Lost In My First Latin Mass

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I attended my first Latin Mass this morning here in north NJ. A few items really stuck out. The first was the manner with which the priest interacts with the congregation. I understand that this fact was part of the changes in Vat. II for having the priest face the congregation. So as to provide the congregants a sense of participation. Secondly, the solemnity of the congregants, very serious. I understand that these folks are dedicated to keeping this ancient ritual alive, but I am a hello and good morning kind of guy. Lastly, I was totally lost with regard to what my next steps or responses were. This is partly due to the fact that I did not have a Latin missal to work from, but even if I had one, I could not hear the priest in spite of the mic that he had.
My question is, should I bring my Roman Missal? If so, how shall I follow along if I am unable to hear the celebrant. I would appreciate any advice that someone can provide to me that would help me out for my next Latin Mass:blush:
 
kgrooney said:
I attended my first Latin Mass this morning here in north NJ. A few items really stuck out. The first was the manner with which the priest interacts with the congregation. I understand that this fact was part of the changes in Vat. II for having the priest face the congregation. So as to provide the congregants a sense of participation. Secondly, the solemnity of the congregants, very serious. I understand that these folks are dedicated to keeping this ancient ritual alive, but I am a hello and good morning kind of guy. Lastly, I was totally lost with regard to what my next steps or responses were. This is partly due to the fact that I did not have a Latin missal to work from, but even if I had one, I could not hear the priest in spite of the mic that he had.
My question is, should I bring my Roman Missal? If so, how shall I follow along if I am unable to hear the celebrant. I would appreciate any advice that someone can provide to me that would help me out for my next Latin Mass:blush:
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It definietely takes a few times to get used to.

Definitely get a Latin-English missal. Ecclesia Dei has a good one.

ecclesiadei.org/

The missal list not only the prayers, but some of the crucial rubrics/gestures of the priest and altar servers. If you look for their movements, you can tell where you are.

Remember, a lot of the Mass is meant to be said silently or quietly, so you will not hear a lot of it, especially in the Low Mass. I would also suggest sitting near the front, so you can hear as much as possible, but behind a few people so you can follow their actions too.

Finally, many TLM groups will have a reception afterwards in the Church Hall for greeting/socialization. I agree that this aspect is important, but, traditionally, we are to observe silence, or very low tones in the sanctuary before and after Mass, to allow people to pray undisturbed.

BTW, where in NJ is this Mass? I’m in Westchester County, NY. We have several TLMs every Sunday hereabouts. The one in Tarrytown (right over the Tappan Zee bridge) has a sung Mass once a month with full Schola and chant, if you’re interested in checking that out. That Mass is at 3PM every Sunday. It’s organized by Una Voce Westchester, so you could check out their website for details.

God Bless
 
Kgrooney - Yes, definitely get a Latin-English Roman Missal from 1962. Baronius Press sells one, and I have been very happy with it so far. It’s pretty all inclusive.

It took me about 1-2 months before I finally could get through the entire Mass without getting lost.

It helps if you sit up front, closer to the altar, and if you have prepared the Missal in advance beforehand with the ribbons for different sections of the Mass.

One of the things that I have found to be true is that the Latin Mass is much more contemplative, and having a Missal will definitely help you to follow the Mass more easily.

The other thing that I would tell you is that in some parts of the Mass, the choir sings a section, but the priest continues moving forward with prayers in the Missal. If you stay on the page where the choir is singing, you’ll have a hard time keeping up with the priest.

Best advice: Watch the priest very, very carefully.

His actions at the altar are indicative of where he is in the Missal. The Missal also has some great pointers and explanations, such as “The priest approaches the altar”, etc. When you see the priest approach the altar, that’s your clue as to where he is in the Mass at that particular time.

Some parishes also have instructional videos that will help people new to the Mass to learn it more quickly.

Go to www.SanctaMissa.org - This web site has a wealth of information on the rubrics of the Latin Mass, including helpful instructional videos to help you better understand the liturgy.
 
I went to Mass with my folks and at Catholic school from kindergarten through the time I made my First Communion. We had no idea of what was going on. We knew one thing with certainty - we were in the presence of the Most High and we dare not cut up or act out.

