I went to Latin Mass this Sunday. I like the NO better

[East_and_West]

Well, I hadn’t bene to Latin Mass in over a year. Well, I am not gonna lie. I remember why. I don’t like it that much. I realize the prayers are beautiful. I realize that its an older tradition. BUT, I simply cannot be drawn into the mystery of worshiping God this way. I almost fell asleep. I tried to follow along in the missal. I really tried. But it didn’t work

I perfer a a reverant NO mass celebrated ad orientem anyday. Its just me. Funny, I tend to be VERY traditional. But that didn’t lead me in the TLM direction.

 

[James0235]

Well, I hadn’t bene to Latin Mass in over a year. Well, I am not gonna lie. I remember why. I don’t like it that much. I realize the prayers are beautiful. I realize that its an older tradition. BUT, I simply cannot be drawn into the mystery of worshiping God this way. I almost fell asleep. I tried to follow along in the missal. I really tried. But it didn’t work

I’m sure you would agree that it is good to have the option though for those who prefer it, wouldn’t you?

I perfer a a reverant NO mass celebrated ad orientem anyday. Its just me. Funny, I tend to be VERY traditional. But that didn’t lead me in the TLM direction.

It is much, much easier to find a TLM than it is to find a reverent NO Mass said ad orientem. You are lucky to have one available to you.

James

 

[JRKH]

Well, I hadn’t bene to Latin Mass in over a year. Well, I am not gonna lie. I remember why. I don’t like it that much. I realize the prayers are beautiful. I realize that its an older tradition. BUT, I simply cannot be drawn into the mystery of worshiping God this way. I almost fell asleep. I tried to follow along in the missal. I really tried. But it didn’t work

I perfer a a reverant NO mass celebrated ad orientem anyday. Its just me. Funny, I tend to be VERY traditional. But that didn’t lead me in the TLM direction.

You looked, tried both and made a choice. Good For You!!

I like both of the liturgies. As I have said repeatedly, they both have their own beauty. It’s great to have the choice.

Peace
James

 

[HelenRose]

You looked, tried both and made a choice. Good For You!!

I like both of the liturgies. As I have said repeatedly, they both have their own beauty. It’s great to have the choice.

Peace
James

Absolutely! They both have their own beauty. What a wonderful gift Pope Benedict has given us - the opportunity to share our faith with the T.L.M. and the O.N.M. We are truly blessed with this wonderful Pope.

 

[rstegeman]

I have yet to attend a Latin Mass, not because of lack of desire, it’s just haven’t had the opportunity. As for the NO Mass, what does it mean when you say “ad orientum”? I’ve never heard this in regards to the NO Mass.

 

[daeve]

I grew up in the 1950s and 60s, and the Latin Mass was what we always had then. I hadn’t been to one since high school, but on New Years Day I attended one.

The congregation sang an entrance hymn, but the choir sang everything else until the recessional. I had the words in front of me, so I chanted along with the choir, as did a few other old ladies around me. I got lost a few times even with the booklet right in front of me.

I don’t recall feeling like an observer back then. I don’t remember not being able to hear the priest at all. Maybe it was because the school children were the ones singing at the daily Mass, and we had to attend the “children’s Mass” at 10 am on Sunday. I sang at weddings and funerals on most Saturdays too, so I went to Mass pretty much every day of the week for about 4 or 5 years.

It was pretty, but I didn’t feel like I took part in the Mass. I prefer with the NO because I can actively participate in it.

 

[Cathryn]

For myself, I have about equal active participation with the TLM and the NO. I follow along with both and offer myself with Christ on the Cross to the Father with both forms of the Mass. I feel less distracted with the TLM, however. With the NO I am more aware of being part of the Body of Christ around me, and with the TLM I am usually more conscience of offering myself to God with Christ on the cross. I have to make more of a mental note that we are one Bread one Body with Christ. The TLM can be a very individual, “me and God” Sacrifice of the Mass, and I don’t think that is what Jesus intended. All in all I love both forms of the Mass when said reverently. I see the value of both, and go to both. It has strengthed my faith to have both forms available.

 

[JRKH]

For myself, I have about equal active participation with the TLM and the NO. I follow along with both and offer myself with Christ on the Cross to the Father with both forms of the Mass. I feel less distracted with the TLM, however. With the NO I am more aware of being part of the Body of Christ around me, and with the TLM I am usually more conscience of offering myself to God with Christ on the cross. I have to make more of a mental note that we are one Bread one Body with Christ. The TLM can be a very individual, “me and God” Sacrifice of the Mass, and I don’t think that is what Jesus intended. All in all I love both forms of the Mass when said reverently. I see the value of both, and go to both. It has strengthed my faith to have both forms available.

