

[Jacafamala]

I take that back, not an hour. It’s more like forty minutes. I was counting the car ride there and back, silly of me.

 

[neitsab]

I’ve been saying the TLM since September 14, 2007, and I was just wondering what people think about the average length for a daily TLM. I know St. Alphonsus Liguori seems to come down on the side of approximately 30 min. for a “private” Mass without communion of the faithful; certainly he says it should not be less than 20 min. But I really haven’t been able to say the Mass in much less than 40 min. (I think 38 min. is my “record”). It’s not a problem with the Latin or uncertainty in the rubrics; it just seems like I’m going at a reasonable and respectful pace, and I don’t think I could maintain the same reverence if I went faster. Am I missing something?

I for one think your reasons are sound and you are not missing anything.