My first Latin Mass

[RNRobert]

While I was visiting the Mount Airy, North Carolina area, I was able to attend a Latin Mass for the first time ever. I noticed everyone (even kids) were dressed nicely (i.e. no t-shirts, cut-off shorts, flip-flops, etc), and several women wore mantillas. It was nice hearing the Mass in Latin (at the church I regularly attend, one of the priests occasionally recites some portions of the Mass, like the Sanctus and Agnus Dei, in Latin, which I like). I also liked kneeling at the altar rail to receive communion.
However, as much as I liked being able to attend a TLM, I found it disappointing. Not because the Mass was in Latin (having the Latin/English missal helped me follow along), because I felt rather like a spectator. The Novus Ordo isn’t perfect. People come to Mass dressed like slobs (although this may be a cultural thing- when I was a kid, certain restaurants required men to wear a coat and tie; nowadays, anything goes- but I digress), cheesy songs (I’m still ticked that we have to borrow Protestant hymns), and I’m not too thrilled over holding hands during the Our Father. But what I like about it is when I attend Mass, I feel like I am actually participating. The congregation recites the Gloria, the Creed, the Sanctus, the Agnus Dei, etc. In the Latin Mass, the priest does almost all of it by himself, and the congregation is limited to a few responses. Also, during the portion of the Mass where the priest is performing the consecration, he recites the words under his breath, which made it harder to follow (plus for all you know, he could be reciting the words in pig latin).
In short, while I thought the Latin Mass was very beautiful, I felt like I was merely along for the ride.

 

[VociMike]

I understand what you’re saying, and I think that was something Vatican II was trying to address. I sometimes attend a sung EF Mass (full choir and schola) and the people lustily (yep!) join in singing the parts of the Ordinary (in Latin, of course). Is that right or wrong, I don’t know, but it feels right.

 

[floresco]

In short, while I thought the Latin Mass was very beautiful, I felt like I was merely along for the ride.

The first time I went to a TLM I found the lack of “active participation” very striking too. For me, though, it was not a negative thing. It was, instead, an experience of my dependence on God. I can do nothing to effect my salvation. God makes it possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God gives the Church and the Sacraments. It is all God’s grace and goodness and all I do is open myself to receive.

My very lack of external activity led to a profound inner experience and a great awareness of God’s worthiness of praise and thanksgiving. If you were to go again, I suggest you try to see the removal of external activity as an opportunity for inner activity.

 

[Peggy_in_Burien]

A couple of weeks ago, our TLM pastor encouraged us from the pulpit to please join in during the Gloria and Credo, Agnus Dei and the Sanctus. He said that we had been hearing it chanted by our choir for a year now, and he was sure we all knew it!

So, we do, and lustily, also!

Also, I follow along with all the prayers, in silence, reading from the English side of the missal, so I don’t feel like a spectator at all. Could be it is easier for me, because I am old enough to have learned the TLM when I was a kid, and it has come back for me. I also like the quiet, as I feel I can better “commune” with God.

 

[mattwcu]

Hi RNRobert,

It sounds like you might have a misunderstanding of what participation in Mass is all about. But its not terribly surprising since I hear this a lot from newcomers to the TLM. Real, actual (not the mistranslated “active”) is interior.

This is why whenever I invite someone to the Traditional Mass of the first time I encourage them to simply come and pray and not worry about what is happening when since the idea of “time” during the Mass is not the same as that of the Novus Ordo.

The canon of the Mass is silent for a reason, and that is because holy things are veiled.

So go again, put the missal down, and pray. Throw all your earthly cares up on the altar with the Priest during Mass and allow Christ the principal actor to do the work.

 

[doanli]

While I was visiting the Mount Airy, North Carolina area, I was able to attend a Latin Mass for the first time ever. I noticed everyone (even kids) were dressed nicely (i.e. no t-shirts, cut-off shorts, flip-flops, etc), and several women wore mantillas. It was nice hearing the Mass in Latin (at the church I regularly attend, one of the priests occasionally recites some portions of the Mass, like the Sanctus and Agnus Dei, in Latin, which I like). I also liked kneeling at the altar rail to receive communion.
However, as much as I liked being able to attend a TLM, I found it disappointing. Not because the Mass was in Latin (having the Latin/English missal helped me follow along), because I felt rather like a spectator. The Novus Ordo isn’t perfect. People come to Mass dressed like slobs (although this may be a cultural thing- when I was a kid, certain restaurants required men to wear a coat and tie; nowadays, anything goes- but I digress), cheesy songs (I’m still ticked that we have to borrow Protestant hymns), and I’m not too thrilled over holding hands during the Our Father. But what I like about it is when I attend Mass, I feel like I am actually participating. The congregation recites the Gloria, the Creed, the Sanctus, the Agnus Dei, etc. In the Latin Mass, the priest does almost all of it by himself, and the congregation is limited to a few responses. Also, during the portion of the Mass where the priest is performing the consecration, he recites the words under his breath, which made it harder to follow (plus for all you know, he could be reciting the words in pig latin).
In short, while I thought the Latin Mass was very beautiful, I felt like I was merely along for the ride.

Yes, that struck me too, but I attended one yesterday and we did “sing along” (which must have been encouraged because papers were passed out to us with the Latin written on them).

It was so beautiful. (Prince of Peace Church, Taylors, South Carolina)

 

[IntegraCatholic]

But what I like about it is when I attend Mass, I feel like I am actually participating. The congregation recites the Gloria, the Creed, the Sanctus, the Agnus Dei, etc. In the Latin Mass, the priest does almost all of it by himself, and the congregation is limited to a few responses. Also, during the portion of the Mass where the priest is performing the consecration, he recites the words under his breath, which made it harder to follow (plus for all you know, he could be reciting the words in pig latin).
In short, while I thought the Latin Mass was very beautiful, I felt like I was merely along for the ride.

