Latin Mass etiquette (Hurry, it's this afternoon!)

[scapularkid8]

I’m going at six this evening to a Tridentine Latin Mass and would like to know any etiquette and rules or customs I should be aware of before I go. Do I need to dress up? How will I know what to do?! I’m excited, but I don’t really know what to expect or the correct way to celebrate it. Thanks for your help.

(Oh and it’s not a High Mass, it’s just the Mass of the Latin Rite in the Extraordinary Form…if that changes anything.)

 

[Dauphin]

Dress formally. Sit a bit far back so that you can immitate the postures of others. If you’re a woman, consider covering your head. Make sure to genuflect when entering and exiting the pew.

If you’re receiving Holy Communion, remember that you’re kneeling and receiving on the tongue (I’ve heard of people receiving on the hand). You don’t say “amen” when you receive.

Remember to genuflect during the creed and at the last gospel when the incarnation is mentioned. Simply immitate the priest at those two points and genuflect at the same point and for the same length of time that he does. For some reason, it seems to vary…

Don’t get distracted with details, though. Remember that praying the Mass is what’s important. Small mistakes are nothing to get embarrassed about.

 

[Seminarian_Matt]

Mass of the Latin Rite in the Extraordinary Form can be celebrated in many forms such as the High Mass and Low Mass. Videos of each can be found here:

sanctamissa.org/en/tutorial/

I also second these suggestions:

Dress formally. Sit a bit far back so that you can immitate the postures of others. If you’re a woman, consider covering your head. Make sure to genuflect when entering and exiting the pew.

If you’re receiving Holy Communion, remember that you’re kneeling and receiving on the tongue (I’ve heard of people receiving on the hand). You don’t say “amen” when you receive.

Remember to genuflect during the creed and at the last gospel when the incarnation is mentioned. Simply immitate the priest at those two points and genuflect at the same point and for the same length of time that he does. For some reason, it seems to vary…

Don’t get distracted with details, though. Remember that praying the Mass is what’s important. Small mistakes are nothing to get embarrassed about.

I would just try to experience the atmosphere this time before trying to follow along in a Missal and know exactly what is being said.

 

[jmcrae]

If you get lost, just stay down on your knees and bow your head - better to look “lost in prayer” than just “lost.”

 

[Joe17]

What Dauphin said is on target. Since it is a Low Mass you will be going to, it may prove to be easier to follow than the High Mass. Prepare yourself before and ask the Holy Ghost to let you be open to the graces available. A handmissal may seem too distracting the first time. They may have sheets or booklets with the ordinary prayers(ones said at every Mass) which can be useful and which would probably have private prayers as well. You could print off a set of the Ordinary Prayers frorm dailycatholic.org or several other sites on the web.

I hope you find your attendance tonight opening a door to how the bulk of our Catholic ancestors worshipped God. Looking forward to how you were affected/responded.

 

[Pax_et_Caritas]

Also keep in mind that a low mass is not going to have all the externals you may be expecting. For the most part, you will be kneeling while the Priest says mass. It will be different that you are used to. Not much activity.

The low mass is great when you really understand what is happening and are able to unite yourself with the prayers being said by the Priest; but if it is your first Traditional Mass and you are not familiar with what is taking place, you will just notice that you are kneeling while the Priest says Mass.

I’d be interested in your thoughts when you return.

 

[cam100]

Dress formally. Sit a bit far back so that you can immitate the postures of others. If you’re a woman, consider covering your head. Make sure to genuflect when entering and exiting the pew.

This is good, except that “formal” attire actually means something along the lines of a tuxedo for a man or evening gown for women, and such attire is NOT normal for mass. I think the poster intended to mean that you should “dress up” for mass. Those who attend the traditonal latin mass tend to dress up in ties and often sport coats or even suits for men, and nice skirts or dresses for ladies, although it varies according to local custom.

 

[cam100]

I should also add that if you are a woman who is going to wear a dress or skirt, you will find that mini-skirts and mini-dresses are rarely seen at the traditional mass.

 

[scapularkid8]

Well I’m a guy so I don’t have to worry about dresses and head covering

 

[Padua_Minded]

Remember it is not expected that you bless yourself after you receive Our Lord in Holy Communion. It took me about seven low masses before I finally understood how the missal work with the liturgy.

 

[Padua_Minded]

Also, make sure to tell us how it went.