We were prepared to make our First Communion at the end of the second grade. We knew that we were receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Most of us received our “little missal” when we received our First Communion along with our first rosary. You see that picture of Bill O’Reilly on his book? I’ve got an identical one because he and I are the same age.

My mother knelt next to me and showed me how to use the missal. I can see her finger pointing out words to this day. Some on these forums won’t like it, but the truth is that we were taught to sing Latin starting in the first grade.

By the end of the third grade, I was allowed to be trained as an altar boy. Father taught us. We joined an altar boy team and we worked our way up.

It is not rocket science. It is not mystery. For me, it was and is the way my ancestors worshiped.,Irish, Scot, Breton, English, German, French.

Don’t loose heart. I still have my “little” missal that I received in 1958 and my “big” missal that I received when I was confirmed in 1953. As does DW.

DW is no fan of the TLM but she acknowledges that she did know what was going on.
 
bilop & StGerardMajella:

Thank you both for your replies. bilop, I attended the Mass in Harrington Pk. at Our Lay of Victories. A very nice old church (c. 1910). My parish is in Emerson, The Church of the Assumption. It would take me about 30 minutes to drive up to Tarrytown. I thank you for the invite and will heed your advice. I have been doing some research and discovered that the seriousness is derived from the reverence with which one is to display while praying. Not to say that we act in any other fashion in a non-Latin Mass.

StGerardMajella, I own a Daily Roman Missal (2004) from the Midwest Theological Forum, edited by Rev. James Socias. Is this edition appropriate for a Latin Mass or shall I get the Baronius Press Edition? I am a newbie regarding the Roman Missal in general, so maybe I need to familiarize myself with this one first. Your thoughts!

Thanks again to all respondents 👍

Sincerely your in Christ
 
Kgrooney - I took a glance at the Midwest Theological Forum’s web site, and it appears that this particular Missal that you are mentioning is geared towards the Novus Ordo Mass, and not the traditional Latin Mass. I could be mistaken.

You need a Roman Missal from 1962. Try www.LeafletOnline.com under their Books section, then click on “Motu Proprio”. There you will see a couple of Roman Missals from 1962. There’s a St. Joseph Daily Missal, and the one from Baronius Press, (item 17224).

Easier yet, try Amazon and type in “Roman Missal 1962”. Or just order direct from Baronius Press: baroniuspress.com

If cost is an issue, try E-Bay or BookFinder.com.
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am overwhelmed by the response to my dilemma:D
After extensive deliberation and recommendations, I have decided to go with the Baronius Press edition of the Roman Missal 1962. bilop, StGerardMajella, I_Believe and of course brotherhrolf, you all were especially kind with your advice. StGerardMajella, the forum thread on this topic was spot on!!! Just what I was seeking. I will say a special prayer and thank God for his Disciples here on Catholic Answers. :blessyou:
 
