What if "Your" mass time was switched from OF to EF. What would you do?

[Eilish_Maura]

As I stated earlier, I figure that fits nicely under the heading of attending a different mass.
I did not want to clutter up the selections with too many Choices.

Not quite so nicely as this does no reflect same time same form - attending a different mass also means giving up preferred time.

Leaving one’s parish should be up there with stop going altogether shouldn’t it?

 

[JRKH]

Not quite so nicely as this does no reflect same time same form - attending a different mass also means giving up preferred time.

Leaving one’s parish should be up there with stop going altogether shouldn’t it?

Perhaps, but I don’t think really can or should change the selections.

Of course if one changes parishes, that is an action of - how shall I say - Actively avoiding the EF. It would also likely require some adjustments in schedule, plus I believe, you’d have to explain why you wished to change parishes. Not sure about that though.

The intent of this thread is to simply get an idea of what people would choose to do in such a case.

What really surprised me was that 2 votes came in quickly saying they would stop attending mass all together. Certainly doesn’t reflect well on their level of faith.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

I voted #3, but it isn’t that I don’t care. I love to attend Mass, but do prefer the NO.

I really don’t think this will ever be the issue for me because I doubt my Pastor will ever have a TLM in our parish, but even if he did, he would not replace the choir Mass.

This is more about theology than Latin. I love the participation, and would love to see more latin & chant in the NO, but not wish to go back to being a spectator.

Lux

 

[the_phoenix]

Remember, the EF can experience abuses as well as the OF, one of them being priests who think the EF is a chance to see who can get through the EF the quickest …

This definitely does not happen where I attend the EF, in any case. We always have a sung High Mass at Noon, and the pace is unhurried and deliberate so as to demonstrate proper reverence for worship.

Before 9/11, the priests would alternate between a Low Mass one Sunday and a High Mass the next for the Noon Mass. Back when there were Low Masses at Noon (Please note that the 8:00 a.m. Mass remains a Low Mass every Sunday), I always found them reverent. However, after 9/11, even more emphasis is placed on solemnity than it was previously.

~~ the phoenix

 

[JRKH]

I voted #3, but it isn’t that I don’t care. I love to attend Mass, but do prefer the NO.

I really don’t think this will ever be the issue for me because I doubt my Pastor will ever have a TLM in our parish, but even if he did, he would not replace the choir Mass.

This is more about theology than Latin. I love the participation, and would love to see more latin & chant in the NO, but not wish to go back to being a spectator.

Lux

I agree with your sentiments re the OF.

For myself I have not ever been a “spectator” at an EF. I participate quite actively, praying along with the celebrant, responding appropriately, recieving Our Lord. Even at their first EF, no one needs to be simply a spectator, for the watching, listening, and learning are still a form of devout and acceptable worship.

Peace
James

 

[EasterJoy]

The most important thing is to go, and sometimes that only allows for one time. You deal with it. If the schedule allows, you might choose any of the open possibilities for any number of reason, including that it is the liturgy that suits you best. One would hope the spiritual reasons would get priority.

 

[Melissa]

I rather unexpectedly found myself at the EF Mass at my parish on Ascension Thursday. The fact that it was a holy day had completely slipped my mind until I got a phone call from someone saying that the event for the evening was canceled due to the holy day. At that point in the day, there were still 2 Masses that I had a shot of making: 4pm and 7pm. And one of my sons was supposed to be playing baseball from 6-8pm. I had been planning to go to the 12:10, but didn’t remember until the 2:30pm phone call.:doh2:

So, I gathered the kids up (they had been playing in the neighborhood) and said, “We have to go to church … now.” Explained on the way that I’d just been reminded about the holy day, and so we arrived. Well, oldest son always serves. And he went back and got ready, and apparently was told ahead of time, but there was another server who was more experienced w/ EF, who said, “just follow me, I’ll let you know what you need to do differently”. So, yeah–without specific training for the EF (and no Latin–I’m starting him on that this up-coming school year), oldest son served the Mass. They had little paper pamphlet for everyone, so we just did our best at following along. It’s been a loooong time since I studied Latin myself, though (I took it back when I was in high school), but I was picking it up.

