So, it has been almost a year since I have attended my first EF Mass. I have gone to two others during this time, a second time in November in Tucson, AZ and this last Sunday…and I still get the chills…in a good way of course
. This last Sunday, a bigger group was suppose to go to go to St. Anne’s once again, but everyone flaked out at the last minute. I had made the decision to take my kids with me, regardless if everyone else was going or not.
Again, Solemn High Mass was almost over and my children heard the chant, my eldest whom is 11 smiled and said that the music and singing sounded really beautiful, My daughters loved how all the other girls were dressed and the respect and reverence people had in church. When I asked them what they liked about the Mass, they just replied, “EVERYTHING!”.
There have been many things that have impacted me since my initial attendance to the first EF. One being that the manner I dress matters a lot. Ever since that fateful day I made the decision to dress up for Mass, regardless if it was the EF or the OF. Also, since I am an altar server at my parish, I had a lot more reverence in the service I gave to God. My posture and movements are with more reverence and care than before; that is not to say that I lacked reverence and respect in my service to God, but that I know have a more proper way of doing things in my actions. But there are also things that I have seen and can’t help but feel and see a great difference between the EF and the OF.
For instance, I know that the dignity of the priest is the same even if he just knows the OF or the EF. I know that they are men whom are set apart for the service of God for the benefit of His Church. But I can not help but feel as if priests whom only celebrate in the Extraordinary Form differ from those who celebrate only in the Novous Ordo. For those whom only attend the Novous Ordo, please be aware that I am only speaking on my personal experience with the OF Masses celebrated in my area, I am not speaking in general. I can not articulate it correctly in words, but its as if it is two different types of priests. What I have seen, felt (and I will acknowledge that this point is moot, since feelings are subjective), and read in the missal at the EF; this is more of a sacrifice that the priest offers and not only of himself, but for the laity as well. The priest prays that he may be worthy to approach the altar and asks of the laity that he may be found worthy as well. This just blows my mind, because I do not see this in the OF. Just comparing the two forms, I can see how the liberties and novelties taken up in the OF seem as if it something normal and expected. I can see how some people may think, “well, anyone can do what he is doing” or “the only difference between he and I, is that he is dressed differently”. Going back to the novelties, there is a priest in my area that occassionally comes to my parish and there are times he brings his guitar. During his homily, the priest will strap his guitar and start singing out praise and worship music and encourages us to “clap” for Jesus. I have the priest whom leaves the sanctuary and gives the sign of peace to everyone in the first two rows of pews, while Jesus is on the altar. There is the priest whom makes jokes all throughout his homily and talks nothing but slang. And I want to acknowledge that there are some priests whom celebrate the OF in a very reverant and dignified manner, but there are few and far in between. I recognize that no priest is perfect and I am not trying to idealize priests, but how hard is it to say the black and do the red, as father Z says?
I can honestly tell you, that if there was a parish in my area that celebrated in the EF, I would only go to that parish. But unfortunately I have to drive 3 hours each way in order to experience the tremendous gift that the EF is. I never experienced the EF during my childhood, because I was a Novous Ordo baby, my parish life revolves around the OF, this is the only thing I basically knew up until a year ago. I do not want to belittle the OF nor want to say that it is invalid or one can not find spiritual treasures there, but if the OF was celebrated the way it is meant to be celebrated, things would be a heck of a lot more different than what they are. I just give thanks to God for allowing me to experience the EF, and I hope that I get to go more often.
, but it makes it clear and easy to learn. Very worth it!
I don’t understand why it is on Sunday for different parts of the US, but I guess that’s another thread!)
