Author Topic: My First Traditional Mass (Read 3377 times)

amariec · « **on:** May 31, 2010, 08:54:11 PM »

I have recently within the last year gotten back into my catholic faith and i am taking it all very serious. After much research and praying I found out about the whole traditional vs novus ordo thing. Being fairly young i grew up in the novus ordo and really didnt know anything else...ever.

I attended a traditional mass about a week ago and it was very....different to say the least. Not only did i not understand what he said most of the time there was kneeling standing and genuflection i did not understand. Overall I left feeling kind of empty as if i did not get anything from the mass. The whole time the priest faced away from us and mumbled in latin, I didnt feel like i got closer to God that morning or as if i learned a great deal.

Can you guys help, because i do want to do what is best for my faith, but the chapel is not by any means close to my house and is it really worth all the distance to go there vs my church at home that offers tridentine latin mass (even though it didnt get the best rating for being traditional, its still somewhat novus ordo).

Advice would be greatly appreciated

parentsfortruth · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2010, 09:26:50 PM »

I would recommend getting yourself one of these so you can see what the movements of the Priest mean, and know what the priest is doing rather than just think he's "mumbling Latin" because that's exactly not what he's doing.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1892331446/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1892331446&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwchanco-20

Matthew · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2010, 09:34:53 PM »

The primary purpose of the Traditional (Tridentine) Latin Mass is not to learn -- it is all about the proper, solemn worship of God.

It is a very good idea to have read a book or two beforehand on the Mass (as ParentsForTruth recommended, above).

Also, most parishioners need to follow along in a Latin-English hand missal. Few Latin Mass attendees understand Latin, although it's easy enough to learn the common phrases (Dominus vobiscuм = the Lord be with you)

The Mass is Calvary made present again. The same sacrifice is taking place. For that reason, you can meditate on the Sorrowful Mysteries, or the Crucifixion in particular during the Mass, and get a lot out of it. There is more than one way to attend Mass.

The reason 99.9% of people attend the Tridentine Mass/Traditional Latin Mass today is because they want to worship God in a reverent, becoming manner. They want a Mass that is God-centered, rather than man-centered.

Unfortunately, the Novus Ordo centers on man too much. The priest faces the people, speaks in English, etc. There is ZERO awe or mystery. There are other problems, too, but that is a start.

I hope this helps,

Matthew

RomanCatholic1953 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2010, 10:50:21 PM »

I am of a generation that remembers when the Traditional
Mass was celebrated in every Catholic Church throughout
the world. When I attended Parochial School in the 1950's,
early 1960's. Once a year, the assistant priest of the
Parish would explain the mass from the Pulpit as Mass
was being celebrated.
I remember in religious class, the Nuns would teach
that the Mass was not necessary to be understood.
As you grow in grace, the more you will understand
the mass. I took the teachings of the Nuns to heart,
and this caused me to be broken up when the
changes were introduced gradually starting in the
First Sunday of Advent in 1964.

MyrnaM · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2010, 10:58:52 PM »

Quote from: RomanCatholic1953

I am of a generation that remembers when the Traditional
Mass was celebrated in every Catholic Church throughout
the world. When I attended Parochial School in the 1950's,
early 1960's. Once a year, the assistant priest of the
Parish would explain the mass from the Pulpit as Mass
was being celebrated.
I remember in religious class, the Nuns would teach
that the Mass was not necessary to be understood.
As you grow in grace, the more you will understand
the mass. I took the teachings of the Nuns to heart,
and this caused me to be broken up when the
changes were introduced gradually starting in the
First Sunday of Advent in 1964.

Apparently you understood the Mass better than most.

Caminus · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2010, 11:11:41 PM »

Quote from: amariec

I have recently within the last year gotten back into my catholic faith and i am taking it all very serious. After much research and praying I found out about the whole traditional vs novus ordo thing. Being fairly young i grew up in the novus ordo and really didnt know anything else...ever.

I attended a traditional mass about a week ago and it was very....different to say the least. Not only did i not understand what he said most of the time there was kneeling standing and genuflection i did not understand. Overall I left feeling kind of empty as if i did not get anything from the mass. The whole time the priest faced away from us and mumbled in latin, I didnt feel like i got closer to God that morning or as if i learned a great deal.