My parish is older (150+ years), though the sanctuary itself is a lot newer (some changes are only 30ish years old). Still, the old high altar was never removed (and is the current location of the Tabernacle), and the communion rail was never removed and is used for all Masses (it’s marble, like the altars, and really quite a work of art w/ the symbols in there). So there’s a little bit of ‘re-arranging’ that needs to be done, but it’s relatively minor and doesn’t seem to be much different in terms of activity level than the normal “prep work” for the OF Mass.

So–long winded explanation–I ordinarily have my preferred time of day for Mass on Sundays (9am), and I would continue to go to that time even if it became the EF time. It isn’t, though–the EF in my parish is always at 4pm, which I find a rather awkward time for Mass in the ordinary course of things (it’s just too easy to get caught up in stuff going on, I find).

 

[LilyM]

I don’t understand why some would choose not to go to anyMass at all instead of just going to a different time that the OF was held. Afterall, “way back in the late '60s” those who truly loved the TLM (EF) were simply expected to go to the NO (OF) instead. There was nothing to choose from and not even a half-hearted attempt to understand our wishes. We were simply “bulldozed”. Yet forty years later, here we are. Why should it be any different for lovers of the NO especially when it would be available at other times?

Because hopefully all of us have learned, from the experience of instituting the NO, how horrible such sudden change can be and, being Christian, have absolutely no wish to similarly ‘bulldoze’ others and inflict the same on them.

 

[kage_ar]

We don’t have a carved in stone “mass time”. Our schedules vary from week to week, so, we attend mass at different times. The form of the mass would have no bearing on which we attend.

 

[JRKH]

I rather unexpectedly found myself at the EF Mass at my parish on Ascension Thursday. The fact that it was a holy day had completely slipped my mind until I got a phone call from someone saying that the event for the evening was canceled due to the holy day. At that point in the day, there were still 2 Masses that I had a shot of making: 4pm and 7pm. And one of my sons was supposed to be playing baseball from 6-8pm. I had been planning to go to the 12:10, but didn’t remember until the 2:30pm phone call.:doh2:

So, I gathered the kids up (they had been playing in the neighborhood) and said, “We have to go to church … now.” Explained on the way that I’d just been reminded about the holy day, and so we arrived. Well, oldest son always serves. And he went back and got ready, and apparently was told ahead of time, but there was another server who was more experienced w/ EF, who said, “just follow me, I’ll let you know what you need to do differently”. So, yeah–without specific training for the EF (and no Latin–I’m starting him on that this up-coming school year), oldest son served the Mass. They had little paper pamphlet for everyone, so we just did our best at following along. It’s been a loooong time since I studied Latin myself, though (I took it back when I was in high school), but I was picking it up.

My parish is older (150+ years), though the sanctuary itself is a lot newer (some changes are only 30ish years old). Still, the old high altar was never removed (and is the current location of the Tabernacle), and the communion rail was never removed and is used for all Masses (it’s marble, like the altars, and really quite a work of art w/ the symbols in there). So there’s a little bit of ‘re-arranging’ that needs to be done, but it’s relatively minor and doesn’t seem to be much different in terms of activity level than the normal “prep work” for the OF Mass.

So–long winded explanation–I ordinarily have my preferred time of day for Mass on Sundays (9am), and I would continue to go to that time even if it became the EF time. It isn’t, though–the EF in my parish is always at 4pm, which I find a rather awkward time for Mass in the ordinary course of things (it’s just too easy to get caught up in stuff going on, I find).

I love your story -
First of all because you didn’t throw in the towel when you got off schedule.
Secondly because it demonstrates what I always figured, that parishes will take appropriate measures to get folks up to speed and even your son, not knowing Latin, was able to “tough it out” so to speak.
I realize that it was still a bit rough around the edges for you but sounds like everyone weathered it well.

