The Latin Mass

  • Thread starter Thread starter prettiefly
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

prettiefly

Guest
Our Latin Mass community has been asked by a local Shrine to put on a workshop for people interested learning more about the Traditional Latin Mass. I would like to put together a simple FAQ pamplet for them, so I need to know what kinds of basic questions people may have about the Latin Mass.

I didn’t put this thread in the Traditional Catholic section because most of them already know the Latin Mass - I need questions from people that have never been or have only been a few times.

I ask people to simply put their questions, or for those that have been a couple of times, what information would make their experience at the Latin Mass better next time.

Please, please no arguments or debates - I really just need this info to better serve the people that will be coming to our workshop.

Thank you~
 
  1. Why is this Mass in the Latin language?
  2. Why does the priest face east?
  3. Why do we kneel at the altar rail and receive the Holy Eucharist on the tongue?
  4. What is the structure of the Traditional Latin Mass in relation to the Ordinary Form?
  5. How does the congregation participate?
  6. What is Gregorian Chant and polyphony?
  7. What does the Second Vatican Council say on the use of Latin? (Veterum Sapientiae
 
prettiefly said:
Our Latin Mass community has been asked by a local Shrine to put on a workshop for people interested learning more about the Traditional Latin Mass. I would like to put together a simple FAQ pamplet for them, so I need to know what kinds of basic questions people may have about the Latin Mass.

I didn’t put this thread in the Traditional Catholic section because most of them already know the Latin Mass - I need questions from people that have never been or have only been a few times.

I ask people to simply put their questions, or for those that have been a couple of times, what information would make their experience at the Latin Mass better next time.

Please, please no arguments or debates - I really just need this info to better serve the people that will be coming to our workshop.

Thank you~
Click to expand...
Well, I’ve never been to a Latin Mass, so some questions I have are:
  1. How does a Latin Mass differ from an Ordinary Form Mass?
  2. Why does the priest face away from the congregation?
  3. Why do only the altar boys respond and not the whole congregation?
  4. Are there any parts of the Mass (such as the homily or Gospel readings) that are in the vernacular?
  5. Would you ever see an altar girl or a female reader/ Pslam leader/ Eucharistic Minister, etc?
Sorry if some of these questions seem stupid, but nobody ever really bothered to teach me what a Latin Mass was like. Both my parents are post Vatican II…

Also, none of these questions are meant to be condemning. I’m just curious:D
 
Many people in your community may never have heard of the Latin Mass. I was a child when we shifted to the vernacular. It might be a bit helpful if you gave a short history of how the Mass came to be in Latin. I love the imagery of early Christians in the Catacombs using the Lord’s Prayer as their secret code for admission to the Mass in order to protect themselves from being captured and killed.
I hope your talk presents the richness of our history and Tradition.
Recalling my first Latin Mass, I smile at how quickly a cradle Catholic could get lost trying to keep up with the Extraordinary Form. (you might want to explain what ordinary and Extraordinary mean in a Catholic context). I alternated between floundering in the text, attending to what was happening on the altar, and getting caught back up again. The language of the mass really captured my attention. It is so beautiflu and was an absolute feast for someone who likes to meditate on Our Lord. You might mention that ‘geting lost’ is a very common experience- and that there is no need to worry-be open and the Lord will send you what you need-and yo will be delighted in what he sends you.
The best advice I received on the Traditional Catholicism site was to keep on going to the Latin Mass and to expect to find increading depth and richness over time-this was spot on.
The Latin Mass has been a tremendous source of Catechesis for me and I am really excited for your community.
Are there members of your Traditional community who might be willing to ‘adopt’ those who would like to have someone standing next to them with a finger onthe English text to help them find their way? Not everyone might find this helpful-there is a beauty in finding your way through the mass by yourself over time- but for those looking for a very linear entry, such support might be welcome.
An overview of the mass might also be helpful-perhaps a quick slideshow that shows things like the movement from the epistle to the gospel side of the altar with an wxplanation of what is going on, or the incensing of the congregation with the note that we are offering ourselves to God as sacrifice are examples of things I would include.
A group reading of the last gospel might be a nice way to close your meeting. The notion of a last gospe will likely be new as well.
I’m hoping here that your community will have a sense of recognition when some of these actions occur so that they will be familiar and wonderful simultaneously.
May God bless you and your good work!
jeannetherese
 
Well I’m a fairly new catholic* but I believe I have an experience which I hope will help you.

I went to my first Tridentine Mass last January at the very beautiful San Buenaventura mission in California. I had been wanting to pray at one since I first found the faith. When I was just a seeker the traditionalist Fisheaters site, while imperfect, helped confirm for me the faith that a spiritual experience at a local parish had started.

I was expected a great spiritual experience over and above what I regularly experienced at my own parish. My expectations were too high in a number of ways through no fault of the mission or the mass.

Given all I had read about the Latin mass and my knowledge on the structure and theology of the Mass of Paul VI I expected I would be able to follow the mass even though I knew no Latin. I went with a lapsed Catholic who only agreed to go because she was curious about the Latin mass (hopefully this same curiosity leads more people to your masses that might otherwise not go!). She speaks Italian, Spanish, and French. We figured with my research on the mass and her command of romance languages we would be able to follow what was going on.

We couldn’t really. Even with the provided missalette we both quickly became very lost. I couldn’t see the altar and didn’t “feel” the mass. My mind kept wandering. Needless to say, it didn’t rekindle my friend’s faith like I had hoped it would.

However, that’s a lot to ask from one mass. I left disappointed but want to try again (if anyone knows of a Tridentine Mass offered by a priest in communion with Rome in the Miami area please let me know.)