Latin Missal Quick Start
This was difficult for me but after a few Masses and some research it became very easy.
Around the middle of your missal is the “Main” part of the missal that you primarily use during the Liturgy. I put the “Red” ribbon marker there. It begins with the sign of the cross and you just follow along at a “medium” pace reading the missal and follow Father as he prays the Liturgy in Latin.
After the sign of the cross, he recites Psalm 42…Judica Me, then the Confiteor, (His public confession), then the server recites the Confiteor, representing us (our public confession) then the Priest goes up to the Altar as it says in the missal.
The way the missal is used is; you flip from the “Main “part of the Mass to the “Propers of the day” then back again to the “main” section. The “Propers” being, The Introit, Collect, Epistle, Gradual, Gospel, Preface, and Communion verses. The Propers change but not the main “Order of the Mass”
After Father goes up to the Altar he goes to the “Epistle” side (The right side) to read the Introit and that’s our cue to flip to the propers of the day to the “Introit” That’s where I place my “green” ribbon marker. There are many “visual cues” if you try to be aware of Fathers movements and many audible cues, “Dominus Vobiscum” (The Lord Be with You) “Oremus (Let us Pray) servers responses, and of course the “bells” at the “Sanctus (Holy,Holy,Holy) and at the Elevations.
After the Introit ,you hear Father pray the “Kyrie Elison”,then the Gloria, you just keep reading along as he is reciting in Latin, you eventually learn the pace that Father goes ,so after a few Masses you follow along pretty easily. After the Gloria, it’s time to flip to the “green” marker again and read the 'Collects" for the day, then the Epistle is read, followed by the "Gradual”.
Then Father then goes to the "Left "side of the altar to read the Gospel and when done Father goes to the Ambo and reads the Epistle and The Gospel in English and gives announcements and a “Sermon” After the Sermon the Credo is said (back to the Red ribbon)
Then comes the next part of the Mass “The Mass of the Faithful” Most of the rest of the mass is in the main red ribbon section except for the Preface (I put my Purple marker there) and the Communion verses. If you just read along the English parts in the missal and be aware of the “cues” after a few Liturgys you’ll be a pro. You will be “Praying the Mass” following Father as he is Praying the Mass in Latin.
Some just use their Missal for the “Main” part of the Mass; others flip only to the Epistle and Gospel readings to follow along but not to the other propers for the day. I love my Missal and use it to Pray every part of the Mass. As far as standing, sitting, kneeling, just follow what everyone else does, this also will come natural after a while.
This is a very rough and abbreviated explanation but it will at least get you started on what’s going on. My first Latin Mass was totally strange to me and I thought I would never go again but after I understood it, it is “The most beautiful thing this side of Heaven.”
I downloaded the “Full Mass” from the link below and put it on my mp3 player, to “practice” and tune my ear to the Latin. I followed along reading my missal while listening to it and it really helped me.The readings (Propers) are from Trinity Sunday (The first Sunday after Pentecost) in your missal. (Baronius Missal page 738, Angelus Missal; page 696)
latinmassireland.org/thelati … audio.html

Propers for Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days can be found here
Propers for*** 2009***

uvoc.org/Propers/Propers_2009…_Calendar.html

Weekday Propers are found in the front of the Missal in the “The Liturgical Calendar”

The two of most popular missals are Baronius and Angelus Press, Fr Z does a great review of both. I have and love them both, for me the Angelus wins by a very, very slim margin.
**
Baronius** wdtprs.com/blog/2008/01/revie…2-hand-missal/
**
Angelus **wdtprs.com/blog/2008/02/revie…s-hand-missal/

I check prices first with my favorite Catholic source, All Catholic Books : )
allcatholicbooks.com/Merc…Store_Code=ACB

Hope this helps someone to understand what an absolute treasure our Catholic Mass Missal is
 
HI, neighbor! I’m in North Jersey, too. 🙂

You know what might be easier, just for the next time or two while assisting at the TLM? Just follow along in the little red missal put out by “Ecclesia Dei”. Here’s a link to the little red missal. But you can probably get one of these right in the pew at the chapel. It spells everything out for you: when to sit, when to kneel, what all the priest is doing, etc, etc… You won’t have the propers in the red missal, but that can come later, after you get the hang of it–and hang in there, you will get it, I promise. 🙂

Great links in this thread, btw…
 
I have never been to a Latin mass but my mum likes them. At Pentecost, the apostles were given the gift of languages and each person heard the gospel in their own native tongue. So Vatican II made the right move but nice to learn our history. I studied languages at university and Latin is called a dead language. We should be speaking living languages not dead languages in Church. Sorry. Oops.
 
budgie2 said:
I have never been to a Latin mass but my mum likes them. At Pentecost, the apostles were given the gift of languages and each person heard the gospel in their own native tongue. So Vatican II made the right move but nice to learn our history. I studied languages at university and Latin is called a dead language. We should be speaking living languages not dead languages in Church. Sorry. Oops.
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If every Mass was in Latin, I could go to Mass in China and still get just as much out of it as I do going to Mass here in the US. After you’ve spent at least a year at the TLM, you kind of “forget” that it’s in Latin, as you understand the Mass just as well in Latin as you would English.

Nowadays, if I went to a Chinese Mass I wouldn’t know the Gospel reading from the Eucharistic Prayer. And even if I attended long enough to get used to the Chinese, if I later went to an Afrikaans Mass I would be completely lost all over again.

