New to the Roman (Latin) Mass? Here's some information that will help you when attending!
N.B. the most common name for the Roman Mass is the Traditional Latin Mass. We refer to it as the Roman Mass since that is its official and historical name. We don't mean confusion, just accuracy.
Most people's first experience at the Roman Mass is not always positive, especially as this Mass is so different from anything else they have experienced. It is vastly different from the Novus Ordo Mass, and the various Eastern Liturgies. Going into this, one should be expecting to witness something different. The world offers noise, anxiety, and stress. The ancient Roman Mass provides a space of peace & quiet, prayer, and a strong sense of the ancient, filled with tradition. It is a step back from the world to the days of the early church.
Don't let this turn you off! This information is provided so that you go to the Roman Mass with some expectations of what will be taking place so you may have a pleasant experience. If you went in blindly, your experience will no doubt be worse.
Most people's first experience at the Roman Mass is not always positive, especially as this Mass is so different from anything else they have experienced. It is vastly different from the Novus Ordo Mass, and the various Eastern Liturgies. Going into this, one should be expecting to witness something different. The world offers noise, anxiety, and stress. The ancient Roman Mass provides a space of peace & quiet, prayer, and a strong sense of the ancient, filled with tradition. It is a step back from the world to the days of the early church.
Don't let this turn you off! This information is provided so that you go to the Roman Mass with some expectations of what will be taking place so you may have a pleasant experience. If you went in blindly, your experience will no doubt be worse.
Contents:
- A Brief History of the Roman (Latin) Mass
- Things to Expect Prior to Attending a Roman (Latin) Mass
- A Summary of Gestures and Posture to Expect at a Missa Cantata Roman (Latin) Mass
- Videos for Newcomes to the Roman (Latin) Mass
A Brief History of the Roman (Latin) Mass:
N.B. It would be good to differentiate between the use of the words "Latin" and "Roman". "Latin" is a rite of tradition, under which are all the various liturgical rites of the Latin Church. One of those liturgical rites is the "Roman" Rite. It is one of the many liturgical rites of the Latin Church.
The Roman Mass has existed since circa 300 and the first official missal was promulgated by the Sovereign Pontiff, His Holiness, St. Gregory I (the Great) around the year 600. This gave it its most ancient name: the Mass of St. Gregory the Great. The Mass was later given its formal name, “Roman”, as it was the liturgy that developed in and came from the Roman region of the world. It also was the liturgy used by the Latin Church at Holy See at Rome, which influenced its name as well.
Although it was subject to some minor changes in subsequent centuries, the Mass today is almost entirely the same as it was then, 1,000+ years ago!
In 1570, the Sovereign Pontiff, His Holiness, St. Pius V codified the Roman Mass in his Constitutio Apostolica Quo Primum. After that point, the Mass remained completely untouched with not a single prayer changing, until 1962, when the Sovereign Pontiff, His Holiness, St. John XXIII inserted the name of St. Joseph into the Roman Canon. Prior to this insertion, the canon had been untouched for at least 1,400 years since the time of the Sovereign Pontiff, His Holiness, St. Gregory I (the Great)!
This Mass is the same Mass that hundreds of popes offered, and thousands of saints attended. Even today, it attracts many souls worldwide and produces much fruit in the Church.
In 1969, the Roman Mass was replaced with the Novus Ordo Roman Missale (or in English, the “New Order of the Roman Missal”). The ancient Roman Mass then only existed in small pockets until 2007 when the Sovereign Pontiff, His Holiness, Benedict XVI issued his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum allowing all the priests in the world to offer the ancient liturgy.
The Roman Mass has existed since circa 300 and the first official missal was promulgated by the Sovereign Pontiff, His Holiness, St. Gregory I (the Great) around the year 600. This gave it its most ancient name: the Mass of St. Gregory the Great. The Mass was later given its formal name, “Roman”, as it was the liturgy that developed in and came from the Roman region of the world. It also was the liturgy used by the Latin Church at Holy See at Rome, which influenced its name as well.
Although it was subject to some minor changes in subsequent centuries, the Mass today is almost entirely the same as it was then, 1,000+ years ago!
