What to expect at Latin Mass?

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My son practices soccer near a Catholic church which has the Latin Mass. Fortunately for me, the time of this practice coincides with Adoration at this church, so while my son practices, I go there for my weekly Holy Hour. After doing this for many months, I am becoming curious about someday going to the Latin mass. I am wondering what I can expect. I would like to be prepared in advance, if possible, for the differences between this mass and the one I usually attend, so that I can be reverent and non-disruptive to the other worshippers.

Thank you for any information you can provide. 🙂
 
As a newcomer to the “extraordinary rite”,…I would like to make one suggestion;
Don’t take a seat in the front, sit towards the back of the church, (so you can follow along with the rest of the parishoners with regard to when to sit kneel or bless yourself), and use the missal booklet that should be on the back of the pew in front of you.
Oh! And don’t do as I did and show up in jeans.

I think you’re gonna love it! 🙂
 
Thanks, Tommy. I think I will love it too.

It’s funny, I now know how non-Catholics feel attending mass - it’s a bit intimidating, not wanting to call attention to oneself by not knowing when to sit, stand, kneel, etc. Good for my humility! 😉
 
Sandra,

My advice is different from Tommy Joe’s. In my humble opinion you should sit in the front - to sit near the middle or back basically means that you won’t hear (or at least that was my experience). The first TLM I attended I used one of their little red missalettes and simply COULD NOT FOLLOW along. The second one I sat in the front row w/ my Baronius Press Missal and got along fine - with the exception of expecting the wrong readings (which no one could see) and not kneeling before the priest & altar boys ascended to the altar (this unfortunately was noticed :o, but corrected as soon as I noticed.)

So I’d suggest if not sitting in the front row (like I did @ my second TLM) you should sit in the second or third so you have a few examples in front of you, but can still listen.

Catholig
 
👍 You will love it! My sister isn’t Catholic and she likes it so much more than the Novus Ordo. First, you’ll see reverent adults with well behaved children. You should show up in a dress/skirt and wear a veil, but it’s not mandatory. Definitely bring a missal and follow along if you can. The first few times I went I pretty much observed; it’s easier to follow along if you can at least hear the priest and altar server alternating-that’s pretty much how I keep from getting ahead or behind. The readings are different, and the priest might not read it in the venacular-it isn’t mandatory that he does it, so after the Gospel (in Latin) he may just go straight to the homily (which, technically, isn’t mandatory either:o) Communion is received kneeling at the altar rail on the tongue, the priest reads the final Gospel, and the Ave, Salve, and St. Michael prayer, followed by the Sacred Heart of Jesus ejaculation.
Oh, some parts of the Mass the priest will be saying the prayers quiety-this in normal, and was actually supposed to carry on to the Novus Ordo, but anyway…if you can’t hear him during some parts, it’s okay, we’re not supposed to.

Enjoy!
 
The format of the Tridentine Latin Mass is different from the Novus Ordo. These websites might help.

sanctamissa.org/EN/index.html
theholymass.com/

Don’t worry about not learning all of this at once. It takes time! Sometimes, like for me, it can take a year of studying. So, don’t worry. I strongly suggest buying a 1962 Missal. There is a great one - that is also very cheap for a 1962 Missal - available here:

olrl.org/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=O&Product_Code=bBM-bDM&Category_Code=bBM

If you ever have questions on the Tridentine Latin Mass, please do not hesitate to ask. There are some videos of Masses listed near the bottom of this page:

freewebs.com/acatholiclife/theholymass.htm
 
Catholig said:
Sandra,

My advice is different from Tommy Joe’s. In my humble opinion you should sit in the front - to sit near the middle or back basically means that you won’t hear (or at least that was my experience). The first TLM I attended I used one of their little red missalettes and simply COULD NOT FOLLOW along. The second one I sat in the front row w/ my Baronius Press Missal and got along fine - with the exception of expecting the wrong readings (which no one could see) and not kneeling before the priest & altar boys ascended to the altar (this unfortunately was noticed :o, but corrected as soon as I noticed.)

So I’d suggest if not sitting in the front row (like I did @ my second TLM) you should sit in the second or third so you have a few examples in front of you, but can still listen.

I fully agree. Don’t sit right up the back, but near the front - so some people say a couple of rows are in front of you. This way you will be able to not only hear more, but also to see much more clearly and directly experience the overwhelming mystical beauty solemnity of the traditional mass.
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