Latin Mass Etiquette

[kib]

This Sunday a group from the Catholic Student Association at my college will be attending a low mass at my home parish. Since none of us have attended a Latin Mass before, I was wondering if someone could provide a link or advice about the mass and what will be expected of us.

Thanks for any (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[weepixie71]

i would say dress nice. like you were going out to a nice restaurant and be modest. a hat or mantilla is appropriate but not a must.

men wear at least a nice sweater or shirt and tie. do not cover your head.

kneel to receive communion. if there is an communion railing cloth place your hands under the cloth when receiving communion.

everyone will know you are new because at a tridentine mass everyone knows everybody. they will be excited to see a nice fresh young group. there will be no pressure to do everything right. just do your best to follow.

i do not suggest following in a missal. just watch the priest. it is a whole new form of reverence. it will either be too strange for you or a life changing, awe inspiring, experience. i will pray for the latter.

 

[allhers]

When I was growing up I first learned by watching those around me and doing what they did, I watched and listened, eventually I learned to read and follow along in the missal. By that time, I already knew what to do and what was expected of me. If this is all new to you, watch and listen, as for the rest of the advice you were given above, Just one thing though, I thought it was a requirement to wear a mantilla or some other type of head covering for women.

 

[jmcrae]

When I was growing up I first learned by watching those around me and doing what they did, I watched and listened, eventually I learned to read and follow along in the missal. By that time, I already knew what to do and what was expected of me. If this is all new to you, watch and listen, as for the rest of the advice you were given above, Just one thing though, I thought it was a requirement to wear a mantilla or some other type of head covering for women.

It is not a requirement; I have even seen women come to low Mass (on a weekday) in jeans and sweaters - one assumes they were coming from work or household chores and didn’t have time to change - nobody looked at them or said anything; they were just glad to see everyone there. Regardless of how you dress (as long as it’s modest) you will be welcome. It’s nice to wear a dress and a hat or mantilla, though, since it’s fun to dress up.

Low Mass has little or no music. When in doubt, kneel. There are no responses for you to know or to do; you just remain quiet and pray. The altar server does all of the responses for you. Situate yourself near the front (though still behind someone who looks like they know what they’re doing, so you can copy their postures) so that you can see and hear what is going on in the Sanctuary.

Many parts of the low Mass are done in total or nearly-total silence.

There will most likely be an opportunity for Confession about half an hour before the Mass is scheduled to begin. There are also prayers in English afterwards - stay for these; they give many graces.

 

[Catholic1954]

If my pre-Vacatian II memory serves me right, I remember being told to follow the altar boys (no girls here!), stand when they stand, kneel when they kneel ect… P. S. You will receive Communion on your tongue; tilt your head slightly back, open your mouth wide, put your tongue out and you can close your eyes if you want. We practiced that for a week before my First Communion!

 

[malphono]

If my pre-Vacatian II memory serves me right, I remember being told to follow the altar boys (no girls here!), stand when they stand, kneel when they kneel ect…

Yes, I recall that as well: when in doubt follow the altar boys. It’s really quite a good rule of thumb, at least it is at Low Mass.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Back in 40’s most could follow a low mass, but were completely dependent on the altar boys for a sung mass. It was also the custom to have a large number [a dozen or more] of altar boys on the sides at the principal mass of the Sunday.

My father told of attending such a mass. At one point, while all were standing, one of the boys signaled to the others and all very quietly genuflected. Of course the entire congregation immediately genuflected with a crash. The celebrant looked around to see what had happened, saw nothing amiss, shook his head and went on with the mass.

 

[tee_eff_em]

P. S. You will receive Communion on your tongue; tilt your head slightly back, open your mouth wide, put your tongue out and you can close your eyes if you want.

And do not respond “Amen” when the priest administers Communion – You might bite him (Really: There is no response on your part)

tee

 

[ericka1701]

And do not respond “Amen” when the priest administers Communion – You might bite him (Really: There is no response on your part)

tee

The reason you don’t say “Amen” (besides not biting the priest) is that he says it for you… I am looking at my missal right now, and he’ll say “Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam. Amen” which is “The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy sould until life everlasting. Amen.”

God Bless!
Ericka

 

[kib]

Thanks for all of the advice, I’m excited to experience this for myself on Sunday.

 

[barb_finnegan]

Back in 40’s most could follow a low mass, but were completely dependent on the altar boys for a sung mass. It was also the custom to have a large number [a dozen or more] of altar boys on the sides at the principal mass of the Sunday.

My father told of attending such a mass. At one point, while all were standing, one of the boys signaled to the others and all very quietly genuflected. Of course the entire congregation immediately genuflected with a crash. The celebrant looked around to see what had happened, saw nothing amiss, shook his head and went on with the mass.

Oh my goodness…that’s funny !