The_Reginator
Active member
I like long Masses with lots of chant and silences.
But hearing someone talk on a Sunday morning makes me, umm, shall we say, very relaxed.
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I like long Masses with lots of chant and silences.
But hearing someone talk on a Sunday morning makes me, umm, shall we say, very relaxed.
W
WetCatechumen
Guest
My parish celebrates the OF Mass, and I go to what is commonly called the “High Mass”, even though it technically isn’t one.
The priest celebrates with two deacons (distinction between subdeacon and deacon being lost these days), sometimes ad orientem (Solemnities), always incense, always chant. He also uses the Roman Canon.
Anyways, the church building holds 1,400 and it’s usually full. The priest, the deacons, and three EMHC’s distribute. The cantor chants the psalm, and we chant it back to him. We chant all the responses (some even in Latin). The full text of all the readings is always used, and the lectors enter the sanctuary to read from the nave. We have two hymns; processional and offertory. We do not do a recessional hymn, but the choir sings communion hymns. Communion takes forever, it seems.
Mass is usually 1:15, or an hour and fifteen minutes. I’ve been to one OF Low Mass, but on a Sunday, so it had some other things that pushed it to about an hour and a half.
The Divine Liturgies I’ve been to have been usually an hour-and-a-half to two hours.Pascha was three and a half to four. My parish’s Pascal Vigil was 3 hours.
Honestly, I feel gipped if Mass is less than an hour. An OF Mass, celebrated properly and in accordance with apostolic tradition (in which case it would be an EF Mass lol), should last at least an hour, unless like ten people are receiving.
Even my college’s Newman Center, which is ghastly unorthodox, still has a 60 minute Liturgy - although the 10 minutes of announcements helps. Makes up for the seven EMHC’s they use for 300 people. There are usually a minimum of two priests in attendance who sit in the pews as laypeople. The parish is a Dominican residence.
The priest celebrates with two deacons (distinction between subdeacon and deacon being lost these days), sometimes ad orientem (Solemnities), always incense, always chant. He also uses the Roman Canon.
Anyways, the church building holds 1,400 and it’s usually full. The priest, the deacons, and three EMHC’s distribute. The cantor chants the psalm, and we chant it back to him. We chant all the responses (some even in Latin). The full text of all the readings is always used, and the lectors enter the sanctuary to read from the nave. We have two hymns; processional and offertory. We do not do a recessional hymn, but the choir sings communion hymns. Communion takes forever, it seems.
Mass is usually 1:15, or an hour and fifteen minutes. I’ve been to one OF Low Mass, but on a Sunday, so it had some other things that pushed it to about an hour and a half.
The Divine Liturgies I’ve been to have been usually an hour-and-a-half to two hours.Pascha was three and a half to four. My parish’s Pascal Vigil was 3 hours.
Honestly, I feel gipped if Mass is less than an hour. An OF Mass, celebrated properly and in accordance with apostolic tradition (in which case it would be an EF Mass lol), should last at least an hour, unless like ten people are receiving.
Even my college’s Newman Center, which is ghastly unorthodox, still has a 60 minute Liturgy - although the 10 minutes of announcements helps. Makes up for the seven EMHC’s they use for 300 people. There are usually a minimum of two priests in attendance who sit in the pews as laypeople. The parish is a Dominican residence.
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Gumbercules
Guest
I am quite the opposite. The Ordinary Form of the Mass is far too short for me.
45 minutes is far too short for me to get into a worship state of mind. Right when I get into a centered, quiet, and worship state of mind, the mass is already over.
I like to go to Eastern Catholic Divine Liturgy specifically the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom. It usually runs about 1 and a half to 2 hours. That is long enough for me to get into a centered state and focus on God.
I also like the Traditional Latin Mass even though its only about 1 hour and 15 minutes long.
po18guy
Well-known member
God blesses you in each and every one of the 168 hours of the week. Our love of God must compel us to return even one of those hours to Him. Consider the mass not only an obligation (meeting the minimum), but spending a holy hour in the Lord’s presence. If you receive Him in communion, you then become a walking Tabernacle.
If Christ was being crucified before you, would you remain at the foot of the cross only 45 minutes, because it was taking too long? No! Consider that the Apostles worshipped and praised God all day on the Lord’s day. We are a lazy generation that balks at returning even one hour to Him.
Once we realize what is actually taking place during the mass, we should want to be nowhere else.
If Christ was being crucified before you, would you remain at the foot of the cross only 45 minutes, because it was taking too long? No! Consider that the Apostles worshipped and praised God all day on the Lord’s day. We are a lazy generation that balks at returning even one hour to Him.
Once we realize what is actually taking place during the mass, we should want to be nowhere else.
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stbruno
Guest
Do people ever complain when sporting events go into overtimes? Or extra innings? Or encores are played at concerts? Usually not, but people get fidgety when a mass is more than the time they choose, so they leave early or complain. Personally, the more we give God, the better our life will be. He gives us 24-7, but we can’t give back one hour a week.
Offer up that extra 15 min. for a poor soul in Purgatory. You will be glad you did.
