Traditional Mass

  • Thread starter Thread starter AnnieKav
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

AnnieKav

Guest
I am a Protestant discerning a call to Catholicism. In the last nine months I have attended Ordinary Masses many times. I would like to attend a Traditional Mass but would like to prepare myself to appreciate it when I do. The parish that offers it in my area has an explanation on the website about how to find the right readings in the 1962 Missal based on day of the year. I don’t really follow the explanation nor do I have a 1962 Missal. I understand some churches will have a missalettte with the Latin and English but I am wondering if I could find that online and print it out and take with me in case they don’t have it at the church or I can’t find it.

Is it also correct that I need to wear a veil or hat?

Anything else I should know beforehand?

Annie
 
AnnieKav said:
I am a Protestant discerning a call to Catholicism. In the last nine months I have attended Ordinary Masses many times. I would like to attend a Traditional Mass but would like to prepare myself to appreciate it when I do. The parish that offers it in my area has an explanation on the website about how to find the right readings in the 1962 Missal based on day of the year. I don’t really follow the explanation nor do I have a 1962 Missal. I understand some churches will have a missalettte with the Latin and English but I am wondering if I could find that online and print it out and take with me in case they don’t have it at the church or I can’t find it.

Is it also correct that I need to wear a veil or hat?

Anything else I should know beforehand?

Annie
Click to expand...
This site has a missal you can print: latinliturgy.com/id18.htm and this one has a FAQ section : sanctamissa.org/en/resources/books-1962/missale-romanum-1962-pdf.html

I would suggest you take a head covering. I have been to TLM’s where every lady had a head covering, and others where some did, and others didn’t.

My first few TLM’s I was lost. Now it is easy to follow. God bless on your journey.
 
The first time I went to the EF Mass, I thought I was going to love it. I did like it, but I admit to being quite lost. What I didn’t realize before that first time, was that a lot of the Mass is spoken inaudibly, and things may be going on at the same time (between the priest and the choir).
When I have the chance to go, I don’t even try to follow along, and I just enjoy the beauty of it.
 
Hi AnnieKav,

The others have given excellent advice. I’ll just add a few points.

– The old liturgy emphasizes the sacrifice more, and the role of the faithful less, so don’t feel left out; it’s not about us anyway. We join our prayers to those of the priest, but quietly and in our hearts.

– The old liturgy takes two main forms: Low Mass and High Mass. High Mass, which uses incense, is easier to follow because much of it is chanted aloud. If you attend a Low Mass, don’t feel bad if you have difficulty following along the first time. Over time you get used to the gestures and other cues that tell you where you are.

– You probably know this already, but the reception of Holy Communion is reserved to Catholics in a state of grace.

God be with you in your discernment.
AO
 
AnnieKav said:
I am a Protestant discerning a call to Catholicism. In the last nine months I have attended Ordinary Masses many times. I would like to attend a Traditional Mass but would like to prepare myself to appreciate it when I do. The parish that offers it in my area has an explanation on the website about how to find the right readings in the 1962 Missal based on day of the year. I don’t really follow the explanation nor do I have a 1962 Missal. I understand some churches will have a missalettte with the Latin and English but I am wondering if I could find that online and print it out and take with me in case they don’t have it at the church or I can’t find it.

Is it also correct that I need to wear a veil or hat?

Anything else I should know beforehand?

Annie
Click to expand...
As a priest who celebrated Mass in the vetus ordo after the indult was granted in the 1980s, I reminded those who chose to attend it that no woman had any requirement whatsoever to wear any head-covering nor were any of them obliged to the former disciplines of the Communion fast as it was antecedent to the Blessed Paul VI.

I encourage you to use a hand missal so that you may have, to the fullest extent achievable, that full, conscious, and active participation in the sacred liturgy that the council fathers wrote of in Sacrosanctum Concilium.
 
27lw said:
What I didn’t realize before that first time, was that a lot of the Mass is spoken inaudibly, and things may be going on at the same time (between the priest and the choir).
Click to expand...
I’m not an expert by any means, having been to a grand total of one Extraordinary Form Mass.

But I think it’s very true that the EF has a spirituality rooted more in mental prayer, while the OF is more based on communal vocal prayer. A layperson simply prays differently based on which of the two forms of the Latin Rite one is attending.

This is why, once upon a time, a person could attend Mass while praying the Holy Rosary. Or why an old prayerbook like this one could assign particular devotions to be prayed based on which part of the Mass one happened to find themselves in. Today, it would be extremely difficult to do so, since how one participates in the Mass is quite different. Active participation involves following what the priest is saying quite closely, rather than practicing a devotion which theologically reflects what his prayers happen to be at a given time.

So yes, it can be odd to attend an EF Mass without understanding that its basic spirituality is different — and that its accidentals, such as whether or not one can hear the priest, therefore are a bit removed from what one is used to.
 
Eichelbaum said:
I’m not an expert by any means, having been to a grand total of one Extraordinary Form Mass.

But I think it’s very true that the EF has a spirituality rooted more in mental prayer, while the OF is more based on communal vocal prayer. A layperson simply prays differently based on which of the two forms of the Latin Rite one is attending.