 

[scapularkid8]

Ooops. My mistake. I re-read the bulliten (sp?) and I see here that it’s not the Tridentine Celebration, it’s the celebration of the Mass in Latin according to the Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council. The only Mass that will be celebrated in the Tridentine Rite is later this month I’ll keep these things in mind though.

 

[stmaria]

Remember it is not expected that you bless yourself after you receive Our Lord in Holy Communion. It took me about seven low masses before I finally understood how the missal work with the liturgy.

That’s interesting. I always make the sign of the cross after I receive communion and those next to me kneeling at the communion rail also bless themselves.

 

[Padua_Minded]

That’s interesting. I always make the sign of the cross after I receive communion and those next to me kneeling at the communion rail also bless themselves.

As do many people in the Tridentine Mass, and it’s certainly not forbidden, but I’m pretty sure that blessing oneself after receiving communion was virtually unknown to those who worshipped prior to the liturgical reforms.

 

[stpetric]

If you get lost, just stay down on your knees and bow your head - better to look “lost in prayer” than just “lost.”

Reminds me of a late, lamented priest friend of mine. When teaching young priests how to celebrate the traditional Mass, he’d tell them, “if you get lost, just kiss the altar, turn around, and say, ‘Dominus vobiscum’!”

Steve

 

[Mariah_Anne]

As do many people in the Tridentine Mass, and it’s certainly not forbidden, but I’m pretty sure that blessing oneself after receiving communion was virtually unknown to those who worshipped prior to the liturgical reforms.

Vatican II happened when I was in high school so my grade school years were spent at a Catholic school with daily mass. I also attended Catholic High School. We always naturally made the sign of the cross after communion as a sign of reverence and prayer. I do not remember being taught to do so but remember it as a natural act. As is done today the sign of the cross as a prayer and form of reverence is done not just after receiving our Lord in the Eucharist but in my parish I see people making the Sign of the Cross after receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday, after having their throats blessed on St. Blaze Day and after venerating the Cross on Good Friday.
Forbidden defintiely not, unknown again not so.
The Sign of the Cross is the most common form of prayer being made with Holy Water as people enter and leave church and often by people when they genuflect and of course as we start prayer and end prayer. It is a renewal of our baptismal vows though it is done so automatically now that many people do it without thinking as it has become so natural to Catholics.

 

[johnnydigit]

bring something to kneel on if there are no kneelers.

if i am not reading along in the missal, i am completely lost. the translation and sidebar notes make the experience for me. the words are so profound and in depth, my heart simply wants to explode by communion time. it is like your favorite novel unraveling and coming to life right before your eyes.

 

[Jeremiahjj]

I would ask what the questioner means by “dress up.” I would not dress up more for a Tridentine Mass than I would any other one. That’s because, either way, you will meet the Lord.

Wear a suit if you have one. If you don’t, wear your next best outfit. Wear whatever you think would be appropriate if you were going to meet the Lord. You are, you know.

If you’re a woman, cover your head out of respect for tradition. If you’re a guy, do not wear cut-offs or sport wear. Absolutely, do not wear a t-shirt advertising some athlete.

Hope this helps and isn’t too late!

 

[johnnydigit]

I would ask what the questioner means by “dress up.” I would not dress up more for a Tridentine Mass than I would any other one. That’s because, either way, you will meet the Lord.

Wear a suit if you have one. If you don’t, wear your next best outfit. Wear whatever you think would be appropriate if you were going to meet the Lord. You are, you know.

If you’re a woman, cover your head out of respect for tradition. If you’re a guy, do not wear cut-offs or sport wear. Absolutely, do not wear a t-shirt advertising some athlete.

Hope this helps and isn’t too late!

i feel the TLM is more conducive to wearing your best (a suit or at least a sport coat), probably because most of the people there dress up.

i did dress up for the OF Mass for a time, but after a while i guess it just kind of faded after a while. call me weak, but it’s no surprise it happened there and is less likely to happen in the TLM.

 

[Jeremiahjj]

I wear suits to church too. First, to show respect for Jesus, and second, to set an example. What really bothers me are sloppily-dressed Catholics who come to Mass dragging their equally-sloppily dressed kids with them. They are not setting good examples. Part of this problem is the result of post-Vatican II attitudes. Vatican II wasn’t the problem; the problem was the manner in which Vatican II directives were interpreted by liturgists and others, some of whom had agendas of their own.