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I was baptized as a Maronite, but have always gone to Latin Mass. How do I properly worship/what should I expect when I go to Maronite Mass?
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Apologies for anyone who was misled for my lack of proper punctuation on the title.
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malphono
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Gee, I didn’t even notice that the question mark was absent. 
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HCTC
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This question intrigued me because I know nothing about it. I found some really interesting information, in my humble opinion, at this site:
ourladysmaronite.org/about-maronite-rite
ourladysmaronite.org/about-maronite-rite
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Thank you for posting this article! I hadn’t done much research into the Mass itself, but now I feel confident that I can attend Mass at the local Maronite Parish with knowledge of what to expect. God bless!
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friardchips
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Ditto.Gee, I didn’t even notice that the question mark was absent.
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Upgrade25
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Shows how much I’ve learned on CAF, it’s Ordinary Roman Mass, not Latin Mass.
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adamhovey1988
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When I went it was a lot of Arabic and a lot of Syriac but it was a beautiful liturgy
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Thank you! I hope to go sometime before Lent.
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Casilda
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It’s not called Mass, but Divine Liturgy. Our service book is in English and Syriac/Arabic so you can follow along. I would attend for a year and read the hymns that are sung, much to learn there and the bonus of discovering the ancient liturgical seasons. No ordinary time here. It’s all extraordinary 
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Does that go for all Maronite churches, the service book?It’s not called Mass, but Divine Liturgy. Our service book is in English and Syriac/Arabic so you can follow along. I would attend for a year and read the hymns that are sung, much to learn there and the bonus of discovering the ancient liturgical seasons. No ordinary time here. It’s all extraordinary
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Phillip_Rolfes
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The Maronite “Mass” is usually referred to as the “Qurbono” or the Divine Liturgy. The service book is called either the “Qurbono” or “The Book of Offering.”
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Phillip_Rolfes
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To answer the question, from a birds-eye view the liturgy is much the same as all other liturgies, divided basically between the “liturgy of the Word” and the “liturgy of the Eucharist.”
The readings are preceded by a series of prayers and hymns, the central of which is the “Hoosoyo” or “Prayer of Forgiveness.” Incense is offered at the “Access to the Altar” and during the Sedro of the Hoosoyo. Currently there is one reading typically taken from the Epistles, and one reading from the Gospel. The Gospel reading is followed by the homily.
After the homily comes the Creed, followed by the transferring of the gifts to the altar which includes another prayer of “Access to the Altar,” and the offering of more incense.
The Anaphorae (or Eucharistic Prayers) are chosen from a selection of potential Anaphorae - usually indicated one a “hymn board” at the front of the church. As I’m sure others have noted, the Prayers of Consecration are offered in Syriac.
The language of the Liturgy can vary from parish to parish. There are parishes out there where the Liturgy will be almost entirely in Arabic with a smattering of Syriac. Other parishes my have the Liturgy primarily in English with a smattering of Arabic and Syriac. My own parish seems to do a fair distributions of Arabic and English, with the requisite parts in Syriac.
The best thing to do is simply go and enjoy! Don’t form a judgment on the Liturgy until you have attended for at least four consecutive Sundays. One thing that I really enjoy about the Maronites is that we follow a pattern or story-line throughout the liturgical seasons. If you only go for one Sunday, then miss a number of Sundays, then go again, it’s like reading a few chapters of a book, skipping the middle half, reading towards the end, and then quitting. You might get a slight idea of what the book’s about, but you won’t get a coherent picture of the overarching story.
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malphono
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The term “Divine Liturgy” is a byzantinization, made popular some 40 years ago by Maronite revisionists in the diaspora.
In all my years, I’ve yet to meet a cradle Maronite, whether from the diaspora or the Patriarchal terriroties, who uses the Syriac word “qourbono” unless the person is versed in the Syriac language, and even then, only in particular circumstances. In general conversation, most will use the generic term “Mass” when speaking in English.
That’s all a very recent innovation. The Syriac term “ktobo d-qourbono” (“Book of Offering”) is traditionally reserved for the altar missal, not for a pew book.
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Louie1983
Guest
Kinda in the same boat as you.
I’m Maronite but predominantly go to Latin mass, even got married in a Latin rite church.
What to expect?
It’s a beautiful mass that will really tug at your ancestral heart strings (it did for me), I felt a deeper connection with my Lebanese heritage.
A good portion of the mass is chanted and the consecration is actually done in Aramaic (Language of Christ) which for me is a huge wow factor.
Read up on it as much as you like, but you’ll also find regular attendance is quite helpful and you’ll start to get the hang of it. The Church I go to usually has a big projector screen on the side of the church up the front that usually has the responses and translations so you can follow easily enough.
My wife, Children and I make the effort to attend a Maronite mass at least once a month.
Like all devoutly celebrated Masses, it is a beautiful.
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I didn’t know much about the Church when I got on CAF… I thought Latin and Roman Ordinary Masses were different. I go to an Ordinary Mass. Thanks for the tips
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Louie1983
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Just to clarify, so do I.I didn’t know much about the Church when I got on CAF… I thought Latin and Roman Ordinary Masses were different. I go to an Ordinary Mass. Thanks for the tips
While sometimes attending the Tridentine rite.
You’re welcome for the tips.
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Do you genuflect? Is there Holy Water located just inside the church? What does the incense smell like?
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malphono
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Although one does see it, it’s not really proper. Genuflextion was one of the latinizations of long standing that was supplanted in the past 45 or so years. A reverent bow (metany) is the more traditional posture.
Most churches will have a font by the door.
Depends on what blend is used.
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Thank you. Isn’t the sign of peace different than in Roman Mass?
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