At my TLM, we have Vietnamese Catholics, Hispanic Catholics, white Catholics, and everything in between. We’re not “segregated” into Vietnamese Masses, Spanish Masses, and English Masses, but we all worship together, sing together, and pray together. In our High Masses, all language barriers are thrown down as we resoundingly sing to Our Lord, “Gloria in excelsis Deo!”
 
I appreciate what you say that Latin is a universal language. But it is not currently spoken anywhere in the world apart from in the Catholic Church. Why not choose a language which is currently widely spoken in the world such as English or vote to see which is the most widely spoken language in the Catholic Community. Latin does make us look out of date. Or choose a language spoken by a community within your church and rotate for example Hispanic, Vietnamese. It’s more useful to learn a language spoken by other parishioners and helps you to get to know them better.
 
ps.
There are a few other reasons why we use the ordinary language of the people. Christianity should be understandable. If we do not understand the language we are guilty of putting a barrier in between the parishioners and God and blocking a person’s way into heaven. Although I may feel comfortable in a Latin mass other parishioners may not understand it or an outsider may not understand it. Language can be a barrier and can make God feel distant. Even if we do understand Latin it might be more beneficial to pray in our native tongue as if we pray in a foreign language we may be concentrating on the words and the language itself rather than the meaning of the prayer. Sometimes it might be in accordance with love of neighbour to hear mass in a foreign language if it helps us to get closer to other members of our community although we can still pray in our language. Hope this helps.
 
I appreciate what you say that Latin is a universal language. But it is not currently spoken anywhere in the world apart from in the Catholic Church. Why not choose a language which is currently widely spoken in the world such as English or vote to see which is the most widely spoken language in the Catholic Community.
Click to expand...
This is precisely why Latin is the universal language of the Church. Because it is a dead language, the meanings of the words don’t change over time the way they do with a language that is currently in use.
Latin does make us look out of date. Or choose a language spoken by a community within your church and rotate for example Hispanic, Vietnamese. It’s more useful to learn a language spoken by other parishioners and helps you to get to know them better.
Click to expand...
One language is better. Once you get the hang of the Mass and the missal, you know exactly what’s going on.
 
budgie2 said:
ps.
There are a few other reasons why we use the ordinary language of the people. Christianity should be understandable. If we do not understand the language we are guilty of putting a barrier in between the parishioners and God and blocking a person’s way into heaven. Although I may feel comfortable in a Latin mass other parishioners may not understand it or an outsider may not understand it. Language can be a barrier and can make God feel distant. Even if we do understand Latin it might be more beneficial to pray in our native tongue as if we pray in a foreign language we may be concentrating on the words and the language itself rather than the meaning of the prayer. Sometimes it might be in accordance with love of neighbour to hear mass in a foreign language if it helps us to get closer to other members of our community although we can still pray in our language. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
What blocks people way into heaven is irreverence and poor teaching on the part of the clergy. You won’t generally find that at a latin Mass. However, one does often find bad teaching and irreverence at the OF.
 
budgie2 said:
ps.
There are a few other reasons why we use the ordinary language of the people. Christianity should be understandable. If we do not understand the language we are guilty of putting a barrier in between the parishioners and God and blocking a person’s way into heaven. Although I may feel comfortable in a Latin mass other parishioners may not understand it or an outsider may not understand it. Language can be a barrier and can make God feel distant. Even if we do understand Latin it might be more beneficial to pray in our native tongue as if we pray in a foreign language we may be concentrating on the words and the language itself rather than the meaning of the prayer. Sometimes it might be in accordance with love of neighbour to hear mass in a foreign language if it helps us to get closer to other members of our community although we can still pray in our language. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
You might want to consider taking these issues to a new thread. You’re not really in keeping with the initial purpose of this thread here. 🙂
 