Well said.
Each has it’s beauty. Some will prefer one and some will prefer the other. Over time, I suspect that there will develop a sizable majority who, like you and I, love and attend both.

James

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

I am fortunate to have both here in my city. I attend both…TLM for daily Mass and NO for Saturday evening. …then back to the TLM for a beautiful High Mass on Sunday morning.

I could never think of giving up one to the exclusion of the other. They are both dear to me, but I have a personal attachment to the TLM. Isn’t it great when we have a choice?

 

[muffinmojo]

I have yet to attend a Latin Mass, not because of lack of desire, it’s just haven’t had the opportunity. As for the NO Mass, what does it mean when you say “ad orientum”? I’ve never heard this in regards to the NO Mass.

‘Ad Orientem’ refers to the direction the priest faces. The vast, vast majority of NO Masses are said ‘versus populum’ which means ‘towards the people’. Ad orientem -usually- means that the priest faces the same direction as the people, towards the tabernacle and most of the time, east. If it is not ‘actual’ east, then it is ‘liturgical’ east, to remind us to look for the coming of Christ.

 

[daeve]

I am fortunate to have both here in my city. I attend both…TLM for daily Mass and NO for Saturday evening. …then back to the TLM for a beautiful High Mass on Sunday morning.

I could never think of giving up one to the exclusion of the other. They are both dear to me, but I have a personal attachment to the TLM. Isn’t it great when we have a choice?

Yes. There is room for both.

 

[mschrank]

That’s cool, that’s why both forms exist.

FYI, though, I originally did not like the TLM much either. I also found myself wandering and I just didn’t feel ‘there’.

I ended up going to a very reverent Latin Novus Ordo (rare) for awhile, and one day I thought I’d try the TLM again because of scheduling issues that Sunday, and low and behold, I walked out of the Church thinking that I might try it again… I haven’t been to a NO Sunday Mass since.

 

[lizaanne]

Well said.
Each has it’s beauty. Some will prefer one and some will prefer the other. Over time, I suspect that there will develop a sizable majority who, like you and I, love and attend both.

James

I do! I love and attend both, though I also prefer the NO celebrated ad orientem, and especially in Latin. It’s be best of all worlds for me. But I really do enjoy the TLM as well.

Fortunately we have it all at our parish - reverent, beautiful, and awe inspiring Masses. I am soooooo looking forward to the next four days!!!

~Liza

 

[GerardP]

The Kyrie in the TLM consists of nine invocations. Three sets of three trinitarian prayers and as the medieval scholars pointed out an honor is simultaneously given to each of the nine choirs of Angels.

Why does the Novus Ordo only have six?

 

[Alexios]

East and West,

Don’t take this the wrong way, as it is NO reflection on you at all, but sometimes I find that it takes a more mature spirituality to get into the TLM (especially if it’s a Low Mass) than the Novus Ordo, because not everything is done for you in the TLM. It takes resolve to read all the prayers in the missal, really focus, really intensely involve yourself in prayer that is, as I said in a Low Mass, often not acted out with the voice, which tends to keep you awake more easily. It’s much easier to HAVE to get up and sing than to have the spiritual strength of praying very fervently but silently for awhile.

That’s why I much prefer High Mass or, ideally, Solemn Mass. First, Solemn Mass is the normative form of celebration for the TLM. Secondly, you have to chant, stand, kneel, etc. and there’s always incense swinging or the schola chanting to keep you awake.

Personally, I cannot wait for the eventual demise of the Novus Ordo (in all its sacramental forms), since it is an inorganic development. Aside from many other reasons, I feel that that alone is reason enough to hope it fades into history. But I understand not everyone feels the same way, and you can’t force anyone to think anything, so to each his own. Though I do think not EVERYTHING that’s come out of the Novus Ordo is negative in and of itself, and we can take these few positive changes and implement them into the TLM, and have the best of both worlds: a totally organic liturgical development, incorporating the positive things that are usually closely associated with the Novus Ordo.

 

[Sure]

East and West,

Don’t take this the wrong way, as it is NO reflection on you at all, but sometimes I find that it takes a more mature spirituality to get into the TLM (especially if it’s a Low Mass) than the Novus Ordo, because not everything is done for you in the TLM. It takes resolve to read all the prayers in the missal, really focus, really intensely involve yourself in prayer that is, as I said in a Low Mass, often not acted out with the voice, which tends to keep you awake more easily. It’s much easier to HAVE to get up and sing than to have the spiritual strength of praying very fervently but silently for awhile.