In 1570, the Sovereign Pontiff, His Holiness, St. Pius V codified the Roman Mass in his Constitutio Apostolica Quo Primum. After that point, the Mass remained completely untouched with not a single prayer changing, until 1962, when the Sovereign Pontiff, His Holiness, St. John XXIII inserted the name of St. Joseph into the Roman Canon. Prior to this insertion, the canon had been untouched for at least 1,400 years since the time of the Sovereign Pontiff, His Holiness, St. Gregory I (the Great)!
This Mass is the same Mass that hundreds of popes offered, and thousands of saints attended. Even today, it attracts many souls worldwide and produces much fruit in the Church.
In 1969, the Roman Mass was replaced with the Novus Ordo Roman Missale (or in English, the “New Order of the Roman Missal”). The ancient Roman Mass then only existed in small pockets until 2007 when the Sovereign Pontiff, His Holiness, Benedict XVI issued his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum allowing all the priests in the world to offer the ancient liturgy.
Things to Expect Prior to Attending a Roman (Latin) Mass:
Latin Language: the Mass is said fully in Latin. Latin is the official Language of the Catholic Church and exorcists say it is a powerful way to repel demons. This universal tongue also allows all Catholics to unite their voices despite their vernacular languages and pray the Mass together. Some dislike that they can't understand the prayers, and the simplest answer (of many) is the language is suited for honoring God, and for the devotion, rather then the comprehension, of the people. It is perhaps best explained by Dr. Joseph Shaw of the Latin Mass Society when he said: "How did they [the great saints] engage in the Mass? It wasn't about understanding everything that happens. It's about devotion. So what does increase devotion? Well, as [St.] Thomas Aquinas says, singing, having it in Latin, because its a sacred language. You can see the care that is being taken. This is a sacred language, it is appropriate to these sacred rites. Having it in silence is a way of emphasizing its holiness, as a way of exciting devotion. Now all these things, well people say, 'well, they're barriers to comprehension.' Well, how important is that compared with the effect it has on devotion? And actually, how much of a barrier is it?"*
Please note that the Epistle and Gospel will both be chanted in Latin, but Father will re-read them in the vernacular before the sermon.
Orientation of the Priest: the Mass is said ad orientem ("to the East"). Due to this, the priest will have his back to the congregation almost the entire liturgy, except for brief moments where he will turn to face the people. The primary reason for this is that it is prophesied that Christ will come again in the East, so everyone faces [Liturgical] East (which is not always geographical East) in the hope of the Second Coming. The secondary reason is that by doing this, the priest faces the tabernacle (which is built into the High Altar and hidden by the veils) and shows respect to the King who is reposed there throughout the Mass through genuflections and kissing of the altar.
Pointless Gestures?: everything at the Roman Mass is done according to the principle of lex orandi, lex credendi ("the law of prayer, [is] the law of belief"). To put it in more modern terms, how we worship, pray, and act deeply affects what we believe. It is for this reason that the Roman Mass is surrounded with the most solemn and sacred ceremonies, gestures, motions, and phrases. Everything has a deep theological or symbolic reason for why it is done.
How to Participate in the Mass: everyone prays differently, and therefore, participation is not a uniform, "one size fits all" thing. In fact, a person can fully participate at Mass without uttering one single word! How can one do this? The answer is as simple as this: just pray. The moments of silence in the Roman Mass allow for someone to enter into personal prayer. As Dr. Peter Kwasniewski says, "If you never have any silence, you could go through a whole Mass and just walk out and never have prayed once."* Take advantage of the moments of silence, any simply pray to God as you would in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
This section would not be complete without proving a handful of examples of what this personal prayer could look like. One could: follow the prayers of the Mass in a book, witness the beauty of the liturgy (which is recommended for first time attendees), pray spontaneously from the heart, intercede for those who have asked for prayers or need them, pray memorized prayers, pray prayers from a devotional book (e.g. litanies, indulgenced prayers, etcetera), pray the Rosary or a chaplet, or read meditations on the life of Christ or Mary. If a person is still praying when the silence is ended or interrupted by verbal prayers of the Mass, the person is welcome to simply continue in their prayers or pause momentarily till the silence resumes. Both options are equally acceptable. Additionally, one of the uses of bells at Mass is to intentionally interrupt personal prayer to alert someone that something important (such as the Consecration) is happening at the Altar.
Dress Code: while a dress code is not enforced, it is fitting for one to dress in a manner that reflects virtue and dignity of body and soul. Would someone dress immodestly before a king, let alone the King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ? Considering that someone will be standing before the King of Kings, modesty is something that should be seriously considered.
