What kind of mass is this?

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sdegutis

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The mass in this video is amazing: youtube.com/watch?v=enWiFcsBqIE

In particular, there are no instruments or organs, only beautiful a cappella singing from beginning to end, in Latin, without the aid of any parishioners.

I think there are a few forms of Mass. I live near Chicago (in the Rockford diocese actually) and am looking for a parish which performs this kind of Mass. I found the St. John Cantius parish which offers several different kinds of masses, and I want to see if they offer this kind, and if so, which of their time slots I should attend.

But it seems there are several types of Traditional mass: ordinary, and extraordinary in high or in low. I’m concerned that none of these are the right kind, and that this Mass has something to do with the Gregorian Chant or something completely different.

Can anyone tell me precisely and exactly what kind of mass is in this video so I can find one to attend soon? Thank!
 
sdegutis said:
The mass in this video is amazing: youtube.com/watch?v=enWiFcsBqIE

In particular, there are no instruments or organs, only beautiful a cappella singing from beginning to end, in Latin, without the aid of any parishioners.

I think there are a few forms of Mass. I live near Chicago (in the Rockford diocese actually) and am looking for a parish which performs this kind of Mass. I found the St. John Cantius parish which offers several different kinds of masses, and I want to see if they offer this kind, and if so, which of their time slots I should attend.

But it seems there are several types of Traditional mass: ordinary, and extraordinary in high or in low. I’m concerned that none of these are the right kind, and that this Mass has something to do with the Gregorian Chant or something completely different.

Can anyone tell me precisely and exactly what kind of mass is in this video so I can find one to attend soon? Thank!
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I think there is a bit of confusion in your post. The Latin Rite has two different forms of the Mass, the ordinary form (OF) and the extraordinary form (EF). The EF has two differant kinds of celebrations, the High Mass and the Low Mass. The Mass shown here is a High Mass EF. You seem aware of this, but then you also try to make further distinctions between what a “traditional” Mass is. When people speak of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) they are referring to the EF. There is not some further kind of Mass which is traditional.

I think what you are trying to find is a Mass, whether EF or OF which includes certain externals in its celebration. Such as gregorian chant in Latin, the use of incence, altar rails etc. All of these can be used in either form of the Mass. If I understand correctly you are looking for a term for the kind of Mass that uses these externals, but unfortunately I don’t believe there is a set term. You will probably have to find out which externals you prefer and ask the parish specifically whether or not they use them.

I hope this is helpful. Good luck with your search. 🙂
 
Great, thanks for helping me narrow it down! I think what I’m then looking for is a Latin mass that mostly does a cappella Gregorian chant the whole time (without the aid of parishioners), and uses incense. I think that sums up what I love about this video. Thanks for helping me figure that out, so I know what to ask for when I email certain parishes around here!
 
sdegutis said:
Great, thanks for helping me narrow it down! I think what I’m then looking for is a Latin mass that mostly does a cappella Gregorian chant the whole time (without the aid of parishioners), and uses incense. I think that sums up what I love about this video. Thanks for helping me figure that out, so I know what to ask for when I email certain parishes around here!
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Certainly go to St John Cantius. Actually, give them a call first, describe to them what you’re describing to us…they’ll tell you! I think you’re referring to a simple Sung Mass, though you could also be referring to a sung Low Mass.
 
What the OP is referring to is simply musical preference. Whether a Solemn High Mass or a simple sung Mass (Missa Cantata) in the Extraordinary Form, what you are describing is that you prefer Gregorian chant, rather than the polyphony that is very common in the EF. So, call the St. John Cantius parish, and ask if they have an Extraordinary Form Mass with Gregorian chant rather than polyphony. That’ll get you what you want 🙂

In Christ through Mary,
Frank
 
Cominghome89 said:
What the OP is referring to is simply musical preference. Whether a Solemn High Mass or a simple sung Mass (Missa Cantata) in the Extraordinary Form, what you are describing is that you prefer Gregorian chant, rather than the polyphony that is very common in the EF. So, call the St. John Cantius parish, and ask if they have an Extraordinary Form Mass with Gregorian chant rather than polyphony. That’ll get you what you want 🙂

In Christ through Mary,
Frank
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What would be the difference between the Missa Cantata and the EF, assuming both are done with Gregorian chant rather than polyphony? Does the Missa Cantata have all the same beauty as the one in the video? Or does the parish participate in the Gregorian chant or something? (That would definitely not be as ideal.) Also I love the smell of that holy incense, is that in one of these types but not the other?
 
