Participating Vocally

[Elise_Wondering]

Hello,

I have been attending the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (FSSP) for a year and a half. I have learned the proper Latin pronunciation and respond (rather timidly) when (hopefully) appropriate according to my Missal. However, I have painfully become aware that I am part of a very small cluster of verbal responders in the congregation.

My question is mostly directed to those of you who attended Mass pre-Vatican II. I want to know if any of you remember your friends and family vocally responding and even singing during Mass. Are the few people around me the last remnants of a traditional attendance or are they more likely influenced by Vatican II and its emphasis on participation through more vocal means?

Thanks!

 

[Mike30]

If we were at a Dialogue mass we would respond. Otherwise the Servers said the responses. Most Masses of the time that I attended were Low Masses and there was no singing in them. From what I have seen lately most of the Masses celebrated these days are Dialogue Masses with the congregation making some of the responses.

Other places may have been different but those were my experiences.

 

[Elise_Wondering]

Thank you! We usually have High Masses where I attend so I suppose the servers are the ones who would be doing the only responding? This may be a silly question but if you don’t mind… what are the differences between a Dialogue Mass and a Low Mass that help you tell them apart?

 

[Mike30]

Thank you! We usually have High Masses where I attend so I suppose the servers are the ones who would be doing the only responding? This may be a silly question but if you don’t mind… what are the differences between a Dialogue Mass and a Low Mass that help you tell them apart?

The congregation responds in the Dialogue Mass. There is no way to tell the difference. It is no different than any other Mass otherwise. I have been to High Masses that were Dialogue Masses as well. It really all depends on what the Priest wants.

 

[dshix]

It is all according to the custom of that area. Some parishes do the dialogue mass, others (most of the ones in the US) do a silent mass where only the server responds.

There’s nothing morally good or bad about either.

 

[YoungTradCath]

My rule of thumb is that it is always perfectly fine to respond.

 

[Jennifoo]

Back in the late nineties, a priest at a neighbouring parish would offer the EF on one Sunday each month at about 4 pm. It was always a Dialogue Mass, and I really loved it.

Now since the Motu Proprio, a different priest in my area has been offering the EF- never any Dialogue Masses and has never offered any classes or presentations to teach us. In fact, the Congregation is discouraged from vocal participation. I found High Masses especially confusing and there weren’t any resources offered to help us. I found out recently that he’s having Holy Hours, but does them all in Latin, didn’t mention this fact beforehand, and no one, including the choir, was able to follow along. As you might expect, the numbers of attendees is diminishing.

I personally love both the Novus Ordo and the Extraordinary Form. I prefer the Novus Ordo because of the 3-year Cycle of Readings and the increased participation. I just couldn’t stand not being allowed to pray the Gloria and the Creed just because of one priest’s preference and neglect of teaching in this regard.

 

[Chatter163]

My rule of thumb is that it is always perfectly fine to respond.

Not if the priest prefers otherwise. My FSSP pastor prefers that our weekday Low Masses not be Dialogue Masses, only the Sunday Low Masses. High Masses are Dialogue Masses, in that the congregation can make at least the short responses. The sung portions depend on whether a chant or polyphonic Mass setting is used.

 

[Elise_Wondering]

Thanks everyone! So my best bet would be to speak with Father and ask him his preference and then go from there… I appreciate the explanations.

Our Priest is very kind and has our deacon give classes and instruction on the Mass for people who are new to it, though I have not been able to go to one yet (it’s a really, really far drive). Many of his sermons include bits and pieces of information about what’s going on and why we do this or that. We even had a Solemn High Mass a few months ago and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever witnessed.

Perhaps if more people asked then other parishes would be willing to offer instructional classes as well? It would be a great way to help us learn what some of us were never taught while growing up. The Traditional Mass is a part of our past as well as our present, we should for sure at least understand and respect it.

 

[Spudbynight]

My rule of thumb is that it is always perfectly fine to respond.

One may only respond in a dialogue Mass. Whether a Mass is a dialogue Mass or not is at the discretion of the celebrant.

If the Mass is not a dialogue Mass then I believe, strictly speaking, responding as a member of the congregation is a liturgical abuse.

 

[echo99]

Hello,

[snip]

My question is mostly directed to those of you who attended Mass pre-Vatican II. I want to know if any of you remember your friends and family vocally responding and even singing during Mass.
[snip]

I went to parochial school and was well versed in the Latin response. The whole attending parish responded in Latin. I don’t ever remember singing during Mass unless as part of a Choir.

Thanks!

 

[Sister_Terese]

Thanks everyone! So my best bet would be to speak with Father and ask him his preference and then go from there… I appreciate the explanations.

Our Priest is very kind and has our deacon give classes and instruction on the Mass for people who are new to it, though I have not been able to go to one yet (it’s a really, really far drive). Many of his sermons include bits and pieces of information about what’s going on and why we do this or that. We even had a Solemn High Mass a few months ago and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever witnessed.

Perhaps if more people asked then other parishes would be willing to offer instructional classes as well? It would be a great way to help us learn what some of us were never taught while growing up. The Traditional Mass is a part of our past as well as our present, we should for sure at least understand and respect it.

I believe it was Bishop Sheen who said that “The Mass (meaning the Tridentine Mass) is the most beautiful thing this side of Heaven.” He was not exaggerating!

 

[Sister_Terese]

Thanks everyone! So my best bet would be to speak with Father and ask him his preference and then go from there… I appreciate the explanations.

Our Priest is very kind and has our deacon give classes and instruction on the Mass for people who are new to it, though I have not been able to go to one yet (it’s a really, really far drive). Many of his sermons include bits and pieces of information about what’s going on and why we do this or that. We even had a Solemn High Mass a few months ago and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever witnessed.

Perhaps if more people asked then other parishes would be willing to offer instructional classes as well? It would be a great way to help us learn what some of us were never taught while growing up. The Traditional Mass is a part of our past as well as our present, we should for sure at least understand and respect it.

There are some lovely videos on instruction on the Tridentine Mass that are available through Catholic websites or bookstores. There are also some books, but off hand, I can’t think of the titles. Perhaps someone else here can provide that for you.

 

[Megan7]

I believe it was Bishop Sheen who said that “The Mass (meaning the Tridentine Mass) is the most beautiful thing this side of Heaven.” He was not exaggerating!

God bless you Sister Terese. I love your posts!

I wish you would have been one the Nuns teaching me, when I was growing up
Thank you for giving your life in service to the Church.

Pax