Latin mass questions

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I know there had been threads like this before, but I have a couple of specific questions. A parish near me started having the Latin mass this month! I’m excited to attend but I want to know what to expect. How can I prepare and what should I dress and stuff. My wife is going also, should she wear a veil? These types of things are going thru my head. I’m so excited, but I don’t want to stand out, I want to go to worship god.
 
How can I prepare and what should I dress and stuff.
Whatever you have in your closet that you would wear were you to be introduced to the president of the United States and the Queen of England at the same time. Wear that.
My wife is going also, should she wear a veil?
It’s more common than not, in my experience, for women to veil themselves or wear hats at the TLM. It’s really up to her though. There are generally veils to borrow.
These types of things are going thru my head. I’m so excited, but I don’t want to stand out, I want to go to worship god
As with every other Catholic Mass, stand when they stand, sit when they sit. 🙂 Usually they have little paper missals you can use for the day. The Latin Mass is much different, much quieter, than the Novus Ordo. Don’t expect to hear everything that the Priest says; the Latin Mass is more contemplative and medatative than the Novus Ordo in that way. It usually takes people a few times to get used to it. Lots of people are new to the Mass, and we’re always glad to have newcomers, so nobody will be watching to make sure you know every genuflection.

If you know this, you’ll be good: When the priest says “Dominus vobiscum”, you say “et cum spiritu tuo” (eight cum spiri-too, two oh)
 
I know there had been threads like this before, but I have a couple of specific questions. A parish near me started having the Latin mass this month! I’m excited to attend but I want to know what to expect. How can I prepare and what should I dress and stuff. My wife is going also, should she wear a veil? These types of things are going thru my head. I’m so excited, but I don’t want to stand out, I want to go to worship god.
Oh, enjoy!🙂 Your wife would be fine in a veil or hat. Just wear church clothes: tie and jacket, a dress or skirt and blouse for your wife.

I personally found it helpful to just watch and take it all in for the first time or two in order to get the flow of the Mass a bit. Then later on I followed along by reading the prayers and propers in the missal.

If you go up for Communion, you’re going to kneel at the altar rail and receive without responding, “Amen”. You can just be silent.
 
I know there had been threads like this before, but I have a couple of specific questions. A parish near me started having the Latin mass this month! I’m excited to attend but I want to know what to expect. How can I prepare and what should I dress and stuff. My wife is going also, should she wear a veil? These types of things are going thru my head. I’m so excited, but I don’t want to stand out, I want to go to worship god.
Regarding dress, for me, where I go it’s maybe 50% in a suit or at least a tie. As for me, I’ve been wearing a nice polo shirt, khakies, and Birkenstocks (sandals). Nothing wrong with that either! Just look nice.

Some type of head covering is recommended for women - I’d say about 2/3rds do. My wife wears a cloth hair band or hat.

As for preparation for the liturgy - if you can get a Latin/English missal and study it, that’d be great. I did not, initially, and was a bit lost the first couple times. But I did pick it up quickly. I good hint is to follow the rubrics - watch what the priest is doing and compare it to the missal - you’ll never get lost that way.

Thought you may find it a challenge to keep up at first, much less pray the Mass fully, that will not last long.

Many of the prayers are so intensely beautiful it can be hard not to dwell on them and fall behind.
 
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