Offer up that extra 15 min. for a poor soul in Purgatory. You will be glad you did.
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ProVobis
Guest
Nicely put. I couldn’t agree more. I especially like the point made about the clipboard and pencil, as that’s the way many of us were trained to absorb information.
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doughnut
Guest
I guess so. I also like the songs - mainly because I can participate, and especially in singing, I felt so close to the Lord that there are times I felt so moved I cried out of joy.
During the readings, I felt like I’m listening to a story, and felt transported in the days where cinemas weren’t invented and theatres are hard to come by; where people would gather around a story-teller, and relate tales of the past; otherwise I would take a step-further and mentally time-travelled to be in the scene described.
After having such an adventure, the homily seemed like a good way to wrap it up, very much like how people love to talk about the movie they’d just seen after walking out of the cinema.
I admit I have an over-active imagination though.
I’d actually seen people whipping out little notebooks and pen during mass though; and I tried it too, but it tend to break my concentration rather than focusing on it.
I don’t usually notice the time during mass =)
I like long Masses with lots of chant and silences.
But hearing someone talk on a Sunday morning makes me, umm, shall we say, very relaxed.
C
Cat
Guest
Here’s what I think is going on. A lot of priests want LOTS of people to be able to attend daily Mass or even Sunday Mass to be able to receive Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and the graces that come with Mass attendance. But in order to accomodate the needs of working people (including people who work at home, e.g., mothers of young children), these priests try to keep the Mass short and pithy without eliminating any requirements.Maybe in New England, but here in upstate NY, even the earliest Mass of the day, 6:30am at the Cathedral takes 25 minutes, minimum. I attend daily Mass at least 3-4 times a week (at different times and at different parishes, depending on my schedule) and have never been to one that lasts any less.
Out of curiosity, do the 15 minute Masses have a homily?
Not everyone has the luxury of long stretches of time to assist at Mass.
Perhaps it depends on what part of the country you live in and what the people do for a living.
In the Northern Illinois area, traditionally many people have worked in jobs that start at 7:00 A.M. (done by 3:30 P.M.). I’m talking factory jobs and other “service” jobs. I work in a hospital and my shift starts at 7:00 A.M. or sometimes 6:30 A.M.
So this means that a Mass that starts at 6:30 must be finished by 6:45 or so to give people time to get to work and punch in.
At the moment, I don’t attend daily Mass because even if the Mass is finished at 6:45, I still don’t have time to drive to work and punch in by 7:00 A.M. But if the church were closer to my workplace, you bet I would attend–IF the Mass finished in time for me to get to work on time.
Of course, the Mass COULD start at 6:00 A.M instead of 6:30 A.M. I wish this were the case. But I think a lot of people who don’t work would possibly have problems with this very early hour.
We have a Catholic hospital, and Masses there are apparently extremely short, around 15-20 minutes. Doesn’t this make sense to you? Hospital staff don’t have long stretches of time that they can spend away from their jobs–most of us get a twenty-minute break and that’s it other than lunch. And relatives and other visitors are living minute by minute as they wait and hope and pray for their loved ones who are in the hospital, so they also don’t have the luxury of endless free time to sit in Mass. For hospital staff and visitors, the opportunity to be at Mass and receive Jesus is precious, and so the priest tries to accomodate the unique needs of the hospital population by keeping the Mass short. .
I think that some of the “short” Sunday Masses that some of you describe might be offered for the distinct purpose of accomodating those who have to work on Sunday. It’s very possible that some employers are willing to give their employees a half-hour break to dash to a Mass and then dash back to work. But an HOUR is way too long for a break.
This isn’t irreverence, it’s reality in the U.S., and the priests are doing the best they can to encourage lots of people to attend Mass who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend at all. Good for them!
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angelic06
Guest
No disrespect, Tony, but once more, I do not think I am here for “show” either, neither does our choir director, who does his best to choose only the best music, both congregational hymns and choral anthems for the house of God. There is a chance for all to sing, yes. There is also a chance to listen to the word of God as sung by somebody else. I’m sure you do a good job of cantoring, no doubt. However, there is more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak. I take a great amount of offense at your last statement, that choirs and choral music is all about “show”.
By the way, we offer both: a choral anthem/motet to help them direct their thoughts towards God, and hymn for all to unite their praises to the Lord—does it have to be an either/or situation? As choristers, we, like you, are also servants of God and of his royal household. We should remember that over the centuries many composers have worked to provide nothing but the best quality of music for the church of His Majesty our God in keeping with the requirements set by the Church—some of them went overboard, yes, which required the Church to set up some rules to curb the abuses. Some of them, such as Byrd, risked execution for treason in order to get their illicit music into the Catholic Church. The only way he avoided this was by connections to the Crown. Does this sound like people who are here merely to make a “show”?
I do not know what kind of musician or Christian you are, and you don’t know what kind I am, but I can tell you that when I sat in the congregation of the church I am currently at, it was the choral music which often helped draw my attention back to God and to His Holy Eucharist. At the same time, at previous churches, my mind often wandered when there was congregational singing. And I must admit, also vice versa.
