Author Topic: Put your Missal down.. ABL (Read 1496 times)

s2srea · « **on:** June 02, 2013, 08:37:46 AM »

I've been wanting to post this for some time. Hopefully some will find this beneficial, as this mini-scandal the Archbishop speaks about is seen at almost any traditional chapel I've been to. Perhaps the priests can speak on this more.

The Mass of All Time: The Hidden Treasure, Archbishop Lefebvre:

It is an error to think that paying attention at Mass means reading all the prayers in the Missal. It is a very good thing to unite oneself with the feast being celebrated. The liturgical movement really took off over the last fifty or sixty years. Everyone had beautiful Missals, but they made of them an almost essential element. Anyone not opening his missal during mass and reading the prayers would have scandalized his neighbor. Yet it is possible that such a person would have been praying better than the person reading his missal. If that person, understanding the different parts of the Mass, united himself with all the prayers of the priest as the priest advanced towards the Consecration; if he prepared himself well for Communion and united himself lovingly to Our Lord in Holy Communion, such a person would have been following the Mass admirably. God's blessings perhaps descended upon him more than upon someone who followed the Mass closely in his missal but who was perhaps distracted by trying to understand all the words and by attaching himself to the letter while forgetting the spirit of the Mass. We make errors like that nowadays. The New Mass has been conceived so that everyone can understand everything. Everyone must follow everything; that is why the priest speaks aloud. Everyone must follow everything, and the faithful must talk all the time. In reality, the faithful certainly pray less during modern ceremonies than they did before. It is now without reason that the Council of Trent affirmed that if anyone says that the prayers during the Canon of the mass must not be spoken in a low tone, let him be anathema. This is one of the canons of the Council of Trent concerning the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Nowadays people are completely deluded. It is necessary to come back to the definition of prayer: the elevation of the soul to God; this is what matters. Now, it is certain that the holy sacrifice of the mass and the entire traditional liturgy help us very much to lift up our souls to god.

parentsfortruth · « **Reply #1 on:** June 02, 2013, 10:39:55 AM »

Thank you for posting this. I haven't used a missal in many years. Also, please note, that hand Missals were forbidden before 1897. I wonder why.... :stare:

clare · « **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2013, 12:32:51 PM »

Well, that makes me feel better! I only ever read a missal when I can't actually get to Mass.

Frances · « **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2013, 12:55:17 PM »

I usually pray the missal prayers at low Mass and just the main prayers and "from the heart" at high Mass. Following the missal in Latin greatly helps when my mind wanders, which is frequently.

Sigismund · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2013, 02:51:55 PM »

When attending the TLM, I read over all the texts in the missal before hand.

Charlemagne · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2013, 03:37:31 PM »

Quote from: Sigismund

When attending the TLM, I read over all the texts in the missal before hand.

This is what I do. I hardly ever use my missal at Mass.

Matto · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2013, 03:41:50 PM »

When I go to Mass, I never bring my missal. I just watch what the priest does and follow that way.

SoldierOfChrist · « **Reply #7 on:** June 03, 2013, 10:36:01 PM »

I try to be temperate with the use of the missal. If I find that I'm paying too much attention to the missal, whether finding my place in it or trying too hard to understand the meanings of the readings, I will put it down and focus on what the priest is doing. Likewise, I will often look to the missal to put me on a more spiritual level, more in tuned with what is currently happening on the altar.

poche · « **Reply #8 on:** June 04, 2013, 03:49:09 AM »

Quote from: parentsfortruth

Thank you for posting this. I haven't used a missal in many years. Also, please note, that hand Missals were forbidden before 1897. I wonder why.... :stare:

How can that be? My great great grandfather kept a diary around 150 years ago. He went to mass every Sunday. However, when affairs beyond his control prevented him from going to mass he wrote that he would read from his mass book. I thought that was a missal.

PatrickG · « **Reply #9 on:** June 04, 2013, 04:00:09 AM »

I expect it was a collection of devotions for the Mass, like Challoner's Garden of the Soul.

PerEvangelicaDicta · « **Reply #10 on:** June 05, 2013, 11:18:10 AM »

We;re all so different!
For me, the missal is indispensable.
- Most importantly, for me, it keeps me hyper-focused on the Holy Sacrifice; thus, I'm rarely distracted.
- Following the Propers helps me better unite my prayers re: the feast of the day and its meaning.
- The Ordinary prayers never get "old". An unfathomable Mystery indeed. Inevitably, something I've read takes on a new meaning, and I'll investigate.
- I have a Lasance missal, rich in various prayers and explanations. I love to read these in the chapel, in His presence, before Mass.

But that's just how my brain works.

Capt McQuigg · « **Reply #11 on:** June 05, 2013, 05:40:10 PM »

I flip back and forth from the missal to a book of prayers for Mass.

I agree with what ABL is implying. We can get a little carried away with trying to merely follow along rather than pray.

Let the mystery of the Mass of all times tell its story in its own good time.

Marlelar · « **Reply #12 on:** June 05, 2013, 06:06:22 PM »

Quote from: parentsfortruth

Thank you for posting this. I haven't used a missal in many years. Also, please note, that hand Missals were forbidden before 1897. I wonder why.... :stare:

I didn't know that - where did you read about it?

Marsha

Binechi · « **Reply #13 on:** June 06, 2013, 04:44:28 PM »

That sounds odd , putting your missal down. Never heard of that before.

For me , I use the St Andrews Missal. and find it very informative as it leads one step by step thru the Mass, explaining what the Priests and altar boys are doing, along with the responses by the parishoners in darkend lettering.
During the canon of the Mass I put it aside to take full part in the transubstaniation, giving full attention to what is actually happening.

As the Ordinary becomes familiar, one should be drawn to the Latin , and memorizing it. The the Mass takes on a whole new meaning, one is drawn to the significance of the Great Sacrafice.

Now there is a big difference in the Missal s out there. I used to use the St Joseph , until I was led to the St Andrews. It changed my whole outlook on what what was really going on.
Also the Missal is so important for the newcomers, or the younger ones , the ones who are really interested in what the Priest is doing , and why he is doing it.

Might be a good topic if it hasn t allready be done , to ask, "What Missal do you use, ", reason for it. Some thoughts .

Zeitun · « **Reply #14 on:** June 06, 2013, 05:23:28 PM »

Timely post. This past Sunday for the first time I prayed the Rosary during Mass instead of trying to follow along with Missal. It was a different experience in that I was more in spiritual communion and focused on Our Lord than if I just read along with the book.