Things I've seen, things I miss, and things I'd like to experience (in churches and at Mass)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Duane1966
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

Duane1966

Guest
As I have grown in my faith lately, I realized how thankful I was to God to be able to worship inside some beautiful churches. I have also, though it took a long time, seen the beauty in the Mass. I usually attend my parish every two weeks. On the in between weeks I try to visit a different parish in the diocese, to see the insides of a church I have not seen before. I would love to hear other people’s experiences on this topic.

Things I Have Seen

1.) The beauty of a sunrise service, when the windows are dark, but as the sun’s rays hit the stained glass, the colors slowly coming to life. Truly inspiring.

2.) At a TLM on Pentecost where the altar servers had climbed to a place above the congregation, dropping hundreds of rose petals on us. Turning to my elderly mom (she never liked the OF), and seeing tears of joy on her face.

Things I Miss

1.) Altar rails. Standing in line, with the constant moving forward, to me makes the most important part of the Mass feel rushed. There is something about being on my knees, with time to compose myself for receiving our Lord, there is a weight and a timelessness at that moment, that cannot really be put into words.

2.) I don’t know how or why it happened, but I can only remember once in the past year at an OF Mass where bells were rung at the consecration.

3.) Altars used to have candles on them. Not just the two that are on the sides.

4.) Votive candle stands. Love lighting a candle in a drafty church, and the sound it makes as it flickers. Many churches don’t have them, or they are electric.

5.) Poor boxes.

Things I Would Like To Experience (before I die)

1.) I would like to go to a Mass in OF or TLM that is completely sung. It could take all day, I got the time.

2.) A Mass at night in a church with the only light being candles on the altar. Altar servers could hold candles for the readings. I was told this could not happen for insurance purposes, but I can wish.
 
I can imagine if the rose petals had been in the OF, someone would cry “liturgical abuse!”

We have bells at every Mass, real candles, and yes, insurance sometimes thinks every church is waiting to burn down. The Catholic school across the street is forbidden to use candles…even for Advent wreaths. Such a shame. I kneel when I get back to my pew. Do they make you stand after communion?
 
At our abbey the OF Mass is entirely sung. It won’t take all day, I promise, just an hour and fifteen minutes on Sunday…
 
From the EF; I miss:
  1. The Asperges Me being song with the sprinkling of the congregation with Holy Water.
  2. The Communion Rail, although some Churches now have one in place that did not have
    one before.
  3. The Tabernacle placed in the Sanctuary, although some Churches have moved the
    the Tabernacle back into the Sanctuary.
  4. The reading of the Last Gospel (John) at the end of Mass.
In my Parish Church we electric candles (I do miss the aroma of beeswax), we still have the poor boxes & chow buckets and the bells are still rung at the Consecration.
 
tawny said:
From the EF; I miss:
.
  1. The Tabernacle placed in the Sanctuary, although some Churches have moved the
    the Tabernacle back into the Sanctuary.
Click to expand...
And in many churches, the tabernacle never left the sanctuary. I’ve rarely been in a church that did not have the tabernacle in the sanctuary, either directly behind the altar or just to the side, but still in the sanctuary and clearly visible.
 
babochka said:
And in many churches, the tabernacle never left the sanctuary. I’ve rarely been in a church that did not have the tabernacle in the sanctuary, either directly behind the altar or just to the side, but still in the sanctuary and clearly visible.
Click to expand...
Many of the newer Churches built in the 1970’s and after, had the Tabernacle placed outside of the Sanctuary. That is to what I was referring.
 
tawny said:
From the EF; I miss:
  1. The Asperges Me being song with the sprinkling of the congregation with Holy Water.
Click to expand...
This can (and is) done at OF Masses as well. It is done at the local abbey in the OF, in Latin. And the Vidi Aquam (which replaces the Asperges Me in Easter season).
 
My church still has and uses altar rails, votive lights with real candles and bells.
 
Protestants have services. Catholics have Mass. Mass is not a service. Mass is Mass. My parish has 7:00 AM Mass which often features sunrise through stained glass windows

Rose petals are not in the rubrics for either the EF or OF.

I have rarely been to mass without bells and most of the Churches I go to have votive candle stands. My parish has two.