This is why, once upon a time, a person could attend Mass while praying the Holy Rosary. Or why an old prayerbook like this one could assign particular devotions to be prayed based on which part of the Mass one happened to find themselves in. Today, it would be extremely difficult to do so, since how one participates in the Mass is quite different. Active participation involves following what the priest is saying quite closely, rather than practicing a devotion which theologically reflects what his prayers happen to be at a given time.

So yes, it can be odd to attend an EF Mass without understanding that its basic spirituality is different — and that its accidentals, such as whether or not one can hear the priest, therefore are a bit removed from what one is used to.
Click to expand...
Good post. There is much to be learned from the EF, especially with respect to contemplative prayer.

There was a recent 5-part article put out by the Latin Mass Society (“Death of the Reform of the Reform”) that puts a lot of these sociological issues in perspective.
 
Eichelbaum said:
… Active participation involves following what the priest is saying quite closely, rather than practicing a devotion which theologically reflects what his prayers happen to be at a given time. …
Click to expand...
I disagree with this definition. One can actively participate in the sacrifice without scrupulously following all the prayers.
 
Ad_Orientem said:
I disagree with this definition. One can actively participate in the sacrifice without scrupulously following all the prayers.
Click to expand...
I second this.

The priest is addressing God during the Canon of the Mass. We don’t need to follow every single word to “actively participate” in the Sacrifice. I usually (silently) recite a few things, like the Sanctus, Consecration, Confiteor, Angus Dei, etc. but pray for my private intentions and adore Christ the rest of the time. One might argue that such a practice is more “involving” than following along on paper or in the native tongue. Just my $0.02
 
It may be that there is no requirement for women to wear a head covering but the FSSP Chaplaincy I occasionally attend requests they be worn and the majority of the women do. I’d carry a small veil rather than not and wear it if it seems appropriate, if you feel out of place it will detract from your participation.

Most churches that regularly celebrate the Tridentine Mass, especially the FSSP Chaplaincies, will provide a “Red Book” Missal for use, these are returned to the rack or table after mass.
 
Anything else I should know beforehand?
Click to expand...
My only advice is to take it slow. It takes a few months just to get the pace and format of the Latin Mass down pat. Be patient and take your time. I generally recommend sitting towards the middle to the back of the church in the beginning so you can take cues as to when to sit and when to kneel. Follow along with the Red Missal provided at the entrance to the church, if needed.

The Latin Mass is very beautiful when done properly, especially if held in an older cathedral with the right acoustics. It is a very meditative Mass, so it can take some time to get accustomed to the format. Enjoy.
 
Don_Ruggero said:
As a priest who celebrated Mass in the vetus ordo after the indult was granted in the 1980s, I reminded those who chose to attend it that no woman had any requirement whatsoever to wear any head-covering nor were any of them obliged to the former disciplines of the Communion fast as it was antecedent to the Blessed Paul VI.

I encourage you to use a hand missal so that you may have, to the fullest extent achievable, that full, conscious, and active participation in the sacred liturgy that the council fathers wrote of in Sacrosanctum Concilium.
Click to expand...
Full, conscious, and active participation. I always smile a little inwardly - - I suppose it’s because in contrast I can’t help imagining someone participating in a partial, unconscious way…
 
27lw said:
Full, conscious, and active participation. I always smile a little inwardly - - I suppose it’s because in contrast I can’t help imagining someone participating in a partial, unconscious way…
Click to expand...
Well, it is the term in English for what the Council Fathers found the need to address…namely, an urgent and expansive reformation and restoration of the liturgy, oriented towards making the liturgy more accessible to the laity.

Having participated in the vetus ordo Mass and sacraments and having myself, as a priest, offered that Mass and used the old rites for the sacraments, I agree with the judgement of the world’s bishops absolutely.
 
If it’s possible find someone who has a missal and knows how to use it. They will be able to show you how the Mass flows from the common to proper prayers. As mentioned before at a High Mass The cantor will be chanting from the propers and the priest and severs will be praying the common prayers at the same time so it is easy to get lost right from the beginning. You might ask the Preist if he can introduce you to someone if you don’t kow anyone to ask.

Amazon sells Missals if your interested.

amazon.com/Roman-Catholic-Daily-Missal-Angelus/dp/1892331292?ie=UTF8&me=&redirect=true&ref_=olp_product_details
 
AnnieKav said:
I am a Protestant discerning a call to Catholicism. In the last nine months I have attended Ordinary Masses many times. I would like to attend a Traditional Mass but would like to prepare myself to appreciate it when I do. The parish that offers it in my area has an explanation on the website about how to find the right readings in the 1962 Missal based on day of the year. I don’t really follow the explanation nor do I have a 1962 Missal. I understand some churches will have a missalettte with the Latin and English but I am wondering if I could find that online and print it out and take with me in case they don’t have it at the church or I can’t find it.

Is it also correct that I need to wear a veil or hat?

Anything else I should know beforehand?

Annie
Click to expand...
That’s wonderful that you’re thinking of becoming a Catholic. There’s a Latin Mass in my area, and I go with my family quite often. You can and are encouraged to wear a hat or a veil, but i don’t think it’s a absolute necessity. You should also dress nicely and modestly, maybe a skirt or dress. I’ll be praying for you!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top