jpy15026 said:
Latin Missal Quick Start
This was difficult for me but after a few Masses and some research it became very easy.
Around the middle of your missal is the “Main” part of the missal that you primarily use during the Liturgy. I put the “Red” ribbon marker there. It begins with the sign of the cross and you just follow along at a “medium” pace reading the missal and follow Father as he prays the Liturgy in Latin.
After the sign of the cross, he recites Psalm 42…Judica Me, then the Confiteor, (His public confession), then the server recites the Confiteor, representing us (our public confession) then the Priest goes up to the Altar as it says in the missal.
The way the missal is used is; you flip from the “Main “part of the Mass to the “Propers of the day” then back again to the “main” section. The “Propers” being, The Introit, Collect, Epistle, Gradual, Gospel, Preface, and Communion verses. The Propers change but not the main “Order of the Mass”
After Father goes up to the Altar he goes to the “Epistle” side (The right side) to read the Introit and that’s our cue to flip to the propers of the day to the “Introit” That’s where I place my “green” ribbon marker. There are many “visual cues” if you try to be aware of Fathers movements and many audible cues, “Dominus Vobiscum” (The Lord Be with You) “Oremus (Let us Pray) servers responses, and of course the “bells” at the “Sanctus (Holy,Holy,Holy) and at the Elevations.
After the Introit ,you hear Father pray the “Kyrie Elison”,then the Gloria, you just keep reading along as he is reciting in Latin, you eventually learn the pace that Father goes ,so after a few Masses you follow along pretty easily. After the Gloria, it’s time to flip to the “green” marker again and read the 'Collects" for the day, then the Epistle is read, followed by the "Gradual”.
Then Father then goes to the "Left "side of the altar to read the Gospel and when done Father goes to the Ambo and reads the Epistle and The Gospel in English and gives announcements and a “Sermon” After the Sermon the Credo is said (back to the Red ribbon)
Then comes the next part of the Mass “The Mass of the Faithful” Most of the rest of the mass is in the main red ribbon section except for the Preface (I put my Purple marker there) and the Communion verses. If you just read along the English parts in the missal and be aware of the “cues” after a few Liturgys you’ll be a pro. You will be “Praying the Mass” following Father as he is Praying the Mass in Latin.
Some just use their Missal for the “Main” part of the Mass; others flip only to the Epistle and Gospel readings to follow along but not to the other propers for the day. I love my Missal and use it to Pray every part of the Mass. As far as standing, sitting, kneeling, just follow what everyone else does, this also will come natural after a while.
This is a very rough and abbreviated explanation but it will at least get you started on what’s going on. My first Latin Mass was totally strange to me and I thought I would never go again but after I understood it, it is “The most beautiful thing this side of Heaven.”
I downloaded the “Full Mass” from the link below and put it on my mp3 player, to “practice” and tune my ear to the Latin. I followed along reading my missal while listening to it and it really helped me.The readings (Propers) are from Trinity Sunday (The first Sunday after Pentecost) in your missal. (Baronius Missal page 738, Angelus Missal; page 696)
latinmassireland.org/thelati … audio.html

Propers for Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days can be found here
Propers for*** 2009***

uvoc.org/Propers/Propers_2009…_Calendar.html

Weekday Propers are found in the front of the Missal in the “The Liturgical Calendar”

The two of most popular missals are Baronius and Angelus Press, Fr Z does a great review of both. I have and love them both, for me the Angelus wins by a very, very slim margin.
**
Baronius** wdtprs.com/blog/2008/01/revie…2-hand-missal/
**
Angelus **wdtprs.com/blog/2008/02/revie…s-hand-missal/

I check prices first with my favorite Catholic source, All Catholic Books : )
allcatholicbooks.com/Merc…Store_Code=ACB

Hope this helps someone to understand what an absolute treasure our Catholic Mass Missal is
Click to expand...
Thanks for above. I still get lost in a couple of places while watching the Mass on EWTN (I have the Barionius Press).

You used the phrase “propers of the day”. Does this include the propers of the saints for the weekday Masses? Also, if there is no proper of the saints an a specific weekday, which propers are used?

Where do the prayers at the end of the Mass come from? They seem to change every day as well?

Thanks…
 
Hey mate!

Don’t sweat it, it is hard to learn. Out of curiosity which parish do you go to in NJ? Is it Holy Rosary or the parish at Pesquanae (can’t spell it lol).

Don’t give up on the TLM. Remember to take it as it is and give it another couple of shots. Remember why everything in the TLM is the way it is. Trust me it is very spiritually fulfilling.
 
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