That’s why I much prefer High Mass or, ideally, Solemn Mass. First, Solemn Mass is the normative form of celebration for the TLM. Secondly, you have to chant, stand, kneel, etc. and there’s always incense swinging or the schola chanting to keep you awake.

Personally, I cannot wait for the eventual demise of the Novus Ordo (in all its sacramental forms), since it is an inorganic development. Aside from many other reasons, I feel that that alone is reason enough to hope it fades into history. But I understand not everyone feels the same way, and you can’t force anyone to think anything, so to each his own. Though I do think not EVERYTHING that’s come out of the Novus Ordo is negative in and of itself, and we can take these few positive changes and implement them into the TLM, and have the best of both worlds: a totally organic liturgical development, incorporating the positive things that are usually closely associated with the Novus Ordo.

I think what you mention is the Holy Father’s ultimate goal. A unified single roman rite liturgy that will be neither the 1962 missal nor the 2002 missal.

 

[East_and_West]

I’m sure you would agree that it is good to have the option though for those who prefer it, wouldn’t you?

I absolutely agree that it should be available for those who perfer. It has an ancient pedigree and helps to ground the Church in orthodoxy. I think that my distaste for it is more of a problem with me than with the Latin mass itself. However, I think its great that we have both the TLM and the NO and both profess the true faith.

It is much, much easier to find a TLM than it is to find a reverent NO Mass said ad orientem. You are lucky to have one available to you.
James

Again, I agree. Its hard to find a NO celebrated reverantly. My Pastor just happens to be an amazing man of God and of the Church, so his celebration of the Liturgy is fantastic!!! We don’t get to experience the Mass celebrated Ad Orientem all the time but he did if for Midnight mass for Christmas and I hope he will do it again for Easter Vigil.

 

[JRKH]

East and West,

Don’t take this the wrong way, as it is NO reflection on you at all, but sometimes I find that it takes a more mature spirituality to get into the TLM (especially if it’s a Low Mass) than the Novus Ordo, because not everything is done for you in the TLM. It takes resolve to read all the prayers in the missal, really focus, really intensely involve yourself in prayer that is, as I said in a Low Mass, often not acted out with the voice, which tends to keep you awake more easily. It’s much easier to HAVE to get up and sing than to have the spiritual strength of praying very fervently but silently for awhile.

That’s why I much prefer High Mass or, ideally, Solemn Mass. First, Solemn Mass is the normative form of celebration for the TLM. Secondly, you have to chant, stand, kneel, etc. and there’s always incense swinging or the schola chanting to keep you awake.

Personally, I cannot wait for the eventual demise of the Novus Ordo (in all its sacramental forms), since it is an inorganic development. Aside from many other reasons, I feel that that alone is reason enough to hope it fades into history. But I understand not everyone feels the same way, and you can’t force anyone to think anything, so to each his own. Though I do think not EVERYTHING that’s come out of the Novus Ordo is negative in and of itself, and we can take these few positive changes and implement them into the TLM, and have the best of both worlds: a totally organic liturgical development, incorporating the positive things that are usually closely associated with the Novus Ordo.

Nicely put. It would be interesting to see some sort of synergy between the two forms, but I don’t look for that to happen.
Your point about the TLM requiring a more mature spirituality is a good observation. In fact it really points up the idea that each form is benificial in it’s own right. We should remember that the OF did not spring from a vacuum. There was a very real need seen by the Church for litugical reform. Now perhaps we don’t agree with result, either in design or execution, but we should recognize that there is a need for this “type” of mass. Please don’t take this wrong, but I sometimes refer to the N.O. as the “Mass Lite”. Why? Because the EF is not for everyone. It is not for “sissys” (joke folks).

Hhhhmmmm I seem to be babbling today.
My point is that while I don’t see the two forms merging, I do think that the availability of the EF will help draw the OF toward more reverence.

Peace
James

 

[Red_Meg]

Though I do think not EVERYTHING that’s come out of the Novus Ordo is negative in and of itself, and we can take these few positive changes and implement them into the TLM, and have the best of both worlds: a totally organic liturgical development, incorporating the positive things that are usually closely associated with the Novus Ordo.

Ahh, but there’s the rub. I’d love to see that happen, too. My impression, however, (and I’m sure I’ll be corrected if I’m wrong!) is that there is a contingent amongst the TLM crowd that regards the extraordinary form as being cast in stone, or trapped in a timewarp bubble. Any introduction of any “novelty” from the NO would, I fear, yield shrieks of protest from some quarters.

Whaddya think?

Margaret

 

[mschrank]

I agree with Margaret and Alexios- some good things have come out of V2 and the NO. I think the NO lectionary cycle, for example, is a wonderful and wholly organic development.