The Mass is the Mass, but I Struggle with the Low Mass

[TrueLight]

Please pray for me.

I know the Mass is the Mass, and it shouldn’t matter what form it is in, but I really can’t get into the low Mass.

This week I attended two Masses that are usually missa cantata masses, but for some reason ended up being low Masses. No chants, no music.

At the first Mass, I did okay. I followed along in the missal and tried my best to pray. I really struggled with the second mass. I struggled to hear and at some point I found my mind wandering. Plus there was no homily.

To be perfectly honest, if I know a Mass is going to be a low Mass, I probably will go elsewhere. That is probably not the correct thing to do, but I’m being honest.

And yes I know it’s all about the Eucharist, which in my case, is not even that applicable, as I am not even receiving the Eucharist.

I am reminded of The Old Medic’s comments about how the Mass used to be and how you couldn’t even hear the priest.

If the low Mass (with no chanting/singing) is the only option I had, I doubt I would go to Mass.

Any suggestions?

 

[laszlo]

If the low Mass (with no chanting/singing) is the only option I had, I doubt I would go to Mass.

Find a church where the new form is celebrated reverently, that is never low mass.

In the good old times in an average parish there was at least 10 Low Mass, only the Requiem Masses with cantor and one Mass at Sunday was Missa Cantata. The Mass was considered exclusively the Holy Sacrifice of our Lord, where the presence of the people is accidental only.

 

[TrueLight]

Find a church where the new form is celebrated reverently, that is never low mass.

In the good old times in an average parish there was at least 10 Low Mass, only the Requiem Masses with cantor and one Mass at Sunday was Missa Cantata. The Mass was considered exclusively the Holy Sacrifice of our Lord, where the presence of the people is accidental only.

I actually love the EF and that would always be my first option.

If I didn’t have any missa cantata or high masses available to me and there was a reverent OF nearby, I would attend.

I’m saying if there was nothing at all, but a low mass in the way I described, I couldn’t do it.

But I sort of believe I am in error somehow by not being able to assist at a low mass. Why do some people say they prefer the low mass? Should I be more prayerful?

 

[Suscipiat2011]

I go to Low Mass all the time, and have no problem paying attention or praying. If you have a missal of your own, or grabbed the little book on the way in, you know what the priest is saying, why does it matter if you can hear it?

I find it a very prayerful experience because I am able to sit there silently praying, trying to unite myself with the prayers of the priest.

I know all of the responses and know when the Priest is going to say what, so I just whisper them along with the altar boys.

I do prefer High Mass, but I still like Low Mass a lot. I think it is the mind frame you go into Mass with. If you go into Low Mass and expect to be entertained the whole time, and the Priest make a point to tell you what’s going on by doing different things, then you won’t enjoy it because that is not what happens. On the other hand, if you go into Low Mass with the mind frame of totally uniting yourself with the sacrifice and ready to enter into deep prayer, while responding in the applicable sections of the Mass, then you will enjoy it.

 

[TrueLight]

w when the Priest is going to say what, so I just whisper them along with the altar boys.

I do prefer High Mass, but I still like Low Mass a lot. I think it is the mind frame you go into Mass with. If you go into Low Mass and expect to be **entertained **the whole time, and the Priest make a point to tell you what’s going on by doing different things, then you won’t enjoy it because that is not what happens. On the other hand, if you go into Low Mass with the mind frame of totally uniting yourself with the sacrifice and ready to enter into deep prayer, while responding in the applicable sections of the Mass, then you will enjoy it.

Somehow, I think there is another option in addition to being ready to enter into deep prayer, or looking to be entertained.

I do agree that I probably need to work on my mind frame. However, I can assure you that after coming home all tired from work and having the option of going straight home to my family, I do not attend daily mass to be entertained.

Daily mass is not an obligation so I can choose to be home and entertain myself with the radio or television if that’s what I needed.

 

[Suscipiat2011]

The Mass was considered exclusively the Holy Sacrifice of our Lord, where the presence of the people is accidental only.

I wouldn’t say that was true. If that was true, what was the point of Altar Boys? If someone else’s presence wasn’t needed at Mass, why did they institute altar boys to represent the People?

I think the difference is that in the Traditional Mass, the whole focus was not on entertaining the people, but celebrating the Sacrifice. So, it was never the absolute most important thing to constantly entertain the people, but to pray for them, along with them.

But also, now that I think about it, I think you are forgetting some important things.

Throughout the whole Mass, the priest is constantly referring to the people, and asking them to pray. How Many times does he say: “Dominus Vobiscum” and we respond, “Et cum Spiritu Tuo?”
How many times does he say, “Oremus?” Which obviously means, “Let us Pray”
He constantly refers to the people, and asks them to pray alongside with him and to unite his prayers with theirs. Just like at the offertory. When the priest says

x"Orate, fratres: ut meum ac vestrum sacrificium acceptabile fiat apud Deum Patrem omnipotentem.