It doesn’t make sense to have one candle at Mass when the priest has to read from the Roman Missal. Are people to receive communion in the dark? That doesn’t make sense.

As OraLabora pointed out, many monasteries have sung Mass. All you have to do is show up. Monks are some of the friendliest people I know.

-Tim-
 
TimothyH said:
Protestants have services. Catholics have Mass. Mass is not a service. Mass is Mass. My parish has 7:00 AM Mass which often features sunrise through stained glass windows

Rose petals are not in the rubrics for either the EF or OF.

I have rarely been to mass without bells and most of the Churches I go to have votive candle stands. My parish has two.

It doesn’t make sense to have one candle at Mass when the priest has to read from the Roman Missal. Are people to receive communion in the dark? That doesn’t make sense.

As OraLabora pointed out, many monasteries have sung Mass. All you have to do is show up. Monks are some of the friendliest people I know.

-Tim-
Click to expand...
I am sorry I used the word service. I never said to only use one candle. I did say to use candles. I believe with candles on the altar, there would be plenty of light for the readings, and for Communion. I believe the rose petals were to signify the descent of the Holy Spirit.
 
Duane1966 said:
I am sorry I used the word service. I never said to only use one candle. I did say to use candles. I believe with candles on the altar, there would be plenty of light for the readings, and for Communion. I believe the rose petals were to signify the descent of the Holy Spirit.
Click to expand...
There are to be two, four, six or seven candles on or near the altar depending on the Mass, who is celebrating and the Church calendar. This is in addition to the torch bearers. These candles have specific theological and symbolic meaning and are called for in the rubrics.

Rose petals as well, may signify something but they are not called for in the rubrics.

Why not add salsa dancing to signify joy? Whey not add black lights for All Souls Day? We can’t just change the Mass.

-Tim-
 
Sunbreak said:
My church still has and uses altar rails, votive lights with real candles and bells.
Click to expand...
Same here but even with altar rails there’s no getting away from the shuffling line waiting for a spot to open up. 🙂

But I think I understand the op’s sense of anticipation while kneeling as opposed to receiving while standing in line.
 
Duane1966 said:
As I have grown in my faith lately, I realized how thankful I was to God to be able to worship inside some beautiful churches. I have also, though it took a long time, seen the beauty in the Mass. I usually attend my parish every two weeks. On the in between weeks I try to visit a different parish in the diocese, to see the insides of a church I have not seen before. I would love to hear other people’s experiences on this topic.

Things I Have Seen

1.) The beauty of a sunrise service, when the windows are dark, but as the sun’s rays hit the stained glass, the colors slowly coming to life. Truly inspiring.

2.) At a TLM on Pentecost where the altar servers had climbed to a place above the congregation, dropping hundreds of rose petals on us. Turning to my elderly mom (she never liked the OF), and seeing tears of joy on her face.

Things I Miss

1.) Altar rails. Standing in line, with the constant moving forward, to me makes the most important part of the Mass feel rushed. There is something about being on my knees, with time to compose myself for receiving our Lord, there is a weight and a timelessness at that moment, that cannot really be put into words.

2.) I don’t know how or why it happened, but I can only remember once in the past year at an OF Mass where bells were rung at the consecration.

3.) Altars used to have candles on them. Not just the two that are on the sides.

4.) Votive candle stands. Love lighting a candle in a drafty church, and the sound it makes as it flickers. Many churches don’t have them, or they are electric.

5.) Poor boxes.

Things I Would Like To Experience (before I die)

1.) I would like to go to a Mass in OF or TLM that is completely sung. It could take all day, I got the time.

2.) A Mass at night in a church with the only light being candles on the altar. Altar servers could hold candles for the readings. I was told this could not happen for insurance purposes, but I can wish.
Click to expand...
You can still find all the things you miss, you just have to find the right parish. From my experience, finding a parish that offers the TLM will find you everything on your “things I miss” list.

If you find a high Latin Mass, you’ll also find one that is “completely sung” (of course some parts were never meant to be sung and are - homily, e.g.). And any parish that offers Tenabrae during Lent will check off your last “thing I’d like to experience.” My old OF parish, hardly with a trad bent, had a beautiful tenabrae each year.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top