Need advice on the Latin Mass

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Our parish is going to start offering the Latin Mass every Sunday in the afternoon. I’m really excited and want to attend.
Is there any information out there that I can read explaining the Latin Mass and how to follow it? I sort of remember as a young child going with my parents, but that was so long ago…I have forgotten most of it.
thanks for any advice;)
 
kayla said:
Our parish is going to start offering the Latin Mass every Sunday in the afternoon. I’m really excited and want to attend.
Is there any information out there that I can read explaining the Latin Mass and how to follow it? I sort of remember as a young child going with my parents, but that was so long ago…I have forgotten most of it.
thanks for any advice;)
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First, you need to clarify. Will this be a Latin Mass in the Ordinary Form (the post-Vatican II Mass), or the Extraordinary Form (the pre-Vatican II Mass)? Contrary to what many people think, Vatican II still deems Latin the regular language of the liturgy, but allows for the vernacular (which is practically the only way it’s said anymore, so it’s easy to misunderstand). The term is a bit imprecise.

That said, I am virtually sure you are referring to the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, in which case, I would recommend purchasing a missal, or trying to find the Order of the Mass online. A 1962 missal will have the Latin and the English side-by-side.
 
I appreciate your interest in the use of Latin in the Liturgy. If your parish intends to celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Mass - what some people incorrectly believe to be the only form of Latin Mass - there are many resources on the Internet. This one presents the Ordinary of the Mass. This one has some audio files which demonstrate the pronunciation of the servers’ answers during Mass. If you do a Google search, you’ll see many different groups devoted to the older Mass. Good luck.
 
Please don’t flog me. Please. The truth is I see no point in attending a Mass the language of which I don’t understand. I speak decent Spanish, but even then, I don’t like Spanish Mass because of the mild language barrier I have to work through. I’ve watched Latin Mass on TV, and it doesn’t do much for me. Sorry. :o
 
If it’s the Mass according to the 1962 Missal, you can find an inexpensive missal here. It is bilingual with English and includes instructions as to the postures of the congregation.

You will also need the proper prayers, which are not included in this missal. You can print them out here.
 
KingAlfred said:
Please don’t flog me. Please. The truth is I see no point in attending a Mass the language of which I don’t understand. I speak decent Spanish, but even then, I don’t like Spanish Mass because of the mild language barrier I have to work through. I’ve watched Latin Mass on TV, and it doesn’t do much for me. Sorry. :o
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However… instead of having multiple Masses at every parish in different languages, making it difficult to find priests to accommodate Spanish, German, Polish, Vietnamese, and other ethnic groups, you could have everyone learn the ordinary of the Mass in Latin. Then, you could travel to any church on earth and still be able to follow along perfectly well, with the exception of the sermon, which would be in the local vernacular. It honestly doesn’t take that long to learn just the ordinary…
 
You will need a 1962 Missal. This is essential. I recommend the following:

baroniuspress.com/book.php?wid=56&bid=4

The Baronius Press Missal is by far the best available.

Secondly, watch this video:

youtube.com/watch?v=R6AOvStZS64

This is a film of a Missa Solemnis, or a Solemn High Mass. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen provides narration throughout the entire movie. You will not be attending a Tridentine Mass like this one, but many of the things the Archbishop talks about will be applicable to your Mass. You should be aware that all forms of the Tridentine Mass are variations of the Missa Solemnis; this is the fullest form of the Tridentine Mass, and both the Missa Cantata and the Low Mass are versions of it, albeit with far less ceremony.

Thirdly, here is a website which explains the Tridentine Mass perfectly. It is a reproduction of the Missal with explanatory pictures. I highly recommend that you take the time to read this in its entirety:

thinking-catholic-strategic-center.com/Traditional-Latin-Tridentine-Mass.html

Lastly, here is an article about one man’s thoughts after rediscovering the Tridentine Mass after many years. He provides some interesting information:

latin-mass-society.org/2004/jimallen.htm

One thing I will say is that it takes a lot of time to fully appreciate the Tridentine Mass. It is only after you have taken the time to learn about this Mass that you fully begin to appreciate it. The entire Mass is rich with symbolism, a lot of which is hidden from the laity in the pews. There is a symbolic reason behind nearly everything that is done.

I hope this helps, and if you have any questions about the Tridentine Mass, don’t hesitate to ask and I’ll help as best I can.
 
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