I attended my very first TLM

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rivera01

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I attended my very first TLM! A small group of friends and I drove 3 hrs away to attend one. We had been planning in going for about a month, and decided to attend one yesterday.

We arrived at St Anne’s Catholic Church, an FSSP parish in San Diego, CA. When we arrived, High Mass was ending, but we had made plans to attend the Chant Mass, because we wanted to hear Gregorian Chant :D.

Immediate after we got off our car, the ambiance was palpably different than that from our home parishes where the OF is offered. Everyone was dressed nicely; men in suits, women with dresses or skirts and veils, boys in suits or shirt and tie, and girls with dresses and veils. This had quite and impact on us. Fortunately for us, I did dig up an article online a few days prior on what to expect when attending the EF Mass for first time goers, so that meant that we were dressed up as well, some of the women in our group had made their own veils.

We mingled around for a bit before the the Chant Mass started, then we entered the church. We decided to sit a few pews from the first pew because we wanted to see what others were going to do. We genuflected then proceeded to sit in the pew and knelt for prayer to give thanks to God for allowing us to be present for the first time in our lives at an EF Mass.

Then the Mass started, while we didnt understand the Latin, this didnt discourage us at all. The reverence, the genuflecting, the bowing! This was a big WOW to us all. The respect and reverance that the priest and the altar servers had for the Sacred Liturgy lead the laity into worship. When the Liturgy of the Eucharist started, I was awed by the silence, we experienced a contemplation that was not able to be attained at our OF Masses at our home parishes. It was beautiful, when I went for Communion, I didnt want to get up from the Communion rail I was so enamoured with it all. After the Mass ended, we all continued to kneel and give thanks to God for such a great gift the EF is.

We all love the EF, we want to keep going, but seeing that we have to drive pretty far to attend one, we were thinking that we could attend every two or three months. We want to learn Latin and purchase missals that have the Spanish translation. We want to continue to come and I know that this isn’t going to be the first or last time we will attend, God willing. This was such a wonderful gift that God has given us and wish that there was a parish in my area that offers the EF regulary, but I thank God that He has fulfilled my wish to attend and EF Mass.

I did manage to find another parish that offers the Latin Mass, which is in Indio, CA, its only 2 hours away from where we live. Im planning on going in two weeks.
 
rivera01 said:
I attended my very first TLM! A small group of friends and I drove 3 hrs away to attend one. We had been planning in going for about a month, and decided to attend one yesterday.

We arrived at St Anne’s Catholic Church, an FSSP parish in San Diego, CA. When we arrived, High Mass was ending, but we had made plans to attend the Chant Mass, because we wanted to hear Gregorian Chant :D.

Immediate after we got off our car, the ambiance was palpably different than that from our home parishes where the OF is offered. Everyone was dressed nicely; men in suits, women with dresses or skirts and veils, boys in suits or shirt and tie, and girls with dresses and veils. This had quite and impact on us. Fortunately for us, I did dig up an article online a few days prior on what to expect when attending the EF Mass for first time goers, so that meant that we were dressed up as well, some of the women in our group had made their own veils.

We mingled around for a bit before the the Chant Mass started, then we entered the church. We decided to sit a few pews from the first pew because we wanted to see what others were going to do. We genuflected then proceeded to sit in the pew and knelt for prayer to give thanks to God for allowing us to be present for the first time in our lives at an EF Mass.

Then the Mass started, while we didnt understand the Latin, this didnt discourage us at all. The reverence, the genuflecting, the bowing! This was a big WOW to us all. The respect and reverance that the priest and the altar servers had for the Sacred Liturgy lead the laity into worship. When the Liturgy of the Eucharist started, I was awed by the silence, we experienced a contemplation that was not able to be attained at our OF Masses at our home parishes. It was beautiful, when I went for Communion, I didnt want to get up from the Communion rail I was so enamoured with it all. After the Mass ended, we all continued to kneel and give thanks to God for such a great gift the EF is.

We all love the EF, we want to keep going, but seeing that we have to drive pretty far to attend one, we were thinking that we could attend every two or three months. We want to learn Latin and purchase missals that have the Spanish translation. We want to continue to come and I know that this isn’t going to be the first or last time we will attend, God willing. This was such a wonderful gift that God has given us and wish that there was a parish in my area that offers the EF regulary, but I thank God that He has fulfilled my wish to attend and EF Mass.

