What do all these terms mean?

[RoseLynn]

Hello everyone.

I grew up Catholic but have been away around 40 years. When I was growing up Mass was in Latin then in my teens we started using English. Now reading these boards I keep seeing references to different Masses. Could someone please explain what EF, FSSP, SSPX and ordinary and extrodinary mean? Thanks for your help.

 

[maurin]

Hello everyone.

I grew up Catholic but have been away around 40 years. When I was growing up Mass was in Latin then in my teens we started using English. Now reading these boards I keep seeing references to different Masses. Could someone please explain what EF, FSSP, SSPX and ordinary and extrodinary mean? Thanks for your help.

EF= extraordinary form
FSSP=Fraternal Society of Saint Peter
SSPX=Society of Saint Pius X
ordinary form= the NO Mass (NO=Novus Ordo)
Extraordinary Form=The Holy Mass of the ages.

 

[brotherhrolf]

Rose Lynn - welcome back. Mass was indeed in Latin in my childhood then partially in English in my junior year in high school and then in English in my senior year in high school in 1969.

All these terms mean that there is vigorous discussion today in Holy Mother Church. It is hard for me to put these last 45 years into context. I freely admit that I was perfectly happy with HMC in 1969. I loved Latin - still do. Went through a lot in those years between 1969 and 1983. Broke down in tears attending an Eastern Orthodox Great Vigil on Holy Saturday in 1976 in recognition of what we had lost in just seven years…Attended a packed TLM by a papal legate here in Baton Rouge in 1979 - the last TLM (Traditiional Latin Mass or EF) I have attended.

In the mean time, the SSPX disagreed with the Holy Father and Vatican II. Would not change from the TLM to the NO (the New Mass instituted on the First Sunday of Advent 1969). They eventually ordained new priests and bishops and separated themselves from HMC.

The FSSP is in union with the HF. It is startling to me to see young priests in the vestments of our youth. And then the Holy Father issued the Motu Proprio which basically said if there are enough people who want to go back to the Mass of our childhood (EF), the bishop of a diocese can’t interfere. (Way simplified version so please y’all don’t jump on me).

I’ve seen too much in the last 45 years. I saw my parents reduced to attending the Vigil Mass on Saturday because there was no music. I have driven 25 miles one way since 1983 to attend a reverent NO (OF) cathedral.

Mine is a way simplified version of the dynamics going on in HMC. I have prayed for 45 years that things would change. There are young people here who have discovered the Mass we knew as kids. There are converts who were drawn into HMC and only know the NO (OF). Forty-five years is a long time and there are cradle Catholics who don’t have any idea about the issues that resonate with me.

The Holy Father is trying to address the issues. That’s enough for me.

 

[corsair]

Brotherolf,

I can really appreciate your feelings. I am a convert from back in 1970. What I joined was not what I thought I was joining. So after I was confirmed in 1973, I found a small chapel where a retired priest was saying the old Mass. Over a period of several years the pews filled up and we found ourselves buying an old church and rededicating it. As the old priest drew on in years he became concerned about what we had built (we had NEVER been forbidden by our Bishop) So our group joined with Archbishop Lefebvre, in 1978, mainly to insure a priest would be available in the future.

This venture lasted until 1988 when the “schism” took place. At that time I returned to the NO. I have been in agony until 2007 when B16 righted the cart.

Now its only 119.9 miles to church (each way). But at least its available. Plus we are getting closer to our own TLM every day

 

[LilyM]

EF= extraordinary form
FSSP=Fraternal Society of Saint Peter
SSPX=Society of Saint Pius X
ordinary form= the NO Mass (NO=Novus Ordo)
Extraordinary Form=The Holy Mass of the ages.

To further explain, since ‘NO’ and ‘The Holy Mass of the Ages’ are unlikely to mean any more to this enquirer than Extraordinary and Ordinary Form:

The Ordinary Form is also called the Novus Ordo or NO. This is the Holy Mass that Paul VI introduced in 1969/70 (also called the Pauline Mass for that reason). The Holy Mass used by the huge majority of parishes around the world today.

The Extraordinary Form is the form of the Mass that was commonly used prior to the Second Vatican Council - the Latin Mass you remember from your childhood. Also called the TLM (Tridentine/Traditional Latin Mass).

As you can see, there are two main forms of the Mass (at least in Europe and America), which each go by several different names. The main bone of contention is between those who strongly prefer one form to the other.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Extraordinary Form=The Holy Mass of the ages.

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**ANY rite for the Eucharistic Sacrifice authorized by the Church can be called “The Mass of the Ages.”

Using that term to apply only to the Tridentine Mass is a bit of arrogant triumphalism that not merely says what the user thinks about it, but totally ignores the Eastern Liturgies, which are MUCH older. **

 

[RoseLynn]

Thanks everyone - Between all the different responses I’m beginning to understand. Last Sunday I attended Mass at my local parish and I now know that it was the NO Mass that was celebrated.