Which Means:

“Pray Brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptible to God the father almighty.”

So if you look look at the texts of the Mass, you will see that it is of the upmost importance to have people there participating, because their prayers are needed to.

 

[TrueLight]

I go to Low Mass all the time, and have no problem paying attention or praying. If you have a missal of your own, or grabbed the little book on the way in, you know what the priest is saying, why does it matter if you can hear it?

I have a missal. And my time is spent between looking at the missal and glancing up just to make sure I’m at the right place. It takes a lot of focus for someone like me, who hasn’t been doing this for five years.

I find it a very prayerful experience because I am able to sit there silently praying, trying to unite myself with the prayers of the priest.

I find it hard to get to that point or if I get there, to remain there. How do I do it?

 

[marlap2]

Jesus attends both Masses. That’s the best part.

The Sunday Masses I attend are noisy, crowded, the pews are hard, people are pushy, it’s hard to get a parking space unless you get there early, a few of the priests have such heavy accents it’s hard to follow them especially in the homily, ushers are stuffing people into every available space; the altar servers haven’t checked their albs and half their jeans hang out; if it’s hot some people are dressed for a barbecue; the choir has electric guitars and drums.

But, Jesus is there. So I’m there with as much attention as I can muster.

For a seriously wonderful treat though, I love to go to the Abbey (a Benedictine monastery) to sit in the relative quiet, hear the beautiful Gregorian chant and breathe deeply the beauty of the Church in its most reverent form. Jesus is there too.

Something tells me though, he likes the noisy kids and the crowded parking lot.

 

[Suscipiat2011]

Somehow, I think there is another option in addition to being ready to enter into deep prayer, or looking to be entertained.

I do agree that I probably need to work on my mind frame. However, I can assure you that after coming home all tired from work and having the option of going straight home to my family, I do not attend daily mass to be entertained.

Daily mass is not an obligation so I can choose to be home and entertain myself with the radio or television if that’s what I needed.

I think you misunderstood me. I was not attacking or degrading your reasons for going to Mass at all. If that is how you took it, I am sorry.

What I was explaining is that many people go into Mass with the wrong idea. The Ordinary Form basically fosters that wrong way of thinking. People misunderstand what true Active Participation is, they think it is the act of doing something, rather than what it is. It is the uniting of your prayers with the prayers of the Priest. It is the praying for the graces of the Mass to be put on your soul.

So when I said, “entertained,” it did not mean that you want to go and have a great time, and the priest should perform for you. That is not what I meant. What I meant was that too many people expect the prayer at Mass to be Outer forms of prayer, such as singing, and those are very good things, but they forget that another very good way to pray, is silently. This allows all the people in the church to offer their own problems up to the Lord at the same Sacrifice, without being distracted and with the Solemnity that the occasion requires.

 

[ProVobis]

I am reminded of The Old Medic’s comments about how the Mass used to be and how you couldn’t even hear the priest.

In today’s environment, I agree that the Low Mass should be said a little more audibly. Requirements of having low tones, per Missal and Council of Trent, doesn’t equate to total silence. I think having microphones and loudspeakers may be much too much, but there is no reason why people in the first 10 rows or so shouldn’t be able to follow the Latin Prayers at the Foot at the Altar, for example. In my opinion, feeling forced to follow along only in the English translation in one’s missal is not a good thing.

 

[TrueLight]

I think you misunderstood me. I was not attacking or degrading your reasons for going to Mass at all. If that is how you took it, I am sorry.

Gotcha.

What I meant was that too many people expect the prayer at Mass to be Outer forms of prayer, such as singing, and those are very good things, but they forget that another very good way to pray, is silently.

This is probably what I’m struggling with. I expect silence during Eucharistic adoration. But I find it hard to see a mass as completely quiet.

Also, what if a non-believer walked into a low mass? All they would see is people kneeling. They would barely hear the priest. There would be no music or chant that might put them in a prayerful mood.

It strikes me as more of a mass for longtime Catholics.

 

[Suscipiat2011]

I have a missal. And my time is spent between looking at the missal and glancing up just to make sure I’m at the right place. It takes a lot of focus for someone like me, who hasn’t been doing this for five years.

I find it hard to get to that point or if I get there, to remain there. How do I do it?

Don’t worry about finding it hard. I have been only doing this for a year now, and it can be difficult. I had an advantage though, I am an altar boy. So when I started going to the Extraordinary Form, I started learning the prayers and the intricacies of the Mass, so it is much easier now, then when I first began.

I think the best advice I ever got was to not worry about being in the exact same place as the Priest constantly. He is praying and at some point, he will need to slow down for the lavabo or the ablutions and then you will catch up. Constantly worrying that you may not be in the exact same place will just aggravate you. Believe me, I have experienced it.