Can you guys help, because i do want to do what is best for my faith, but the chapel is not by any means close to my house and is it really worth all the distance to go there vs my church at home that offers tridentine latin mass (even though it didnt get the best rating for being traditional, its still somewhat novus ordo).

Advice would be greatly appreciated

Don't rely on your feelings, they've gotten into trouble in the past and they certainly won't help you find true religion. :wink:

Like Matt said, the Sacrifice of the Mass is not primarily "didactic" it is rather a latraic sacrifice offered to God by a priest for the sins of men. The notion that the laity must understand and participate on par with the priest while learning things as a community is completely foreign to our historical religion.

The sacred liturgy flows from divine wisdom and speaks another language than we are used to. It's entire mindset and spirit is completely different than what you know and understand. This is a good thing because the most sublime parts of our faith, e.g. the holy Scriptures, are difficult to understand because they are of God. If they were readily accessible to our fallen, carnal intellects without any need of preparation, they would be of purely human origin.

Dulcamara · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2010, 11:14:29 PM »

There is a WONDERFUL book out about the Mass, and it's the best book on the subject I am aware of. It's called "The Mass of All Time". I don't think you'll find anything else that will explain it both so thoroughly, AND so beautifully.

Moreover, one half of this book is about the traditional Mass, while the last half tells about the novus ordo. It really is very enlightening. I hope to read it many times, myself, because it is really that wonderful of a book on the subject. And we all do need to understand the depth and riches of the Mass, to get the most we can out of it, and to attend it the best we possibly can.

I really recommend this book. Once you've read it, you will, I think, understand VERY well what is going on, what it all means, and why it's done the way it is. And you will also understand very well what we have lost with the introduction of the novus ordo in it's place. I think you really have to read something like this to fully understand what all is wrong with it, and why it is a very sensible and good reaction to want nothing to do with it.

You can buy "The Mass of All Time" from Angelus Press. And believe me... it's worth every penny!

RomanCatholic1953 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2010, 11:19:44 PM »

At that time, I believe that most Catholics understood
the Mass. My Parish church was built in 1956 and
held a maximum of 500 people with cry rooms in
the rear for the small children. There were six Sunday
Masses starting at 6AM. The Church was always full.
In 1965, a new Church was built that had the capacity
of 1000 people. They should not have wasted the
money because mass attendance was beginning to
decline.

MyrnaM · « **Reply #8 on:** June 01, 2010, 08:24:21 AM »

It is a pious belief that when one is exposed to the Blessed Sacrament during Mass, it is as if time is suspended and people do not age. I remember the nuns teaching us this, and recently I heard a sermon where the priest was saying the same, which brought back the words of the good nuns. Of course as I said, it is not dogma but a pious belief, but it makes sense if you really understand how the Mass is connected to Calvary.

Also when you have a Mass offered for someone and arrange to have it offered; that Mass even though it hasn't been actually offered yet, its effect on the person, or grace has already been given at the moment the arrangement has been made, because of this supernatural connection with Calvary, and the time/no time factor.

None of this mystery of the supernatural happens at the novus ordor because the novus ordo has been reduced to a Protestant Anglican service. A symbolic jester, gathering of people. A service where the "priest" turns to man, and turns his back on God, a more or less worship of man, instead of God. With the help of God's good grace I would rather die than attend the novus ordo again.

CathMom37 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 01, 2010, 08:46:44 AM »

Quote from: MyrnaM

I

Also when you have a Mass offered for someone and arrange to have it offered; that Mass even though it hasn't been actually offered yet, its effect on the person, or grace has already been given at the moment the arrangement has been made, because of this supernatural connection with Calvary, and the time/no time factor.

Myrna,
I want to second this, because of an experience that I had with it. We always sit behind a dear friend each Sunday at Mass. She is single, with no Trad friends or family. For about 6 months, she did not go to Holy Communion. (NOT being judgemental at all, so please dont take it that way, I only noticed because we sit right behind her). Finally, in worry, on a Sunday, I submitted a Mass request for her. I knew Father was at least 2 months out, but hoped for the best. The very next Sunday, she hit the box and went to Holy Communion. I was truly in tears to behold the Mercy of God.

