Laity's Responses in the Mass OF EF

[rben20]

I couldn’t help but notice that the laity does not respond at all in the EF. Much of it is silent prayer (if the laity chooses to respond) and the Altar Servers are the ones who do the responding for the people. Compare that to the OF, and the laity is very involved in responding to the prayers. Even the prayers that are said quietly by the priest in the EF are now said aloud in the OF.

Reflecting on these differences, I’ve come to ask what exactly is the role of the laity in the EF of the Mass as seen in the early Church. Since we all don’t study Latin, what are we to get out of the Mass if we do not understand, hear (priest is particularly quiet in the Mass of the Faithful), or can even respond? I know that we are present to worship God in the most Holy Sacrifice, but as far as responding, hearing, understanding…what are your views?

Let me say that I am fond of both Masses and recently discovered the EF and quickly fell in love with it…but I do like the OF as well.

 

[Rachel_1]

I couldn’t help but notice that the laity does not respond at all in the EF. Much of it is silent prayer (if the laity chooses to respond) and the Altar Servers are the ones who do the responding for the people. Compare that to the OF, and the laity is very involved in responding to the prayers. Even the prayers that are said quietly by the priest in the EF are now said aloud in the OF.

Reflecting on these differences, I’ve come to ask what exactly is the role of the laity in the EF of the Mass as seen in the early Church. Since we all don’t study Latin, what are we to get out of the Mass if we do not understand, hear (priest is particularly quiet in the Mass of the Faithful), or can even respond? I know that we are present to worship God in the most Holy Sacrifice, but as far as responding, hearing, understanding…what are your views?

Let me say that I am fond of both Masses and recently discovered the EF and quickly fell in love with it…but I do like the OF as well.

I think it depends on the parish. Where I go on Sundays louisville-catholic.net some of us do respond, and some don’t. Another parish I attended recently EVERYONE responded in SONG… it was quite cool to say the least That parish, if you’re ever in California is oceanside4christ.com/ and if you’re ever in need of learning Latin, oceanside4christ.com/Pastoral%20Leadership.htm (go here and listen and learn).

 

[rben20]

Thank you thank you thank you! What an awesome set of links. I have to say that I love the EF of the Mass, but the Latin is a problem for me because I do not understand much of it. It also bothers me that the priest is silent for many of the prayers. How do you approach the EF?

 

[Rachel_1]

Thank you thank you thank you! What an awesome set of links. I have to say that I love the EF of the Mass, but the Latin is a problem for me because I do not understand much of it. It also bothers me that the priest is silent for many of the prayers. How do you approach the EF?

It helps to have a Latin Missal, and to sit close to the front where you can hear

 

[reindeer]

I know the majority of EF churches don’t offer classes, mine does.
I think we are so blessed to get bible classes and Latin classes
taught by the priests

 

[Ockham]

I’m still working on English so in no way gifted with tongues. Latin isn’t that difficult to understand. If you have a missal spend some time reading the Mass and soon it will become quite familiar.

If I understand correctly, in an EF Low Mass the laity does not respond much but in a sung Mass you can along with the choir.

Part of the laity’s responses in the OF come from an idea that “active participation” as called for by Vatican II meant saying parts of the Mass aloud. Apparently pre-V2 many people weren’t paying attention during Mass, said the Rosary, etc. Pope St.Pius X asks us to pray along with the priest thus the Mass itself becomes a prayer.

Perhaps you can use the silence in the EF Mass to either pray along with the priest or prepare for Holy Communion. I like how a large group of people in this day and age can remain silent for any amount of time. It’s about reverence; being at the foot of the Cross.

 

[Cristiano]

…Reflecting on these differences, I’ve come to ask what exactly is the role of the laity in the EF of the Mass as seen in the early Church…

Can you please elaborate on this sentence. I am not sure that I understand it correctly. Are you saying that the EF is the form of the Mass in the Early Church? If that is your statement I think that you might be wrong. The template of the Mass/Divine Liturgy is there from the very beginning and common to all the liturgies but the vocal participation (or lack of) is a different story. You must remember that we cannot speak of the Early Church when it comes to Liturgy but we must speak of the Early Churches most of whom are still active today.

Going back to the question about the EF the role of the laity is the same as in the other liturgies. We are there to worship God and to make sure that such time is about God and not about us. I always encourage people to read the book the “Spirit of the Liturgy” by Romano Guardini. It is a small treasure (96 pages) that was written with the TLM in mind (published in 1918) but still applies today to the any form of the Mass/Divine Liturgy.

 

[ProVobis]

It helps to have a Latin Missal, and to sit close to the front where you can hear

Indeed. I find that for myself I need a missal in either the EF and OF. I usually can’t understand the readers and find myself not able to focus unless I follow along in the missal.

 

[ProVobis]

You must remember that we cannot speak of the Early Church when it comes to Liturgy but we must speak of the Early Churches most of whom are still active today.

Very true. The Gospels weren’t completed until well after Christ died and most of the saints mentioned in the Canon didn’t exist until a century or three afterwards.

 

[stuart12]

At Mass, you are present at the foot of the Cross at Calvary, where the Divine Victim offers Himself up to the Eternal Father through the priest who stands in His Person. Surrounding the altar are the angels who prostrate themselves before their God. Along with them are the Blessed Mother, who offered herself in silent immolaion with her Son and Saint John. That is the reality of the Mass, where surpreme adoration is offered to the Blessed Trinity through the Sacrifice of the Lamb. That is what you are meant to be thinking of.

Uniting yourself, body, soul, memory, intellect and will with the High Priest is enough for one to be doing. Remember, the Holy Virgin said very little at the Altar of the Cross, was she not participating?