Peace
James

 

[thistle]

We have 10 Masses on Sundays so switching times for anyone would not be problematic. However, I wouldn’t mind at least 1 of the 10 being in Latin.

 

[SMHW]

I sing with the adult choir. I’ll attend whatever Mass at which the adult choir is assigned to sing. If new choirs are formed for the then I’d have to re-evaluate based on the opportunities.

 

[JRKH]

I sing with the adult choir. I’ll attend whatever Mass at which the adult choir is assigned to sing. If new choirs are formed for the then I’d have to re-evaluate based on the opportunities.

I hope you will have that opportunity.
The Choir Music in Latin is Out of this World.

Peace
James

 

[Joannm]

I very much doubt they would change the 9 AM Family Mass that I attend into an EF…it just wouldn’t fit.

 

[brotherhrolf]

I very much doubt they would change the 9 AM Family Mass that I attend into an EF…it just wouldn’t fit.

The 9AM Family Mass that I attended in Latin in 1960 was the TLM. When I wasn’t serving I was perfectly capable of following along in my missal. (Ethelzguy to the contrary )

 

[JRKH]

I very much doubt they would change the 9 AM Family Mass that I attend into an EF…it just wouldn’t fit.

I appreciate that.
The point of the question is what would people, in general, do if the mass time they normally attend were changed from an OF to an EF mass. I decided to poll folks because there were questions/concerns posted in other threads that people would refuse to attend the EF, or even stop ettending mass altogether. Given the very small sample thus far (about 50 votes) that fear seems unfounded.

My guess is that, in your case, you would look for a different time because the “Family mass”, in the OF, would be at a different time. Aperfectly acceptable solution.

Peace
James

 

[VociMike]

I would desire more than “is valid”. I would desire every Mass I attend to be not only valid but also beautiful and reverent, a hint of those glorious things to come. And I know from experience that both forms can be so.

 

[Brendan]

This is more about theology than Latin. I love the participation, and would love to see more latin & chant in the NO, but not wish to go back to being a spectator.

Lux

A Catholic at a Mass is never a ‘spectator’. You just pariticapte in the way Vatican II invisioned participation, as an interior offering of oneself.

Here is Pope John Paul II on the Subject

Yet active participation does not preclude the active passivity of silence, stillness and listening: indeed, it demands it. Worshippers are not passive, for instance, when listening to the readings or the homily, or following the prayers of the celebrant, and the chants and music of the liturgy. These are experiences of silence and stillness, but they are in their own way profoundly active. In a culture which neither favors nor fosters meditative quiet, the art of interior listening is learned only with difficulty. Here we see how the liturgy, though it must always be properly inculturated, must also be counter-cultural.

I would also recommend Pope Benedict’s Book “The Spirit of the Liturgy” he wrote an entire chapter on what is meant by “active participation”. He specifically counter your argument about being simply a spectator when one is silent.

I think you might benefit from further study on what these Popes have to say about the subject.

 

[E.E.N.S]

I voted #3, but it isn’t that I don’t care. I love to attend Mass, but do prefer the NO.
…]

This is more about theology than Latin. I love the participation, and would love to see more latin & chant in the NO, but not wish to go back to being a spectator.

Lux

I voted #1 for the same reason you voted for #3, excepted switch the OF with the EF.

Personally I feel like I participate far more deeply at the EF than I do at the NO, but that is mainly do to the fact that it is hard to focus properly on the Mass when you have many abuses and an overwhelming lack of reverence.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

I would also recommend Pope Benedict’s Book “The Spirit of the Liturgy” he wrote an entire chapter on what is meant by “active participation”. He specifically counter your argument about being simply a spectator when one is silent.

I think you might benefit from further study on what these Popes have to say about the subject.

You seem to think that I do not know too much, just because I do not think the way you do. You might benefit from the book “How to win friends and Influence People” People might actually listen to you, if you learn how to present your thoughts.

Lux