Apparently at St. John Cantius they use the Gregorian chant at 11:00 a.m. in the Ordinary Form of the Mass (Latin), and at 12:30 p.m. in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (Tridentine High Mass in Latin). So yay! I guess I should just try them both. Thanks everyone! This should be an interesting experience as my first time at a Latin mass. I hope receiving communion at the rail won’t be much different than receiving it in the line we normally do.
 
sdegutis said:
What would be the difference between the Missa Cantata and the EF, assuming both are done with Gregorian chant rather than polyphony? Does the Missa Cantata have all the same beauty as the one in the video? Or does the parish participate in the Gregorian chant or something? (That would definitely not be as ideal.) Also I love the smell of that holy incense, is that in one of these types but not the other?
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Sorry, I know this stuff can be confusing at first. So, within the EF (Extraordinary Form) there is the Low Mass (no music, very quiet and simple), the Missa Cantata (which is sung by a priest, who is accompanied by a couple of servers, and can use incense, etc.) and the Solemn High Mass (which has a Priest, Deacon and Subdeacon, several servers, and all the “smells and bells”, so to speak). So, at either the Solemn High or simpler Missa Cantata, you have an EF Latin Mass with music that is generally not sung by the people in the pews, but only by the scola (choir). The Solemn High with Gregorian chant would probably be the most pleasing, judging by the tastes you’ve expressed.
sdegutis said:
Apparently at St. John Cantius they use the Gregorian chant at 11:00 a.m. in the Ordinary Form of the Mass (Latin), and at 12:30 p.m. in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (Tridentine High Mass in Latin). So yay! I guess I should just try them both. Thanks everyone! This should be an interesting experience as my first time at a Latin mass. I hope receiving communion at the rail won’t be much different than receiving it in the line we normally do.
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So, the Ordinary Form Mass in Latin with Gregorian chant will probably have music you like, but in the OF you are more likely to have people participating in the singing. This may depend on the particular congregation, but I think the 12:30 Tridentine High Mass is what you will want.

And since you’ve never been at the Latin Mass, here’s a quick tip for Holy Communion. If you are used to receiving on the tongue, kneeling at the altar rail will not be much different. The ushers should show you when to go up to the rail, and once you receive, you leave and make room for the next row of people. BUT, here’s the one difference. In the Extraordinary Form, you don’t answer “Amen”. The priest speaks a prayer and you don’t respond, just receive Our Lord in silence 🙂

May God bless you with a prayerful and grace-filled experience of the EF of the Mass!

In Christ through Mary,
Frank
 
sdegutis said:
The mass in this video is amazing: youtube.com/watch?v=enWiFcsBqIE
…
Can anyone tell me precisely and exactly what kind of mass is in this video so I can find one to attend soon? Thank!
Click to expand...
It is a Solemn High Mass in the EF.

Chicago has a number of EF’s; the Solemn High Masses are not that common, however. But there are some Sung Masses. Mine, which is about a 30 minute drive from St. Cantius, has a beautiful choir singing a lot of polyphonic music.

Have you checked out St. Mary’s in Rockford?
 
sdegutis said:
Apparently at St. John Cantius they use the Gregorian chant at 11:00 a.m. in the Ordinary Form of the Mass (Latin), and at 12:30 p.m. in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (Tridentine High Mass in Latin). So yay! I guess I should just try them both. Thanks everyone! This should be an interesting experience as my first time at a Latin mass. I hope receiving communion at the rail won’t be much different than receiving it in the line we normally do.
Click to expand...
👍

You should definately try them both out and see which you prefer! Keep in mind that the EF will probably take a little more getting used to than the OF, but it really is beautiful in its own way and worth making the effort for.

As for receiving communion at a rail, there are two ways this is normally done.
  1. The priest stays in one place and the people line up and come to him, kneel at the rail when they get to the priest and receive communion
  2. The people line up along the rail and the priest moves from one person to the next along the rail.
    Whichever it is, just follow along, it really isn’t that difficult. 🙂
 
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