Here’s how I try to unite myself in prayer. When the Canon Starts (After the Sanctus), I set down my missal. Then I close my eyes and say to God, "Lord, I offer this most Holy Sacrifice to you today, but I ask that all of the graces that come from this Mass be applied to ______(whoever my prayer intention is.) I then pray about that person. I then go from there where ever my prayer takes me. It sounds easier than it actually is, but I promise that over time, it will get easier.

Man this prayer stuff is hard!

 

[Suscipiat2011]

Gotcha.

This is probably what I’m struggling with. I expect silence during Eucharistic adoration. But I find it hard to see a mass as completely quiet.

Also, what if a non-believer walked into a low mass? All they would see is people kneeling. They would barely hear the priest. There would be no music or chant that might put them in a prayerful mood.

It strikes me as more of a mass for longtime Catholics.

Yeah, I don’t think the whole Mass should be completely silent either. It really depends on the Priest, some use microphones, some don’t. I prefer the use of Microphones as that is how my home Parish is, but right now I am at a Parish that he does not. It took some getting used to, but I am okay with it now.

I think that in this day and age, Microphones should be used for the most part of the Mass. Obviously not at the Canon, but at the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, the Beginning of Mass and the readings, and the offertory. Of course for the communion time for Pater Noster, Agnus Dei, and Domine Non sum Dignus, and then the Post Communion.

But I guess that is my personal preference.

 

[Bigcat71]

Gotcha.

This is probably what I’m struggling with. I expect silence during Eucharistic adoration. But I find it hard to see a mass as completely quiet.

Also, what if a non-believer walked into a low mass? All they would see is people kneeling. They would barely hear the priest. There would be no music or chant that might put them in a prayerful mood.

It strikes me as more of a mass for longtime Catholics.

Well perhaps, or you might just as easily say for committed Catholics who have taken the time to learn about their faith and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I personally find Low masses to be very restful, prayerful and contemplative. And if by chance, I do not follow along the Priest at exactly the same pace, or hear more than a few words what real harm has been done?

 

[ProVobis]

I prefer the use of Microphones as that is how my home Parish is, but right now I am at a Parish that he does not. It took some getting used to, but I am okay with it now.

It depends too on accoustics and the church itself. Inside a small chapel, the micophone may be very annoying. In larger churches with lots of white noise (people walking up the aisles looking for seats, stirring about, etc.) the microphone probably would be more useful.

 

[Suscipiat2011]

It depends too on accoustics and the church itself. Inside a small chapel, the micophone may be very annoying. In larger churches with lots of white noise (people walking up the aisles looking for seats, stirring about, etc.) the microphone probably would be more useful.

Agreed!!

 

[MissRose73]

I’ve never attended a High Mass or a Missa Cantata. I’ve only attended 2 Low Masses, and it does force me to pay attention more to what is going on at the altar. It did take some getting used to as in the Ordinary Form we hear a lot more and participate more.

I hope to go to a High Mass or Missa Cantata soon.

 

[TrueLight]

Well perhaps, or you might just as easily say for committed Catholics who have taken the time to learn about their faith and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Sigh. Okay. I guess it’s not possible for someone to be committed and take the time to learn about their faith, yet still find something difficult.

Here’s how I try to unite myself in prayer. When the Canon Starts (After the Sanctus), I set down my missal. Then I close my eyes and say to God, "Lord, I offer this most Holy Sacrifice to you today, but I ask that all of the graces that come from this Mass be applied to ______(whoever my prayer intention is.) I then pray about that person. I then go from there where ever my prayer takes me. It sounds easier than it actually is, but I promise that over time, it will get easier.

]

Good advice. Thank you.

So when you say you go wherever your prayer takes you, you mean when you look up since you know pretty much at what part of the mass the priest is up to, you just follow along, go back to praying etc?

 

[Bigcat71]

Sigh.

Why sigh? My statement is just as valid as your statement about it being for long time Catholics. The fact that I don’t agree with you doesn’t mean I am attacking you or thinking badly of you. Just that I don’t agree with your perspective. As for me, I don’t need to know exactly where the Priest is at every second. I don’t need to be in lock step with him. I am there, and I am praying. What more do you really need?

 

[MarkThompson]

I wouldn’t say that was true. If that was true, what was the point of Altar Boys? If someone else’s presence wasn’t needed at Mass, why did they institute altar boys to represent the People?

Altar boys were not instituted to “represent the people,” like some sort of observing delegates at the UN. Altar boys are a second-best substitute for clerics, originally introduced because there were not enough clergy except at the large cathedrals and monastic houses. We don’t, for example, use straw subdeacons because we want to give some lay schlub “representation,” we do it because there is no actual subdeacon available. The same applies to all the other functions that are conceded to altar boys, which would under ideal circumstances be reserved to the clerical class.