My first Mass in 10 years

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This morning I attended Mass for the first time in roughly 10 years. It was of course a great experience to be back and recieve communion.

However, it was nothing like I remember. It was not in any way inappropriate and I do not mean to speak poorly ot the parish, but it did seem to be somewhat less reverent in my opinion.

Would this possibly be, “the new mass”? I would like to find a parish near me that has a more traditional, serious feel to it. Is it wrong to “shop around” until you find a parish where you truly feel at home?

I’d love to hear any thoughts on this matter.

Thanks.
 
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As you’ve been away, did you go to Confession beforehand? If not, go asap.

As for ‘shopping around’ for a Catholic church where you feel comfortable, I think there is nothing inherently wrong with that, but maybe give your local parish a chance first.
 
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Welcome home. I did the same thing myself about 12 or 13 years ago, after being away for over a decade.
 
Nothing wrong with finding a good, solid parish before settling down and putting your hard effort into said parish. “The New Mass” (Actually the Mass of Paul VI) was introduced 50 years ago this year, though. So chances are, unless the Mass you went to 10 years ago was in Latin, it was also “the New Mass”.
 
Welcome home!

There has been a translation change over the last ten years, but I didn’t see any change in reverence as a result. It was probably just that particular parish’s way of saying mass. Nothing wrong with going to another.
 
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The new mass started after the Second Vatican Council in around 1964.
The Novus Ordo Missæ was promulgated in 1969 some years after the end of the Second Vatican Council.
Novus Ordo Missæ loosely translated means New Order of Mass, i.e. not a New Mass, but a new missal.
 
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I know what Novus Ordo means. I was using the language of the OP to answer the OP.
 
So did I. I’m just trying to clarify for everyone in the thread, especially the OP, because I realised my first reply didn’t properly clarify.
 
However, it was nothing like I remember. It was not in any way inappropriate and I do not mean to speak poorly ot the parish, but it did seem to be somewhat less reverent in my opinion.
When I came back into the Church I suffered from “more holy than the Pope” syndrom. I felt others in the Church did not understand the miracle they were experiencing. I felt they didn’t sing enough, they didn’t respond fervently, they didn’t understand what they were receiving.

I’ve come to terms with the fact I was called to be an example, not to judge.
 
This morning I attended Mass for the first time in roughly 10 years. It was of course a great experience to be back and recieve communion.

However, it was nothing like I remember. It was not in any way inappropriate and I do not mean to speak poorly ot the parish, but it did seem to be somewhat less reverent in my opinion.

Would this possibly be, “the new mass”? I would like to find a parish near me that has a more traditional, serious feel to it. Is it wrong to “shop around” until you find a parish where you truly feel at home?

I’d love to hear any thoughts on this matter.

Thanks.
It looks like you went to confession AFTER not before receiving the Eucharist

The reason I say this, you were in mortal sin all those years for deliberately missing mass. Therefore, Receiving in mortal sin is a sacrilege. Glad you went to confession

I’m glad you’re back.
 
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Reverence is as reverence does.

To wit: 2 priests can follow the rubrics exactly; but one does so with apparent casualness, and the other does so with more focus (for lack of a better term). One may be hurried; the other slow.

Both Masses are valid, both are licit, but one will strike some people as more reverent than the other.

And the same priest, on a given day, may be distracted, troubled by something, “having a bad day” and appear less reverent than another day when he is not distracted, not troubled… you get the idea.

One priest can be slow, but appear to not be as focused as one might want; another can move along faster, but appear very focused; the latter, to observers, may appear more reverent.

And some observers could not tell the difference. Memories also can make a difference.

Certainly you can look for another parish to attend Mass; but I believe that Canon law requires you to support your geographical parish, at least to some extent. Keep in mind you may not like the pastor, but it is the parish you are supporting.

I was a member of a parish for @ 30 years; and recently I moved. Because I have been involved in RCIA and adult ed for the better part of 25 years, I generally travel about 34 miles to go to Mass in my old parish, depending on a number of factors; I support both parishes.
 
You can have varying levels of reverence in parishes that celebrate the ordinary form. The ordinary form can be quite beautiful and reverent depending on the priest and the parish. If you have many parishes to choose from nearby I would try a different one each Sunday.
 
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steve-b:
It looks like you went to confession AFTER not before receiving the Eucharist.
The OP has stated that he confessed yesterday and attended Mass today…?
thanks, I see that.
 
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Welcome back! “Reverence” begins in our hearts. Those who have converted to the faith, and those who are returning are often called upon to demonstrate a renewed sense of reverence to those who might need a spsiritual “tune-up” or who were poorly formed in the first place.

Since you are newly back, it is best perhaps to look up to the perfection of God, rather than left or right and see only sinners. Concentrate on the Tabernacle, as your Savior resides there.

As often as I can, I close my eyes, as they mislead and distract from offering myself as part of the sacerifice of the mass.
 
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