I did manage to find another parish that offers the Latin Mass, which is in Indio, CA, its only 2 hours away from where we live. Im planning on going in two weeks.
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👍
 
rivera01 said:
I attended my very first TLM! A small group of friends and I drove 3 hrs away to attend one. We had been planning in going for about a month, and decided to attend one yesterday.
Click to expand...
Hi rivera01,

Great news, I am very pleased for you that you have taken part in a TLM for the first time. Your post interested me because I have been keen to attend a TLM for some time now, but have never done so as yet for a few reasons:
  • slight intimidation at never having been, and so unfamiliar (worried about doing something wrong!)
  • dont have anyone keen to accompany me (that I know of; I dont mind going alone, but this exacerbates the “newbie” sensation at never having been before).
But maybe your efforts and experience will get me going!
rivera01 said:
We arrived at St Anne’s Catholic Church, an FSSP parish in San Diego, CA. When we arrived, High Mass was ending, but we had made plans to attend the Chant Mass, because we wanted to hear Gregorian Chant :D.
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I am lucky in my current Parish, as we have some gregorian chant in our sunday noon sung mass (it is still a vernacular mass, but with traditional Catholic music). This is what originally created my interest in traditional Catholicism, which has been growing ever since. I was shocked at the beautiful faith and culture which modern Catholicism does its best to hide or marginalise, meaning most people are totally ignorant of it.

My own Parish doesnt offer a TLM, but our sister parish does and they are only a short distance away, (a short drive or moderate walk), so I have often thought of going there. There are also you-tube videos of TLMs from Edinburgh and around the world.
rivera01 said:
Everyone was dressed nicely
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It makes a big difference - in any environment - if everyone dresses smartly, for sure. I tend to dress quite casually at my usual masses, never inappropriately, but do feel by traditional standards I could smarten up a bit (and I shall).

Sometimes I notice how others dress is actively distracting. One woman in particular at our parish wears short skirts and towering, clacking heels - then she spends the whole mass walking about with her child, up and down the side aisle, so throughout we have the distracting “click-clack” of high heels on a solid floor. Grrrr!

Also, its not uncommon for someones mobile phone to go off. Sigh! I mean, how hard is it to leave your phone at home, or switch it off for just 1 hour?
rivera01 said:
Then the Mass started, while we didnt understand the Latin, this didnt discourage us at all. The reverence, the genuflecting, the bowing!
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Yes it is the communal reverance and collective actions also appeal to me.

Did you just copy others and take your lead from what others were doing? Or did you have some kind of missal or mass card to help out a little, as a guide?

What would you advise someone in my position to do? Just go along and “jump in”, or maybe speak to the priest who offers the masses first (so he knows I am a (i) visitor, (ii) Catholic, (iii) unfamiliar with TLM)?

Thanks for any advice and congratulations again at having attended personally!
Cheers
GWright
 
GWright said:
Hi rivera01,

Great news, I am very pleased for you that you have taken part in a TLM for the first time. Your post interested me because I have been keen to attend a TLM for some time now, but have never done so as yet for a few reasons:
  • slight intimidation at never having been, and so unfamiliar (worried about doing something wrong!)
  • dont have anyone keen to accompany me (that I know of; I dont mind going alone, but this exacerbates the “newbie” sensation at never having been before).
Click to expand...
My husband an I have attended just one, and we found it VERY intimidating. There were only a few dozen people there in our huge Cathedral, absolutely no children (we have 6, I guess it was good we left them at home because I think it would have irritate people). I was the only woman without a veil, which I didn’t realize was a requirement. No one spoke to us or even smiled before or after Mass (although they did each other).

We did not understand anything and were completely unable to follow along, even with a missal. The priest spoke so quietly, perhaps it was meant to be inaudible, but there was certainly no way we could hear to follow. It seemed to us like we weren’t suppose to hear most of it at all. No music, no altar servers, just a single priest.

I will admit to being intrigued by why people prefer the EF. It was Mass, and I was happy to be at Mass because it was the Mass, but felt intimidate, lost and confused and those feelings overwhelmed any others that we might have felt.
 
etmom said:
My husband an I have attended just one, and we found it VERY intimidating. There were only a few dozen people there in our huge Cathedral, absolutely no children (we have 6, I guess it was good we left them at home because I think it would have irritate people). I was the only woman without a veil, which I didn’t realize was a requirement. No one spoke to us or even smiled before or after Mass (although they did each other).

