How to Use a Roman Missal for Latin Mass

[StGerardMajella]

I notice in our local Masses that many of the parishioners do not know Latin, and might find it helpful if they had some guidance in this area to make Mass more meaningful. I want to launch this thread to address this matter, written from a layperson’s perspective.

If you are new to the traditional Latin Mass, you may notice some of the parishioners utilizing a prayer book to follow along with the Mass. This prayer books is called a Roman Missal. In short, it is a prayer book to keep engaged and prayerful during Mass.

What is nice about the Roman Missal is that it contains the readings and prayers said for every single Mass throughout the year. It also has the English translation alongside the Latin!

Focus on the priest: By focusing all of your attention on the priest, you can utilize the Missal to keep in step with his prayers during Mass. This improves and heightens your engagement in Mass, and makes the Mass much more meaningful.

There are several versions of the Roman Missal, but for the sake of example, I will refer to the Saint Andrew Daily Missal in this explanation of “best practices”. I would hope that other readers that are familiar can add their own best practices (name removed by moderator)ut to this thread as well.

The center section of the Missal contains the “canon” of the Mass. This is the part of the book you will read most often. The canon contains the non-changing parts of Mass that are constant throughout the year. So, for example, I will place the white ribbon at “The Asperges” which is sung at the beginning of Mass as a starting point, and move the white ribbon through the text as Mass progresses.

The red ribbon I will use as a place marker for the “variable” readings for Sunday Mass that change throughout the year. So, for example, on Sunday I will place the red marker for the readings for the Third Sunday of Advent. This marker denotes the “variable” parts of that Mass: Introit, Collect, Epistle, Gradual, Gospel, Offertory, Communion and Post-Communion prayers.

I utilize the green ribbon to mark the Preface for that Sunday. The yellow ribbon I will utilize to mark the variable readings for the next upcoming Mass during the week. This leaves one extra ribbon to use as one deems fit - perhaps to mark the back of the book for certain prayers, etc.

In the Missal, there are prayers for both before and after Mass, as well as many other traditional prayers said throughout the year.

I hope this helps. Read, debate, discuss. Best.

 

[Augustinian]

In the current day, what percentage of Catholics at Latin mass bring and follow along with a missal?

As I remember, some of the folks did but less than 1/2 definitely.

One of the things about the Latin Mass is that it didn’t change. If it was the 3rd Sunday of Advent, the gospel, epistle and other propers were exactly the same as the 3rd Sunday of Advent in 2015 and 2016

 

[nitrujillo]

Thank you so much for this explanation. I found your explanation to help me greatly. Do you know where I can get help learning Latin to better myself during mass?

 

[Augustinian]

Following the priest’s prayers in the Latin mass is very difficult , even for Latin experts.

The priest reads different parts in different tones of voice from a whisper to loud…

I believe that traditionally the key to following the Latin Mass was to know where the priest was supposed to be and what he was doing (not saying) during each part. The old school “ringing of the bells” by the altar servers alerted the people, let them know how the mass was progressing.

 

[StGerardMajella]

The Missal will definitely help with learning the Latin, as the English translation sits opposite the Latin. That is one of the reasons why I encourage the use of the Roman Missal. In many Catholic high schools, Latin is no longer taught. I digress.

Aside from taking formal classes to learn Latin, or hiring a tutor, the Roman Missal when used properly can help enhance the learning of Latin. Over time, you will pick up certain Latin words and phrases and their meanings.

Following the priest’s prayers in the Latin mass is very difficult , even for Latin experts. The priest reads different parts in different tones of voice from a whisper to loud…I believe that traditionally the key to following the Latin Mass was to know where the priest was supposed to be and what he was doing (not saying) during each part. The old school “ringing of the bells” by the altar servers alerted the people, let them know how the mass was progressing.

The Missal helps because you can follow along with each step of the Mass. The key is to pay very close attention to the priest, even when he says the prayers quietly. The trick is to pay careful attention to the priest and not be distracted by the other actions on the altar - deacons, altar boys, etc.

My understanding is that in the past, many lay parishioners would just say a Rosary quietly during Mass and did not follow along with the Missal.

In the current day, what percentage of Catholics at Latin mass bring and follow along with a missal?

Each parish is different. I have been to some parishes where it seems 75-80% of the parishioners have a Roman Missal, and other parishes where it seems less than 10%. The goal of this thread is to spread some awareness about the Roman Missal and to encourage its use.

The Missal isn’t restricted to the Latin Mass. There is also a Roman Missal for the Novus Ordo, though I have found it to be more difficult to follow. The traditional Roman Missals seem to have an easier format for me to follow.

 

[Augustinian]

The Missal helps because you can follow along with each step of the Mass. The key is to pay very close attention to the priest, even when he says the prayers quietly. The trick is to pay careful attention to the priest and not be distracted by the other actions on the altar - deacons, altar boys, etc.

My understanding is that in the past, many lay parishioners would just say a Rosary quietly during Mass and did not follow along with the Missal.

its absolutely true that many Catholics would pray the rosary during mass back in traditional times when Latin mass was the only mass. It wasn’t looked down upon at all.

A lot of people- most back in the day- didn’t have missals, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t understand what was happening or weren’t keeping up with the mass, even if they didn’t hear every word.

 

[StGerardMajella]

My ancestors had a small black book, leather cover, that contained just the canon of the Mass. It couldn’t have been any more than 30 pages long or less. It was small enough to put in your pocket. I wonder how common this book was. I have a copy somewhere stored safe as it is falling apart because of its age. It’s like a mini-Roman missal.