Finally, we also have an early morning Mass to accomodate people those who find it necessary or desirable not to sit through a sung one. [Masses for people who are in service occupations (military, police, fire, EMS, hospital, etc.) are understandable. Surely nobody complains about those. However, not all of the Sunday Masses need be like these. We shouldn’t always be living as if we are in a state of crisis. There is room for both. With regard to daily Masses, we also offer both: a 20-30 minute one w/o singing or homily at 7:30 am, and a school Mass at 9:15 am with some singing and a relatively short homily.]
There are plenty of legitimate ways to skin a cat. On this point, then, we’ll have to agree to disagree. I’ll make no further remarks on this matter here.
May God bless you and your work, Tony, and enjoy the remainder of joyous Eastertide.
Paul R. Viola
“This world…in which we live needs beauty in order not to sink into despair. Beauty, like truth, brings joy to the human heart.”
The late Pope John Paul II, quoting the Second Vatican Council (1999)
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EasterJoy
Guest
It’s also the way many of us learned to deliver information. That’s fine in the right place, but the current skill sets employed for oral rhetoric, both expressive and receptive, sometimes leaves settings like the homily out in the cold. We are used to either extremely short advertising sound bites or rather long academic expositions visually supported by PowerPoint slides. Each has its place, but neither fits the Mass.
It is bad enough to get a homily where you know there are PowerPoint slides somewhere that you’re not allowed to see, but that is miles better than the one made up of an impromptu flight of ideas that can’t decide on any particular point to draw from the readings. Those are very trying.
I’ve found that listening as though I would have to relate the homily back to a third person, and in the presence of the homilist, really helps keep my mind from wandering off. Otherwise, he’ll make some interesting point early on, my mind will be after that one like a dog on a rabbit, and I’ll miss the rest of what he has to say. The practice has made me appreciate well-constructed homilies, though!
Matthew Kelly suggests writing down the main thing you felt the Holy Spirit saying to you at a particular Mass, and how you see yourself responding to that. I did that for awhile. It was very helpful, particularly since when you read back you can see the connections from one week to another much better. I need to start doing that again.
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Chopstick
Guest
Wow, and here I’ve been thinking how short the Catholic Mass is at just an hour long! The Assembly of God church I attend runs 1 1/2- 2 hours. I bet Father could double the length of his homiles and still get finished quicker than that.
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agp2176
Guest
Paul
And no disrespect meant to you or to the service you offer to the church as a member of your choir. As with anything there are some who misuse the talents that God has given them. I am certain, based on what you have written that you are not one of them.
I will admit that I have attended some wonderful Masses with full choirs and have been totally caught up in the majesty and glory. I’ve have been at some where the cantor acted as if she was in a performance of the musical Cats!
God bless you for all you do!
Tony
And no disrespect meant to you or to the service you offer to the church as a member of your choir. As with anything there are some who misuse the talents that God has given them. I am certain, based on what you have written that you are not one of them.
I will admit that I have attended some wonderful Masses with full choirs and have been totally caught up in the majesty and glory. I’ve have been at some where the cantor acted as if she was in a performance of the musical Cats!
God bless you for all you do!
Tony
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daeve
Guest
God gives you 168 hours every week. You probably give your employer 40 of them. Some are probably spent watching TV or sports, or just snoozing on the sofa. Is it really so much to give one hour back to Him?
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angelic06
Guest
Tony,
No offense taken. I’ve been to reverent Masses with cantor alone as well. God bless you too!
No offense taken. I’ve been to reverent Masses with cantor alone as well. God bless you too!
po18guy
Well-known member
Exactly. For those who claim to believe in Christ as our Savior, I cannot fathom why one would not desire to spend time with Him. Many have stated that, before receiving the grace of belief in Christ’s presence in the Eucharist, they also thought mass to be too long and/or boring. Mass is never too long or boring. It is we who are too impatient or uninvolved.
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Marie5890
Guest
Im thinking tgwall may have been a drive-by questioner. But it’s been a good thread non-the-less. 
po18guy
Well-known member
You are just infected with that ol’ Jersey impatience! Please consider the very reason that you attend mass in the first place. As to your busy schedule, fuggetaboutit for an hour, will ya?
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desertPavel
Guest
Back to the original poster of this thread (and may God forgive me if I am being uncharitable)—perhaps a “drive through” Communion line would better suit him. I can’t believe that somebody would complain about an hour long Mass. He must skip the Easter Vigil entirely. I was peeved this year because the Easter Vigil was shortened; they had only 2 readings from the Old Testament.
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jmcrae
Guest
Seriously? I was under the impression that we had to have at least four.
I’d love to go to one where they have all seven. That would be glorious.
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Phemie
Guest
You must have 3 OT, plus the Epistle plus the Gospel.Seriously? I was under the impression that we had to have at least four.
I’d love to go to one where they have all seven. That would be glorious.
From 2002-2009 we had all the readings and all the psalms. This year the pastor decided that was too much and we went back to 3 OT readings. You could hear my sighing for miles.
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