We did not understand anything and were completely unable to follow along, even with a missal. The priest spoke so quietly, perhaps it was meant to be inaudible, but there was certainly no way we could hear to follow. It seemed to us like we weren’t suppose to hear most of it at all. No music, no altar servers, just a single priest.

I will admit to being intrigued by why people prefer the EF. It was Mass, and I was happy to be at Mass because it was the Mass, but felt intimidate, lost and confused and those feelings overwhelmed any others that we might have felt.
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You attended a Low Mass, which is with one priest, at least one altar boy, and no music. It is very quiet and you generally have to follow it based on the ritual actions the priest is making. It is hard to appreciate Low Mass if you have never been to an EF before.

High Mass (Missa Cantata) is a sung Mass with one priest, several altar boys, and everything is sung including the readings.

Solemn Mass is a sung Mass with a priest, deacon and subdeacon, more altar boys, and everything is sung including the readings. This is the most elaborate EF that is regularly celebrated.

Then you get into the Pontifical Masses, which are celebrated by a bishop, which are even more complicated. These are usually not regularly scheduled but they aren’t the hardest to find if you look around.

Most parishes that celebrate the EF exclusively will have at least one High Mass or Solemn Mass every Sunday. Try to find out if you can attend a High or Solemn Mass somewhere. The parts of the Mass are much clearer in these because basically everything is sung. It is better to attend these at first, in my opinion.
 
etmom said:
My husband an I have attended just one, and we found it VERY intimidating. There were only a few dozen people there in our huge Cathedral, absolutely no children (we have 6, I guess it was good we left them at home because I think it would have irritate people). I was the only woman without a veil, which I didn’t realize was a requirement. No one spoke to us or even smiled before or after Mass (although they did each other).

We did not understand anything and were completely unable to follow along, even with a missal. The priest spoke so quietly, perhaps it was meant to be inaudible, but there was certainly no way we could hear to follow. It seemed to us like we weren’t suppose to hear most of it at all. No music, no altar servers, just a single priest.

I will admit to being intrigued by why people prefer the EF. It was Mass, and I was happy to be at Mass because it was the Mass, but felt intimidate, lost and confused and those feelings overwhelmed any others that we might have felt.
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ETMom, I’m sorry you had a bad experience.

But Gwright, do not be discouraged by this post. That was her experience.

I went to my first TLM alone. I basically followed what everyone did. I knelt and prayed during the Agnus Dei and Sanctus.

I watched amazed and thankful for the reverence and the beauty of the ritual.

I knew I wouldn’t understand everything and guess what? As soon as I got home, I looked up more information on the Latin mass. It made me want to learn more.

Of course there will be some level of discomfort as it is something new, but I think most people are thankful that they got to experience the TLM.

We live in the age of YouTube and one thing you can do is watch some masses so that you are more familiar with what will be going on. Also, Sancta Missa has the rubrics.

If you want to look like a pro, just say “Et cum spiritu tuo” whenever the priest says “Dominus Vobiscum.”. 🙂

Sancta Missa

High Mass

Low Mass
 
It is true that we didn’t prepare to attend, by doing research or watching any videos. Perhaps that would have helped if we had been able to do so. This was only our experience, I don’t want to discourage anyone from attending, but the expectations were certainly higher for us and it could possibly be for others attending a similar Mass.

The reason we attende this particular Mass because the Mass intention was for our infant son, who had recently died.

It is the only one that they do in our diocese, I assume they are all the same type of Mass (low Mass)? I do know that our Bishop frequently celebrates them himself, while he didn’t do so for the one we were at, not sure if just having him as the celebrant would make it a different type of Latin Mass?
 
etmom said:
It is true that we didn’t prepare to attend, by doing research or watching any videos. Perhaps that would have helped if we had been able to do so. This was only our experience, I don’t want to discourage anyone from attending, but the expectations were certainly higher for us and it could possibly be for others attending a similar Mass.

The reason we attende this particular Mass because the Mass intention was for our infant son, who had recently died.