My advice is to manage the expectations game. Nobody is probably going to “get it” in one mass. I would focus on making sure the basics were understood first and getting people to commit to at least a few masses.

Some strong encouragement to those frustrated that they couldn’t understand it at first will really help!

Who will be singing the responses at your masses? At the one I went to a choir (which musically did a great job) did that part. I think having the responses done by the people will produce a mass that’s easier for someone used to the new mass to follow in the long run, even if pronunciation or comprehension are lacking at first. Of course if a deacon or a choir sings the responses it will produce a smoother mass. If the people are not expected to do the responses explain how this is being “done for them” (at least audibly).

Thank you for doing this. I’ve just said a prayer asking the Lord to guide and bless your efforts.
  • I’ve believed since December 2010 but won’t be baptized until the Easter vigil this Saturday. I know on some level that makes me not fully part of the church yet but I wasn’t sure what would be more appropriate to put there. I do have plenty of masses and catechesis under my belt I certainly. Won’t matter come Easter; God willing I’ll be baptized, confirmed, and in full communion.
 
jeannetherese said:
Are there members of your Traditional community who might be willing to ‘adopt’ those who would like to have someone standing next to them with a finger onthe English text to help them find their way? Not everyone might find this helpful-there is a beauty in finding your way through the mass by yourself over time- but for those looking for a very linear entry, such support might be welcome.

jeannetherese
Click to expand...
That sounds like a great idea to me.
 
Why/How does one cover one’s head?
Do you care if we (women) don’t?

The one Latin Mass I attended, I felt very uncomfortable being the only woman there w/o a head covering.

I still have no clue how to cover up. 😦
 
First I would only refer to it as the Extraordinary Form as that is what Pope Benedict has called it. The “Latin Mass” could just as easily refer to the Ordinary Form.
  1. Why is it called the Extraordinary Form?
  2. Why is it only in Latin?
  3. Why does the priest face away from the people? (I know that older churches may have been constructed along an east/west axis but if you talk about facing ‘east’ you are bound to have someone query why he’s actually facing north northwest. Someone like me. ;))
If your parish is not celebrating a dialogue Mass you may have to explain why the altar servers are the only ones responding.
 
InspiritCarol said:
Why/How does one cover one’s head?
Do you care if we (women) don’t?

The one Latin Mass I attended, I felt very uncomfortable being the only woman there w/o a head covering.

I still have no clue how to cover up. 😦
Click to expand...
If you want to cover your head, use whatever works best for you. Some women prefer hats, some mantillas of lace, some head scarfs or shalls - whatever you feel most comfortable in. I personally won’t enter any Church without my head covered, it’s just a personal things, and I prefer mantillas. That said, I really don’t care if or what a woman uses to cover her head with, really.

I like the way our Chaplain put it in regard to veiling a woman’s head - he compared it to how we veil the Tabernacle, and that the Church veils that which is most precious to it.
 
The questions not yet asked:
  1. Why is the Epistle read facing east and the Gospel read facing north?
  2. Why is much of the Mass said quietly?
  3. Why are there so many genuflections and signs of crosses and bows?
  4. Why the need for altar cards?
  5. Can we respond with the servers and/or choir?
 
I’m a convert of 20+ years, so I’ve never experienced a Latin Mass. It is not part of my history, none of my family are Catholic. I went to my first EF Mass a few months ago, only because it was being said for our infant son, who had recently died, at the arrangement of a fellow parishioner. That said, perhaps I was not in the best frame of mind to properly experience it.

I struggled. Tremendously. Like someone else mentioned, I thought I’d be able to follow along. I could NOT even remotely follow. The only words I think I recognized was our son’s name, as the Mass intention.

It would have been helpful to know:
  1. HIstory of the Mass, how it fits in the church today as compared with the OF
  2. What is the best way to follow along?
  3. What kind of participation is expected?
  4. There were absolutely no children present, I was glad we didn’t bring our other children. I can only assume they are permitted, but cannot figure out why there were NONE.
  5. I dressed very conservatively,as I would to Mass, but in dress pants. I was the only woman not in a skirt/dress. Is this allowed, what is the right way to dress.
  6. what are the major differences between the OF and the EF, besides the Latin?
Honestly, it was not a positive experience for my husband and I, although it wasn’t about us and I know it mattered not whether we were comfortable or not. I am not anxious to return, however.
 
etmom said:
I’m a convert of 20+ years, so I’ve never experienced a Latin Mass. It is not part of my history, none of my family are Catholic. I went to my EF Mass a few months ago, only because it was being said for our infant son, who had recently died, at the arrangement of a fellow parishioner.
Click to expand...
Sorry about the loss of your son.
 
🙂
ProVobis said:
The questions not yet asked:
  1. Why is the Epistle read facing east and the Gospel read facing north?
Would you mind answering this question on our forum? I will be keeping it in heart at my next EF mass. Thank you and may God bless us all!
Click to expand...
 
Why the Eucharist on the tongue and not in the hand?

The FAQ sounds like a great project.
 
jeannetherese said:
:)1) Why is the Epistle read facing east and the Gospel read facing north?

Would you mind answering this question on our forum? I will be keeping it in heart at my next EF mass. Thank you and may God bless us all!
Click to expand...
This is my understanding and others are welcome to correct me

(1) So the congregation may distinguish between the Epistle and the Gospel.

(2) North is symbolic of the barbarians in that direction from the standpoint of the early Western Church. (This is the most common explanation for facing north for the Gospel.)

gurukul.ucc.american.edu/dgolash/slide7.htm
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top