These modesty standards are drawn from "A Papal Decree Concerning Modesty (1930)" from the Sovereign Pontiff, His Holiness, Pius XI. Upon reading the decree, one may notice that it primarily speaks of women, so the equivalent standards have been drawn up for men.
Veiling: many women wear veils on their heads whenever they visit a church. There are a variety of reasons for this. One is that that which is holy should always veiled, and this is why there are veils covering the tabernacle doors and placed over the ciborium. They reminds someone that the Most Holy and Most Sacred Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist are contained within. Women are able to carry life withing their womb, which is a beautiful and holy mystery. This holy mystery is one reason why it is fitting for women to veil. Another is that it is following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is almost always depicted veiling. St. Paul himself encourages women to veil at Mass when he says "For if a woman be not covered, let her be shorn. But if it be a shame to a woman to be shorn or made bald, let her cover her head." (1 Cor 11:6, Douay-Rheims translation). The veil is also symbolic of a woman's spiritual submission to the man God has placed (as the Bible says) "as her head", be it her father or husband.
*(All quotes (other than Bible verses) are taken from interviews shown in "Mass of the Ages: A Perfect Storm: What Happened to the Mass after Vatican II" linked on our Resources page)
Please note that the Epistle and Gospel will both be chanted in Latin, but Father will re-read them in the vernacular before the sermon.
Orientation of the Priest: the Mass is said ad orientem ("to the East"). Due to this, the priest will have his back to the congregation almost the entire liturgy, except for brief moments where he will turn to face the people. The primary reason for this is that it is prophesied that Christ will come again in the East, so everyone faces [Liturgical] East (which is not always geographical East) in the hope of the Second Coming. The secondary reason is that by doing this, the priest faces the tabernacle (which is built into the High Altar and hidden by the veils) and shows respect to the King who is reposed there throughout the Mass through genuflections and kissing of the altar.
Pointless Gestures?: everything at the Roman Mass is done according to the principle of lex orandi, lex credendi ("the law of prayer, [is] the law of belief"). To put it in more modern terms, how we worship, pray, and act deeply affects what we believe. It is for this reason that the Roman Mass is surrounded with the most solemn and sacred ceremonies, gestures, motions, and phrases. Everything has a deep theological or symbolic reason for why it is done.
How to Participate in the Mass: everyone prays differently, and therefore, participation is not a uniform, "one size fits all" thing. In fact, a person can fully participate at Mass without uttering one single word! How can one do this? The answer is as simple as this: just pray. The moments of silence in the Roman Mass allow for someone to enter into personal prayer. As Dr. Peter Kwasniewski says, "If you never have any silence, you could go through a whole Mass and just walk out and never have prayed once."* Take advantage of the moments of silence, any simply pray to God as you would in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
This section would not be complete without proving a handful of examples of what this personal prayer could look like. One could: follow the prayers of the Mass in a book, witness the beauty of the liturgy (which is recommended for first time attendees), pray spontaneously from the heart, intercede for those who have asked for prayers or need them, pray memorized prayers, pray prayers from a devotional book (e.g. litanies, indulgenced prayers, etcetera), pray the Rosary or a chaplet, or read meditations on the life of Christ or Mary. If a person is still praying when the silence is ended or interrupted by verbal prayers of the Mass, the person is welcome to simply continue in their prayers or pause momentarily till the silence resumes. Both options are equally acceptable. Additionally, one of the uses of bells at Mass is to intentionally interrupt personal prayer to alert someone that something important (such as the Consecration) is happening at the Altar.
Dress Code: while a dress code is not enforced, it is fitting for one to dress in a manner that reflects virtue and dignity of body and soul. Would someone dress immodestly before a king, let alone the King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ? Considering that someone will be standing before the King of Kings, modesty is something that should be seriously considered.
These modesty standards are drawn from "A Papal Decree Concerning Modesty (1930)" from the Sovereign Pontiff, His Holiness, Pius XI. Upon reading the decree, one may notice that it primarily speaks of women, so the equivalent standards have been drawn up for men.
- For women, dresses and skirts are preferred (with the base of the skirt reaching the below the knee). This is not to say that modest pants are not permitted, though. Necklines should remain close to the neck such that no cleavage is showing. Veiling is a beautiful and encouraged -although not required- practice (see more on that below)!