Of course, it is irrelevant about whether we “feel” like we’re participating or not. A true participation at Mass can be seen in the example of our Lady at Calvary. There is no better member of the faithful than the Blessed Virgin and nothing more essential to the holy Sacrifice than the Cross.

The low Mass originally was simply a private Mass, which is why there is little ceremony. The high Mass includes more external participation with the liturgical choir, the Schola, etc. The external participation is always subordinate to the interior participation, however, and is only of secondary importance (as a means to the end).

The priest says the consecration quietly just as our Lord was born into this world in silence. This is befitting the reverence of such a sacred event and emphasizes the nature of the priest as effecting the consecration alone (which, of course, is the case). The objection that the priest could be saying something other than the consecration isn’t a good one because even if the priest says the consecration, he can still withhold his intention to consecrate, which would equally invalidate the consecration.

The more you immerse yourself in the liturgy of the Church, the more you will come to appreciate even the low Mass and see it as an authentic and beneficial expression of devotion. This will happen more and more as one grows in the interior life. I hope you will continue to do all of these things, and I promise you my prayers for that intention.

 

[corsair]

The whole “philosophy” of the EF Mass is different than the OF.( Now that statement should wake up the dissenters.) I have always prayed along with the priest, silently, and responded with the Altar boys. There are certain parts of the Mass that "belong to the choir/schola and certain parts that belong to the congregation. In the OF Mass (at least in my opinion) the congregation assumes ownership of ALL the parts, which is not proper for good liturgy.

 

[OraLabora]

Then find an OF Mass in Latin.

They do exist if you look hard enough.

 

[ljubim]

Real, actual (not the mistranslated “active”) is interior.

Definitely! We think here in America that participation means joining the procession, bringing up the offertory basket, ushering, or the like. That’s irrelevant, you could be even an altar server and not be “participating” in the Mass.

 

[RNRobert]

I’d like to thank everyone who posted on this thread. It gave me a lot to think about, and I will definitely keep it in mind if I ever have the opportunity to attend another TLM.

 

[ProVobis]

Definitely! We think here in America that participation means joining the procession, bringing up the offertory basket, ushering, or the like. That’s irrelevant, you could be even an altar server and not be “participating” in the Mass.

True.

But “actual” participation can be active or passive.

Sursum corda. (“Upwards hearts”)

 

[Brendan]

True.

But “actual” participation can be active or passive.

Sursum corda. (“Upwards hearts”)

Exactly.

For anyone interested in hearing what Vatican II meant by “active, conscience participation” I would recommend Pope Benedict’s book “The Spirit of the Liturgy”.

Especially the last chapter “Body and Prayer”.

He outlines how our most active participation, and the one we are called to do most, is achived when we are externally passive.

The two things we are called to do as Mass, our primary ‘actio’ as +Benedict calls it, is to:

1. Listen attentively to the Word proclaimed and take it to heart
2. Offer ourselves, fully and completely, as a sacrifice to God, in conjunction with the Sacrifice of the Altar being offered by the priest on our behalf.

 

[mickeycz]

While I was visiting the Mount Airy, North Carolina area, I was able to attend a Latin Mass for the first time ever. I noticed everyone (even kids) were dressed nicely (i.e. no t-shirts, cut-off shorts, flip-flops, etc), and several women wore mantillas. It was nice hearing the Mass in Latin (at the church I regularly attend, one of the priests occasionally recites some portions of the Mass, like the Sanctus and Agnus Dei, in Latin, which I like). I also liked kneeling at the altar rail to receive communion.
However, as much as I liked being able to attend a TLM, I found it disappointing. Not because the Mass was in Latin (having the Latin/English missal helped me follow along), because I felt rather like a spectator. The Novus Ordo isn’t perfect. People come to Mass dressed like slobs (although this may be a cultural thing- when I was a kid, certain restaurants required men to wear a coat and tie; nowadays, anything goes- but I digress), cheesy songs (I’m still ticked that we have to borrow Protestant hymns), and I’m not too thrilled over holding hands during the Our Father. But what I like about it is when I attend Mass, I feel like I am actually participating. The congregation recites the Gloria, the Creed, the Sanctus, the Agnus Dei, etc. In the Latin Mass, the priest does almost all of it by himself, and the congregation is limited to a few responses. Also, during the portion of the Mass where the priest is performing the consecration, he recites the words under his breath, which made it harder to follow (plus for all you know, he could be reciting the words in pig latin).
In short, while I thought the Latin Mass was very beautiful, I felt like I was merely along for the ride.

Well, every Mass I attended for the first 20 years or so of my life was in Latin, and we participated in the recital of the Gloria, the Creed the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei. Also we spoke the Pater Noster, ending it with “sed libera nos a malo” and not the part that is not even in my Bible, but is the Protestant form of the prayer.
The Eucharistic Prayer was very long, and a “secret” prayer that I could try to follow along in my missal to see if I read faster or slower than the priest.

If you got one of the old St. Joseph Missals (currently in reprint) you will have a great deal of information about the Mass and what is going on. Plus a lot of great things to read and reflect upon.
Since this change is coming and there will be more opportunities ( I hope ) for this beautiful celebration of the Mass, it is good to learn about it. I do not see a down side.

 

[mickeycz]

Also the following prayer is said aloud, following the priest"
Domine, non sum dignus ut intres sub tectum meum: sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur anima mea.

Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, but only say the word and my soul will be healed.