What to except when at a Pontifical EF Mass

[MissRose73]

I get the chance in about 3 weeks times to attend a Pontifical Low Mass done in the Extraordinary Form offered by a Bishop in another diocese. What is different about it compared to a regular Low Mass, Solemn High Mass or even a Missa Cantata?

I’ve attended a few Low Masses, a few High Masses and Missa Cantatas and even a Solemn High Mass but this will be my first experience of the Pontifical Low Mass in the Extraordinary Form so looking to know what will happen will be helpful.

 

[Rich_C]

What a blessing! Here’s is video of Pope Piux XII celebrating one: newliturgicalmovement.org/2011/04/papal-low-mass-of-pius-xii.html

Come back and tell us about it after, please!

 

[MissRose73]

What a blessing! Here’s is video of Pope Piux XII celebrating one: newliturgicalmovement.org/2011/04/papal-low-mass-of-pius-xii.html

Come back and tell us about it after, please!

I will have to watch the video later, thank you for the link. I will definitely share what it was like to assist at that Mass as it happens on April 15.

 

[tbtcom1213]

Masses Said by priests
Low Mass

• 2 Acolytes assist the priest (1 is only necessary but two are permitted)
  +2 Candles lit

Sung Mass (Without Deacon and Subdeacon)

• All parts sung by Priest, Choir and/or congregation
• Cantor and/or choir sing Ordinary of Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei)
• A Master of Ceremonies assists the priest as the Deacon at Solemn Mass would
• A Thurifer and two acolytes also assist at the altar
• Up to six torchbearers permitted (only four at Requiem Masses)
• Four or Six Candles lit

Solemn High Mass (with Deacon and Subdeacon)

• Similar to Sung Mass (With music, incense, et cetera)
• Deacon and Subdeacon assist the priest as would the acolytes at Low Mass
• Same function of pertinent servers as at Sung Mass with minor differences
• Sign of Peace exchanged (unless Requiem)
• An Assistant Priest in Cope, Amice and Surplice assists at the First Solemn High Mass of a priest
• Four or Six candles lit

Masses said by Bishops

Pontifical Low Mass

• Two chaplains flank the bishop at all times in addition to the assistance of two acolytes
• Bishop wears vestments of priest as well as pectoral cross, zuchetto, episcopal biretta (or miter)
• Bishop has Bugia (candle) next to Missal
• Two or four candles lit

Pontifical Sung Mass

• Does not exist in rubrics
• It has been done

Pontifical Solemn High Mass at the Faldstool

• Bishop is assisted by Assistant Priest, Deacon and Subdeacon
• Two Masters of Ceremonies and a train/gremial bearer
• Servers the same as at Solemn Mass with the exception of eight torchbearers
• Servers known as Pontifical chamberlains hold the miter, bugia and book(s) at prescribed times; the bishop doesn’t make use of the crosier unless administering the sacrament of Confirmation and/or Holy Orders
• The faldstool is for bishops celebrating a liturgical function outside their diocese as well as for auxiliary titular bishops
• A subdeacon crucifer is also permitted
• Pontifical Canon in front and center of altar
• Six candles lit

Pontifical Solemn Mass at the Throne

• Bishop is assisted by ministers described as above in addition to deacons of honor at the throne in which case the deacon, subdeacon and subdeacon crucifer of the Mass sit on the sedilia on the epistle side
• The throne is for bishops who have received permission from the local Ordinary to pontificate at the throne as well as for Bishops in their own dioceses.
• The bishop carries a crosier
• Six Candles are lit (Seven if the Ordinary (or Pope) celebrates)

Hope this helps!

 

[hudson]

What a blessing! Here’s is video of Pope Piux XII celebrating one: newliturgicalmovement.org/2011/04/papal-low-mass-of-pius-xii.html

Come back and tell us about it after, please!

That is magnificent! Oh how I long to be able to see that happen again.

 

[MissRose73]

The Mass was today. I am so glad I was able to attend it too. We actually had a High Mass with the Bishop in attendance, and the parish priest of the church that hosted the Mass was his main assistant. The congregation was a bit thrown off at the beginning when the Bishop said Peace be with you in Latin, and it took a few seconds for people to respond with “et cum spiritu tuo”. The vesting was a bit different because the bishop was the primary celebrant compared to a priest. The priest and the bishop distributed Holy Communion too. Afterword, the bishop did come to the reception the church has after the monthly EF Masses for a short time along with the parish priest.

 

[YoungTradCath]

The Mass was today. I am so glad I was able to attend it too. We actually had a High Mass with the Bishop in attendance, and the parish priest of the church that hosted the Mass was his main assistant. The congregation was a bit thrown off at the beginning when the Bishop said Peace be with you in Latin, and it took a few seconds for people to respond with “et cum spiritu tuo”. The vesting was a bit different because the bishop was the primary celebrant compared to a priest. The priest and the bishop distributed Holy Communion too. Afterword, the bishop did come to the reception the church has after the monthly EF Masses for a short time along with the parish priest.

I’m sure it was wonderful.

 

[TrueLight]

Hope this helps!

Wow. Awesome! I have to save this in my notes somewhere. Thanks for taking the time to lay it all out!

 

[MissRose73]

I’m sure it was wonderful.

It was. The bishop is a big supporter of the EF Mass in his diocese as there are several parishes in his diocese that offer the EF Mass on Sundays (and some even a few days a week too), or in the case of the parish I went to, 1 Sunday per month, and 1 parish that is exclusively the EF Mass with sacraments according to the EF ways.