Silent prayers? - why? why not?

[Chris_McAvoy]

90% of my experiences in both Catholic and Orthodox Churches have had the offertory prayers and some of the prayers before or after the anaphora /consecration said silently or in a low voice.

Occasionally I encounter a cleric who in most ways is traditional but prefers to say the all the prayers loudly or at least loud enough for people to hear him (including the secret I believe). I have never understood why I (rarely) encounter differences. One particularly peculiar incident was where russian orthodox bishop said the prayers silently before consecration but had a microphone broadcast them so people could hear him say them. I couldn’t see anything wrong with it, but I saw little purpose to it either.

I have never studied why this matter is important, but it I think it is. I have no defense of saying certain prayers more quietly than others, and always accepted that it is a normal and natural thing to have certain prayers said at a voice to fulfill certain parts of the role of what a priest is and is doing.

What explanations can you offer me?

My acquaintance is an anglo-catholic just come under communion with Rome who is going to be ordained for the ordinariate in 6 monthes, he is quite orthodox but there are certain exceptions in which he makes an occasional divergence from the typical practices I know from latin masses, which for me is an interesting surprise.

 

[JamestheOlder]

For the Latin Rite, there are guidelines, #32 and 33.
Click on: vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html#II._THE_DIFFERENT_ELEMENTS_OF_THE_MASS

Even when those are observed, it has been my experience for different priests to use different “tones” when reciting the words of institution. I think the term is “sotto voce”, where the voice is lowered, the words spaced out, but the volume is significant for the assembly to hear.

Just my experience with both the OF and EF.

 

[ConstantineTG]

In the Byzantine Rite, the low voice prayers are said because the Deacon could be leading the people in litanies or the Cantor could be leading a hymn or other prayers. So these prayers happen simultaneously and it does make sense for the priest to be in a low voice so as the congregation would know that they can chant or sing. Because if the priest is speaking loudly then its expected for everyone to listen or pay attention.

The same is true in some of the prayers in the OF. When the priest prays over the offerings, if the congregation is singing then the priest prays in a low voice. But if there is no hymn, then the priest may say the prayers aloud. Same in the Fraction Rite as the congregation sings Agnus Dei. As for the other times, I’m not quite so sure.