It is the only one that they do in our diocese, I assume they are all the same type of Mass (low Mass)? I do know that our Bishop frequently celebrates them himself, while he didn’t do so for the one we were at, not sure if just having him as the celebrant would make it a different type of Latin Mass?
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I’m so sorry for your loss.

Personally, I found the low mass difficult to get used to at first, so I always recommend a sung mass if possible. Now, I like the low mass, but I had to work up to that. 🙂

By the way, I think I linked to a missa cantata (sung mass) - not a high mass.
 
Thank you for the useful info everyone.

Especially Etmom for posting your own experience, Truelight for the great links and YoungTradCatholic for the helpful explanations.

(Etmom - I was also very sorry to hear of your loss)

The TLM is definitely something which interests me. Since my last post, a post about the SSPX elsewhere made me recall there is an SSPX church (St Andrews) just around the corner from me (even nearer than my usual Catholic parish) and much nearer than the nearest Catholic Church with a TLM.

I presume their regular sunday mass would be the same as the TLM which Sacred Heart (our sister parish which offers latin) fits in amongst its vernacular schedule?

I suppose my main concern is going to one of the masses in a curious mindset and then making some dreadful faux-paus which may irritate the congregation (just as, eg, a mobile phone going off in our english service can annoy me).

Is the latin text in the revised sunday missal (I have the CTS edition) the structure of the TLM? (I like the new missal but have given the latin precisely zero attention since I got it, not found the time yet). Sorry if that is a stupid / ignorant question!

I have heard people referring to the 1962 (latin) missal as their chocie, but is this still valid or now superceded?

To be fair to the vernacular mass, I do like the lay participation (I am a lay reader) and wonder what it would be like for this to be removed. But then I do not see the vernacular and TLMs in direct competition - why cannot they compliment each other, for example?

A friend (met through my parish) once said he thought we would be a “laughing stock” if we brought back the TLM. I disagree though, and I honestly think I would go to both masses as often as I could.

(right enough, this guy also favours married priests! lol)

Thanks again and I would be very interested to hear any more comments or experiences from people.

Cheers.
 
GWright said:
I suppose my main concern is going to one of the masses in a curious mindset and then making some dreadful faux-paus which may irritate the congregation (just as, eg, a mobile phone going off in our english service can annoy me).
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I don’t see why anyone would be annoyed at any faux pas you might make. I actually love when people are new. It’s a blessing.

One thing I should remind you though is not to say the Pater Noster along with the priest. You only say the last line. “Sed libera nos a malo”.
 
I’ve been attending EF Masses fairly regularly (at least twice a month) and it became much easier to follow after I read through this book:
angeluspress.org/uploads/itemgraphic1524.jpg
It kind of looks like it’s for kids:rolleyes:, but it makes it clear and easy to learn. Very worth it!
 
rivera01 said:
I attended my very first TLM! A small group of friends and I drove 3 hrs away to attend one. We had been planning in going for about a month, and decided to attend one yesterday.

We arrived at St Anne’s Catholic Church, an FSSP parish in San Diego, CA. When we arrived, High Mass was ending, but we had made plans to attend the Chant Mass, because we wanted to hear Gregorian Chant :D.

Immediate after we got off our car, the ambiance was palpably different than that from our home parishes where the OF is offered. Everyone was dressed nicely; men in suits, women with dresses or skirts and veils, boys in suits or shirt and tie, and girls with dresses and veils. This had quite and impact on us. Fortunately for us, I did dig up an article online a few days prior on what to expect when attending the EF Mass for first time goers, so that meant that we were dressed up as well, some of the women in our group had made their own veils.

We mingled around for a bit before the the Chant Mass started, then we entered the church. We decided to sit a few pews from the first pew because we wanted to see what others were going to do. We genuflected then proceeded to sit in the pew and knelt for prayer to give thanks to God for allowing us to be present for the first time in our lives at an EF Mass.

Then the Mass started, while we didnt understand the Latin, this didnt discourage us at all. The reverence, the genuflecting, the bowing! This was a big WOW to us all. The respect and reverance that the priest and the altar servers had for the Sacred Liturgy lead the laity into worship. When the Liturgy of the Eucharist started, I was awed by the silence, we experienced a contemplation that was not able to be attained at our OF Masses at our home parishes. It was beautiful, when I went for Communion, I didnt want to get up from the Communion rail I was so enamoured with it all. After the Mass ended, we all continued to kneel and give thanks to God for such a great gift the EF is.

