[Snuffington]

If the Mass was the center of the Tridentine Church, then why were little old ladies making the stations during Mass, or making a Novena at a side altar, or the parochial school children recited the Rosary during the Mass, stopping only for the consecration (which is the only thing they could see)?

Sinkspur, your post calls to mind something I read about the Orthodox Mass. Something about warning newcomers about "all the commotion" going on in the congregation of Mass before the consecration. I'm pinging The Reader David to this thread to see if the devotions you're speaking about are similar to all that "commotion" in the Orthodox Mass.

[Zviadist]

I read about the Orthodox Mass. Something about warning newcomers about "all the commotion" going on in the congregation of Mass before the consecration.

Nonsense. You can hear a pin drop in our chapel just before and through the consecration. We have been warned against even coughing or sneezing. Absolute and total reverent silence.

[The_Reader_David]

Actually the usual "commotion" during the early part of an Orthodox Liturgy consists of the faithful lighting candles and putting them in either brass holders (Slavic) or trays of sand (Greek) with prayers for loved ones living or departed, and praying before and venerating various icons or reliquaries.

Generally only those newly arrived do this, though sometimes it takes a while if one wants to light candles for lots of people and have either reason ask several different saints' intercessions or particular devotion to serval saints. On the other hand since usually the Liturgy begins after Orthros (which began at a fixed time, and may vary in length), people tend to arrive throughout the early part of the service. (That this is permissible is recognized by the fact that 'tardiness' does not count as lack of preparation to receive the Mysteries unless one misses the Gospel.)