Sometimes at the Missionary of Charity little convent in our hometown, a FSSP priest offers Mass. There are 4 Sisters and a few lay people at Mass. Normally, there are no altar servers.Does a Tridentine Mass require altar servers to be present at Mass? Would it be possible to say the Tridentine Mass without altar servers?
What kind? A Low Mass would be essentially the same, but the priest himself does everything. I don’t think it’s even possible to have anything besides that without servers.How would the Tridentine Mass differ without altar servers?
Uh, yes. Any “level” of Mass can be celebrated on any day.So would it be possible to celebrate Low Masses on days where High Masses are usually celebrated e.g. Sundays, Solemnities etc.?
Yes, though it is not often done so.Oh really? I didn’t know that. So a High Mass can be celebrated on a ferial weekday?
Is a choir needed in order to celebrate a High Mass.Uh, yes. Any “level” of Mass can be celebrated on any day.
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Normally, the servers make the responses.How would the Tridentine Mass differ without altar servers?
You could not effectively do it without servers. At least not a traditional high mass. Unlike the NO, altar servers play an integral part in the mass. They have certain prayers and words that they say, almost like a dialogue with the priest.How would the Tridentine Mass differ without altar servers?
In short yes they can be and in certain circumstances usually are or were. An example would be in a strictly cloistered convent. Masses there at least in the old days were often said without servers and designated Nuns would make the responses. It is also proper and permissable not to have servers at Low Masses in general. In those cases usually someone from the congregation or maybe the whole congregation would make the responses.Does a Tridentine Mass require altar servers to be present at Mass? Would it be possible to say the Tridentine Mass without altar servers? I heard from a certain priest that after World War II, altar servers were no longer required for the celebration of a Mass, but I could not find any citation concerning this statement. Could someone please clarify me on this issue?
Thank you,
Facite
Yes. It is quite nice to experience one at, say, a monastery.Oh really? I didn’t know that. So a High Mass can be celebrated on a ferial weekday?
Pretty much, unless you can count on only one person (I guess that would be a cantor therefore) to sing the whole Mass.Is a choir needed in order to celebrate a High Mass.
I’m know those Solemn High Masses shown on ewtn were on weekdays. Can’t remember whether they were ferial or not.Oh really? I didn’t know that. So a High Mass can be celebrated on a ferial weekday?
As others have said, yes, a Tridentine Mass can be said without altar servers. When a priest says a private Tridentine Mass, for example, it is almost always done without an altar server. Public Masses usually have altar servers, but there is no requirement to do so.Does a Tridentine Mass require altar servers to be present at Mass? Would it be possible to say the Tridentine Mass without altar servers? I heard from a certain priest that after World War II, altar servers were no longer required for the celebration of a Mass, but I could not find any citation concerning this statement. Could someone please clarify me on this issue?
Thank you,
Facite
Actually, there is. A priest may only say a solitary Mass alone when there is a just cause.As others have said, yes, a Tridentine Mass can be said without altar servers. When a priest says a private Tridentine Mass, for example, it is almost always done without an altar server. Public Masses usually have altar servers, but there is no requirement to do so.
Low Masses are a compromise due to lack of clerics. Solemn High Masses are SUPPOSED to be the norm for the EF. What people know today as a “High Mass” was a compromise due to a lack of Deacons and Subdeacons. Low Masses were a further compromise due to the lack of Acolytes and the need for a Priest to say Mass every day. Hence the term “Private Mass” came about for Low Masses.Oh really? I didn’t know that. So a High Mass can be celebrated on a ferial weekday?