We all love the EF, we want to keep going, but seeing that we have to drive pretty far to attend one, we were thinking that we could attend every two or three months. We want to learn Latin and purchase missals that have the Spanish translation. We want to continue to come and I know that this isn’t going to be the first or last time we will attend, God willing. This was such a wonderful gift that God has given us and wish that there was a parish in my area that offers the EF regulary, but I thank God that He has fulfilled my wish to attend and EF Mass.

I did manage to find another parish that offers the Latin Mass, which is in Indio, CA, its only 2 hours away from where we live. Im planning on going in two weeks.
Click to expand...
That’s awesome, I’m from San Diego and I attend St. Anne’s quite often, maybe 3-4 times a month.
 
As a San Diego native, I can tell you that a man in a coat and tie on Sunday is most certainly the work of the Holy Ghost!
 
etmom said:
My husband an I have attended just one, and we found it VERY intimidating. There were only a few dozen people there in our huge Cathedral, absolutely no children (we have 6, I guess it was good we left them at home because I think it would have irritate people). I was the only woman without a veil, which I didn’t realize was a requirement. No one spoke to us or even smiled before or after Mass (although they did each other).

We did not understand anything and were completely unable to follow along, even with a missal. The priest spoke so quietly, perhaps it was meant to be inaudible, but there was certainly no way we could hear to follow. It seemed to us like we weren’t suppose to hear most of it at all. No music, no altar servers, just a single priest.

I will admit to being intrigued by why people prefer the EF. It was Mass, and I was happy to be at Mass because it was the Mass, but felt intimidate, lost and confused and those feelings overwhelmed any others that we might have felt.
Click to expand...
It is always most amazing to me that it is so radically different attending a Low Mass offered in accordance with the 1962 books that a Catholic feels alienated and lost.

There is no excuse for unsociable folks after Mass. By contrast, in my church when a newcomer is spotted they are usually mauled, stuffed with donuts, and their babies are taken from them and passed around for all to kiss and spoil.
 
Rainaldo said:
EF speaks the language of the heart.
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Well put, and this is exactly what I experienced. I didnt need to understand with my ears or mind, I just had to open my heart to trully understand. As I told a friend of mine today, you do not have to understand the language in order to understand what was going on. It is like seeing a boyfriend with his girlfriend who speak a different language than what you speak. You can see that this couple loves one another a lot just by looking at how they look at each other, they way they treat each other.
 
GWright said:
I have been keen to attend a TLM for some time now, but have never done so as yet for a few reasons:
  • slight intimidation at never having been, and so unfamiliar (worried about doing something wrong!)
  • dont have anyone keen to accompany me (that I know of; I dont mind going alone, but this exacerbates the “newbie” sensation at never having been before).
Did you just copy others and take your lead from what others were doing? Or did you have some kind of missal or mass card to help out a little, as a guide?

What would you advise someone in my position to do? Just go along and “jump in”, or maybe speak to the priest who offers the masses first (so he knows I am a (i) visitor, (ii) Catholic, (iii) unfamiliar with TLM)?

Thanks for any advice and congratulations again at having attended personally!
Cheers
GWright
Click to expand...
Just take the plunge, that is my best advice and I give. At first, I am not going to lie, when I saw how everyone was dressed, I did feel awkward and a little intimidated, but that feeling was gone fast once I got over that and felt comfortable.

As far as the missal was concerned, there was a Latin-Spanish missal and I did get one, but I just decided to give it to one of my friends because I didnt not want to get distracted by looking at what step the Mass was…according to the Missal, and I didnt want to get lost. So I just decided to copy what everyone else was doing.
 
TrueLight said:
I don’t see why anyone would be annoyed at any faux pas you might make. I actually love when people are new. It’s a blessing.

One thing I should remind you though is not to say the Pater Noster along with the priest. You only say the last line. “Sed libera nos a malo”.
Click to expand...
Yes! I made a note of that when Mass started. It was great not seeing the laity doing the hand holding or the common preisthood “orans” position we have at the OF 😛

Although there was a lady in our group that couldnt keep her hands still on occasions, I felt like telling her to stop, but I didnt want to get distracted.
 
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