My first Latin Mass

[YoungCanRCMale]

Thank you for the additional responses.

I wonder if I could beg answers to a couple new questions I had after returning to the Mass today.

I went back to the store and bought the Roman Missal they had, it was pre-owned and appears to be missing a couple of pages that follow the cover but I believe it is the Angelus version. My question is this: During the Mass, I was on p. 436 and think I was in the right place, at least for awhile. But after the Gospel, I think I got lost. Should I have flipped to the pages that begin around 836 after the Gospel? I had the red booklet with me in the pew as well, but someone else was nearby and the pages of my books were very noisy! I didn’t want to disturb their prayer by flapping back and forth in my search for the proper pages in the Missal.

Also, the Priest was in the confessional both yesterday and today until just a few moments before Mass began. If I want to make my confession, is it the same as doing so at my other parish?

Thank you for your prayers and support.

As to question 1 about navigating missals in general: while I don’t have an Angelus Press, I do have a Baronius and often navigation is similar. It’s best that you know what Mass is being celebrated the day before if possible to prepare the pages. Here’s sort of a basic rundown of how to navigate the missal:

1. Look for the liturgical calendar table of contents. If there is a Saint’s feast day or other solemnity, the mass will almost be that Saint’s day for prayers and readings. If not there are different votive masses celebrated during the week (you may need to call the parish to find out what weekday ferial it is.) Today for example on p. 1223 of my Baronius, it’s St. John of Capistran. The rotating prayers (introit, kyrie, etc.) start on that page.
2. Follow the order of the Mass. Go to that main page from the liturgical TOC when you reach the appropriate rotating daily prayer. When you come up to a reading or prayer that is not exclusively unique, it should tell you where to go. My example: At the epistle, it tells me to go to p.994 for a Martyr not a Bishop for the reading. My lesson is Wisdom 10:10-14.
3. After that page, go back to that main page for the mass of the day at the appropriate part of the ordinary of the Mass to continue on.
4. You may end up repeating 2) and 3) several times with the Gospel, the other prayers, and notably the preface for Holy Communion.

As to question 2) Yes, Confession at the EF, when done by a priest with VALID and LICIT faculties (that is he granted faculties under the diocesan bishop in COMMUNION with the Holy Church, and has not made himself illicit in any way or gotten himself lacized, with exception of emergency of dying for the pentinent when no one else is around) then that confession is sacramentally valid.

As for the language used, the priests will do it in the vernacular always, as they are aware most people wouldnt understand Latin if they said it as such. However, perhaps a few priests know Latin well and wouldnt hesitate to do the priestly responses in Latin if a pentinent asked.

Just a word of caution: EF priests are on the whole more traditional and are more aware of the spiritual battle for your souls salvation. Dont be suprized if he makes you more accountable than your prior OF confessors have, mentions the Devil in his reflection/proclamation of pennance, gives a somewhat more longer pennance of prayers, or even explains the gravity of your sins and how much more serious they truly are than were made out to be. Regardless, you know you`re getting a great confession the majority of the time from an EF priest, based on my experience.

 

[MariaGoretti88]

Congratulations on finding the Extraordinary Form! And it sounds like you have a parish that offers the EF daily which is amazing.

I wish I had a daily Latin Mass near me, but Pittsburgh isn’t that far from me and I love going to Mass there. It has given me a new outlook on Catholicism that has fostered my spirituality in the midst of so much.

Hoping it will do the same for you and I hope you have a good discovery of it

 

[TheExorcist]

Just a word of caution: EF priests are on the whole more traditional and are more aware of the spiritual battle for your souls salvation. Dont be suprized if he makes you more accountable than your prior OF confessors have, mentions the Devil in his reflection/proclamation of pennance, gives a somewhat more longer pennance of prayers, or even explains the gravity of your sins and how much more serious they truly are than were made out to be. Regardless, you know you`re getting a great confession the majority of the time from an EF priest, based on my experience.

This is DEFINITELY true! I am currently a non Catholic studying with a priest in our local FSSP parish to come into the church. I’ve been studying on my own for a couple years from what I had considered to be fairly orthodox sources (Fr Mitch, Patrick Madrid, Jimmy Akin) and even sometimes THEIR analogies on how the teachings of the church work aren’t clear enough for Father. There is very little gray with an EF priest and I like that because I get it unvarnished and have no excuses about possible bad catechesis.

 

[janice32602003]

I appreciate your thoughts and comments. I just love what I’ve seen so far at this church.

