Replies

Welcome! It is great to hear you are joining the Church!

If you wish to attend a Tridentine Mass, it is best to visit one of the sites on the internet first which have all the prayers of the Mass and read them in advance. It helps you to see just how different the Masses are.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/latinmass2.html

I would arrive early. If you are a woman, it is normal to cover your head with a hat or a mantilla if you have one (chapel veil).

Many Churches have a red book put out by the Latin Mass Society that has the prayers in Enlish and Latin. That book will help.

The Mass is said by the priest and the servers respond for us. Thus, we have no responses per se. Much of what is said is silent so the priest will loudly enunciate certain words, "Orate Fratres" for example, so that you can recognize which part of the Mass is now being said. The Epistle and Gospel will be read in Latin but again in English along with the homily.

In terms of movement, simply follow those of the people surrounding you in standing or kneeling. At communion, the altar rail is used, one kneels and receives communion on the tongue and there is no response. The priest says a prayer which means "May the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ Bring You to Everlasting Life." He will say this is he administers communion.

The reverence of the Mass should be apparent to all. I hope you appreciate the Mass of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Catherine of Siena. I also hope a good Gregorian group is singing if it is a High Mass.

Frank

Thank you both very much.

Am I correct in that if I am not able to take communion that I stay sited? At my current parish we do the row by row with several EECMs. If you are not able to take communion then you place your right hand over your heart and receive a blessing. This has always bothered me, especially when I see some people who are not confirmed, yet, go up and receive the host.

Wow -- once again the Episcopalians kept the wording of the prayer long after the Catholics had abandoned it.

When I was a Piskie, that was the prayer used by the priest administering the Eucharist (we received at the rail, kneeling, but not on the tongue). No response.

Many Churches have a red book put out by the Latin Mass Society that has the prayers in Enlish and Latin.

That may be true in England, but in the U.S. the little red booklets are put out by the Coalition in Support of Ecclesia Dei. The instructions in their missalette are for a low Mass which is pretty much what Frank described in his earlier post.

You may be fortunate enough to attend a High Mass. High Masses have a choir and/or (mens) schola to sing some of the prayers and responses of the Mass. When one stands, kneels, and sits is different than during a low Mass. The video posted up the thread is of a Solemn High Mass.

May God continue to bless you on your journey into the Catholic Church!