- For men, suits are preferred. At a minimum, dress pants and a button-up shirt should be worn. Men should wear close-toed dress shoes and not sandals.
- Both genders should avoid wearing T-shirts, crop-tops, jeans, tights, shorts, and flip-flops. All revealing, tight, or form-fitting clothing is inappropriate.
Veiling: many women wear veils on their heads whenever they visit a church. There are a variety of reasons for this. One is that that which is holy should always veiled, and this is why there are veils covering the tabernacle doors and placed over the ciborium. They reminds someone that the Most Holy and Most Sacred Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist are contained within. Women are able to carry life withing their womb, which is a beautiful and holy mystery. This holy mystery is one reason why it is fitting for women to veil. Another is that it is following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is almost always depicted veiling. St. Paul himself encourages women to veil at Mass when he says "For if a woman be not covered, let her be shorn. But if it be a shame to a woman to be shorn or made bald, let her cover her head." (1 Cor 11:6, Douay-Rheims translation). The veil is also symbolic of a woman's spiritual submission to the man God has placed (as the Bible says) "as her head", be it her father or husband.
*(All quotes (other than Bible verses) are taken from interviews shown in "Mass of the Ages: A Perfect Storm: What Happened to the Mass after Vatican II" linked on our Resources page)
A Summary of Gestures and Posture to Expect at a Missa Cantata Roman (Latin) Mass:
The times when a person would sit, stand, or kneel is omitted, as a person should be able to catch on pretty quickly as to when people sit, stand, and kneel, and thus follow along in that way. Things that may be more unexpected are listed here in the order they will happen.
There are various responses that the laity will say at the Roman Mass. See Dr. Taylor Marshall's video "7 Latin Mass Reponses to Memorize" below to familiarize yourself with them.
For more information on how to follow a Roman Mass, see the video "How to Follow the Latin Mass" posted below.
- If you choose to follow along in the Red Book, whenever you see a "+" it is appropriate, although not required, to make the Sign of the Cross
- During the entrance procession, show reverence to the crucifix by making the Sign of the Cross, or bowing, or genuflecting, or whatever act of personal devotion you wish to do
- During the entrance procession, bow to the celebrant. If there are other priests (who won't be vested in more than a surplice and biretta), don't bow to them. Only bow to the priest who is celebrating the Mass and therefore stands in persona Christi, "in the person of Christ"
- During the Asperges Me sprinkling rite before Mass, when sprinkled, genuflect and make the Sign of the Cross.
- At the end of the Gloria, make the Sign of the Cross (N.B. The Gloria is omitted during the seasons of Advent, Septuagesima, and Lent)
- When the priest says "Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum N." (N.+, "name", the name of the author of the Gospel), trace a cross with your thumb on your forehead, lips, and over your heart.
- During the Credo, kneel at the words "Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est"
- At the end of the Credo, make the Sign of the Cross
- After the Incensing of the Altar, when the altar boy with the thurible (incense censor) approaches the people, stand for the Incensing of the People; make the Sign of the Cross if you wish
- Strike your breast at the "Domine, non sum dignus..." (repeated thrice, strike your breast once for each)
- For the reception of Holy Communion, kneel at the Altar Rail, draw the Houseling Cloth to your body with your hands under it. When father comes to you, slightly tilt your head back, and stick out your tongue. If you are unable to kneel, an usher will direct you to the right altar rail gate where father will provide the Blessed Sacrament in the same manner, but standing instead of kneeling.
- "Amen" is not said by the communicant
- It is not an option to receive the Eucharist in the hand. Only the consecrated may touch the consecrated, and as the hands of the laity are unconsecrated, they may not touch the sacred species
- The prayer that the priest says is "Corpus Domini Nostri Iesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam. Amen." which translates to "May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve your soul unto life everlasting. Amen."
- After the "Ite Missa Est", kneel to receive the Final Blessing
- During the Last Gospel, kneel at the words "Et verbum caro factum est"
There are various responses that the laity will say at the Roman Mass. See Dr. Taylor Marshall's video "7 Latin Mass Reponses to Memorize" below to familiarize yourself with them.
For more information on how to follow a Roman Mass, see the video "How to Follow the Latin Mass" posted below.
Videos for Newcomers to the Roman (Latin) Mass:
|
|
|
|