I will get that book Dulcamera, thank you! I now have my summer reading :dancing:

Belloc · « **Reply #10 on:** June 01, 2010, 08:54:28 AM »

Quote from: amariec

I have recently within the last year gotten back into my catholic faith and i am taking it all very serious. After much research and praying I found out about the whole traditional vs novus ordo thing. Being fairly young i grew up in the novus ordo and really didnt know anything else...ever.

I attended a traditional mass about a week ago and it was very....different to say the least. Not only did i not understand what he said most of the time there was kneeling standing and genuflection i did not understand. Overall I left feeling kind of empty as if i did not get anything from the mass. The whole time the priest faced away from us and mumbled in latin, I didnt feel like i got closer to God that morning or as if i learned a great deal.

Can you guys help, because i do want to do what is best for my faith, but the chapel is not by any means close to my house and is it really worth all the distance to go there vs my church at home that offers tridentine latin mass (even though it didnt get the best rating for being traditional, its still somewhat novus ordo).

Advice would be greatly appreciated

couple of things-whether you feel you "got something" or not is not the point, it is not about feelings, that concept is Protestant and has seeped well into the thinking of the Post-V2 world.

Also, it is not uncommon not to know what is going on, there are a lot of resources...besides parent's suggestion, thre is a video put out in the 40's and I think is on youtube explaining the TLM, narrated by Bishop Sheen......it is a High Mass, but still, has some good info. I have a TLM explained from the early-mid 80's, put out by SSPX or someone similar, explains a low mass.

Go to Angelus press, they have some books for adults and comic books for children that explain the mass and the comics are esp good actually...

My first TLM was at 17, I too did not like it then, was very different from the NO upbringing...

so too was Byzantine DL, took awhile to get used to...

a good video sometime is What we have Lost....and the Road to Restoration.....

Belloc · « **Reply #11 on:** June 01, 2010, 08:57:06 AM »

Quote from: Matthew

Unfortunately, the Novus Ordo centers on man too much. The priest faces the people, speaks in English, etc. There is ZERO awe or mystery. There are other problems, too, but that is a start.

I hope this helps,

Matthew

True, even Cardinal Ratzingeri nteh late 90's noted this before becoming Pope, that he priest facing the people, etc was all man centered....and no mystery, true...

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #12 on:** June 01, 2010, 09:00:27 AM »

Congrats on attending your first Traditional Latin Mass!

You got closer to God that morning than you think. Just because you don't know what the priest is saying when he speaks in Latin does not mean you aren't worshiping God the right way. That is the true Mass to go to. You should get a Latin missal. I have a 1962 Roman Catholic missal that I use. You'll be able to follow along better that way. After going over the Mass in your missal while at the TLM several times you'll be able to understand the Mass better.

God Bless.

MyrnaM · « **Reply #13 on:** June 01, 2010, 10:20:03 AM »

Quote from: CathMom37

Quote from: MyrnaM
I

Also when you have a Mass offered for someone and arrange to have it offered; that Mass even though it hasn't been actually offered yet, its effect on the person, or grace has already been given at the moment the arrangement has been made, because of this supernatural connection with Calvary, and the time/no time factor.

Myrna,
I want to second this, because of an experience that I had with it. We always sit behind a dear friend each Sunday at Mass. She is single, with no Trad friends or family. For about 6 months, she did not go to Holy Communion. (NOT being judgemental at all, so please dont take it that way, I only noticed because we sit right behind her). Finally, in worry, on a Sunday, I submitted a Mass request for her. I knew Father was at least 2 months out, but hoped for the best. The very next Sunday, she hit the box and went to Holy Communion. I was truly in tears to behold the Mercy of God.

I will get that book Dulcamera, thank you! I now have my summer reading :dancing:

That was very charitable of you to think of this women that way and having a Mass offered for her. Your charity will be repaid, if not on earth, in Heaven.

Trinity · « **Reply #14 on:** June 01, 2010, 10:32:35 AM »

I felt the same way, but....I get so much pleasure from kneeling, genuflecting and bowing to Our Lord. And visiting with Him and Our Lady. I sometimes wonder if I won't spend heaven on my face.

These were things denied me in the NO.