My Missal has the ribbons, so tonight I am going to look it over more completely and try to mark out tomorrow’s pages in advance. Its previous owner crinkled a few of the pages and as I was looking through it in church today, it sounded SO loud that I thought I’d better just wait til I got home to find the correct places.

I’m glad to learn about the confession. I would love to find a place that offers it not only on weekdays, and before Mass. It seems like that is nearly impossible to find here anymore; Apparently, there is no demand for it? I made my confession last Saturday but I would like to have a place where I know I can go regularly. However, I was worried about stepping into the confessional - what if the Priest starts speaking in Latin?? – and then I would panic!

 

[newyorkcatholic]

I appreciate your thoughts and comments. I just love what I’ve seen so far at this church.

My Missal has the ribbons, so tonight I am going to look it over more completely and try to mark out tomorrow’s pages in advance. Its previous owner crinkled a few of the pages and as I was looking through it in church today, it sounded SO loud that I thought I’d better just wait til I got home to find the correct places.

I’m glad to learn about the confession. I would love to find a place that offers it not only on weekdays, and before Mass. It seems like that is nearly impossible to find here anymore; Apparently, there is no demand for it? I made my confession last Saturday but I would like to have a place where I know I can go regularly. However, I was worried about stepping into the confessional - what if the Priest starts speaking in Latin?? – and then I would panic!

Don’t worry, even traditional confessors don’t expect you to know or understand Latin for confession!

Have fun with your missal, but try not to stress. I abandoned my missal at first because it was just too complex. Since then I have gone through phases where I follow every word, or other times when I only look at certain parts, and other times when I don’t even bring it to Mass.

 

[jeannetherese]

My missal is out on loan to someone from my home parish who after listening to me talk about the Latin Mass decided to try it out for himself.
I told him to treat himself to exploring the missal in his spare time. The different prayers and masses provide new sources for prayer and meditation wherever you open the book. (I bought mine through the FSSP website and hope the money spent is helps to send another future priest through the seminary.)
Like New York Catholic, I move between my hand missal, the red book, and focussing on what is happening in the mass at different times or on different days. I still get lost from time to time and I don’t worry about it. I take it as my sign from God that I need to take a break from reading and praying along, or from trying to translate, to pay attention to what the priest is doing.
May God bless us all!
jeannetherese

 

[Phyllo]

Hi All,

I too, have found a Traditional Latin Mass that is about 30 minutes away. I have been to the low and high Mass. I much prefer the High Mass. After I left my first High Mass I thought to my self that this is what worshiping God at Mass should be.
I have an old St. Andrew’s and St. Joseph’s Missal and I much prefer the St. Joseph’s. It has pictures in it of the priest and what he is doing at certain parts of the mass. it also shows a little bell when the Consecration begins.

I grew up with the Latin Mass and used to be able to follow along with the Priest like a pro. I have been to 3 Latin Masses now 1 Low and 2 High. I struggle still but it is easier to follow the High Mass for me.

I love the Latin Mass and wish they would bring it back. It is so quiet, respectful, reverent and spiritual. The children are so well behaved every one is dressed with respect—I just love it.

This is just my :twocents:

Thanks for listening.

 

[MissRose73]

Thank you to those who posted the links for the Latin Mass. It will help me learn & understand more as I do not get many chances to go to the EF Mass due to the distance. I pray for my diocese to offer the EF someday as I am sure I am not the only person who desires it in some way.

 

[Rich_C]

I’m so glad you’ve found the traditional Mass, isn’t it wonderful?

A simple tip for not getting lost after the Gospel: just set your “Ordinary” bookmark to the Credo during the sermon, then you’ll know right where to pick again after.

 

[MikeDunphy]

Don’t worry, even traditional confessors don’t expect you to know or understand Latin for confession!

Our priest does use a little bit of Latin in confession. Mostly, it is in English, but towards the end he says the prayer of absolution in Latin. I think he says this prayer (which I have copied from Fish Eaters), but I’m not 100% sure:

Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat; et ego auctoritate ipsius te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis et interdicti in quantum possum et tu indiges. Deinde, ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you; and by His authority I absolve you from every bond of excommunication and interdict, so far as my power allows and your needs require. Thereupon, I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

At that point he switches back to English.

However, I was worried about stepping into the confessional - what if the Priest starts speaking in Latin?? – and then I would panic!

No need to worry, even if you do hear a little Latin in confession one of these days. Just say your part like usual and you’ll be fine.