Over
the last twelve posts, I have described the liturgy of the
traditional Latin Mass. I went into detail on all of its text,
ceremony, symbolism, beauty, and antiquity. Hopefully I have helped
people to understand the Mass more fully and better unite themselves
to the Holy Sacrifice.
However,
I would now like to offer some more practical information on how to
assist at the traditional Latin Mass. This is intended especially for
anyone who is going to the traditional Mass for the first time. I
recognize that the traditional Mass can be confusing and
intimidating. The website Fisheaters, linked in the sidebar,
has a lot of great information as well. Keep in mind that a lot of
things are dependent on local custom, but hopefully this gives you a
better idea of what to expect.
Before
you go to the traditional Latin Mass, realize that you will be
participating in something truly extraordinary. We speak of
“assisting” in the Mass rather than merely “attending” Mass
because, when we unite ourselves to the Mass, we offer the sacrifice
with the priest and offer ourselves to God along with the bread and
wine (Romans 12:1). Thus, we are not mere observers, but are actually
assisting in the offering of the Holy Sacrifice.
There
seems to be a movement lately in a lot of Protestant churches (and
sadly even in some Catholic churches) of making worship too casual.
They want to make people feel completely comfortable at church and
make it as casual and ordinary as meeting with friends for coffee.
Similar are the efforts by well-intentioned but severely misguided
individuals to make worship more relevant for young people by
including vulgar, happy-clappy music at the expense of traditional
ceremonies. These ideas essentially come down to making worship a
reflection of the world instead of a reflection of God.
The
traditional Latin Mass, on the other hand, is far from casual. When
we assist in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in its traditional form,
we step out of the busy world and into a glimpse of eternity. We
participate in the perfect sacrifice of the New Covenant. We come
into the very real presence of God. We receive God's indescribable
grace. We participate in a divine tradition that has its origins at
the beginning of time. We worship God the way that Catholics have for
more than one thousand years. We participate in the same Mass that
nourished the faith of countless saints, thousands of whom willingly
died as holy martyrs to defend this Mass. We participate in the Mass
that, from its inception, Satan and his army of demons have tried
persistently and unsuccessfully to destroy.
Finally,
we receive the gift that God promised to Simeon before his death, to
see our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 2:25-26). The traditional Latin Mass
– the Mass of All Ages and the most beautiful thing this side of
heaven – is not a reflection of the world (John 17:16). Rather, it
the closest that we can get to almighty God while still on earth. We
must strive to present ourselves to God in his Church as a pure
offering, just as Jesus himself was presented in the Temple of
Jerusalem (Luke 2:22). Before we go to Mass, we should be sure to
spiritually prepare ourselves for what we are about to do.
If
you are a practicing Catholic and you plan to receive Holy Communion,
canon law requires that you fast from food or drink for at least one
hour before receiving Holy Communion. Water and necessary medicine do
not break the fast. The traditional practice is to fast from
midnight, so that our Lord Jesus Christ is our first food of the day.
The requirement was changed to three hours in the 1950s and then
later to just one hour. However, if you are able to fast for three
hours or from midnight, it is an excellent personal devotion. Fasting
is commanded by God throughout the Old and New Testaments (Exodus
34:28, Joel 2:12-13, Acts 13:2). Our Lord himself fasted for forty
days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). By fasting, we become closer to
God by denying ourselves physical pleasures, and by fasting before
Communion, we are able to be truly hungry for our Lord. If, due to
some medical condition, you are unable to fast even one hour, then
the obligation is dispensed.
Dress
Because
the Mass is not a casual event, one should not dress casually. If you
were going to the White House to meet the President of the United
States, you would probably dress nicely. At Mass, you are going to
meet God, who is infinitely greater than any human. Thus, one should
dress nicely and modestly for Mass. As a general rule, men should
wear slacks, a dress shirt, and perhaps a suit or tie. Women should
wear a modest skirt or dress that covers the knees when standing or
sitting. Shoulders and cleavage should also be covered. It is very
important for everyone that clothing be modest. Shorts, short skirts,
tank tops, yoga pants, flip flops, etc. are not appropriate.
Please
do not construe this to mean that one must have fancy or expensive
clothes in order to go to Mass! God welcomes everyone, and Jesus
especially focused on welcoming the poor. Simply dress as nicely as
you can. Give God your best, and that will be enough. If all you have
is jeans, then wear jeans. People will not think any less of you
because of it.
It
is customary for women and girls to cover their heads with a veil,
scarf or appropriate hat. Men and boys, on the other hand, must
always have their heads uncovered in the church. St. Paul commanded
this in his First Epistle to the Corinthians (11:1-17). Although men
and women are both created in the image and likeness of God and both
have crucial roles in God's plan for mankind, this does not imply
that their roles are the same. The theology of the different roles of
men and women is a story for another time, but it is because of these
roles that men have their heads uncovered and women have their heads
covered at church.
As
another perspective, veiling is a sign of sanctity. In the Mass, the
chalice is veiled until the Offertory. The tabernacle, which contains
our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, is veiled. Under the
Old Covenant, the Holy of Holies, which contained the Ark of the
Covenant, was veiled (Hebrews 9:3). Finally, every time the Blessed
Virgin Mary is portrayed in art, she is always veiled. Thus, the
Church calls upon women to cover their heads at Mass. This used to be
required by canon law, but now it is simply preserved by custom. If
you have no suitable head covering, there is no need to worry. Some
parishes have veils for women to borrow, or you can go without one.
Arriving
at the church
Aim
to arrive at the church a
little early, maybe 10-15 minutes before Mass is scheduled to start,
so that you have time to pray and collect yourself before Mass. If
you do not have a traditional missal, many parishes have missals or
booklets for people to borrow. Alternatively, the
website Divinum Officium,
linked in the sidebar, has the full text of the Mass of each day,
which you can print out and bring with you. If
you are using a missal, before Mass, you should locate the Ordinary
of the Mass, the propers for the day, and
the Preface for the day, and
place ribbons in these places.
Children
of any age are welcome at Mass! Jesus himself said, “Let
the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to
such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs” (Matthew 19:14).
Catholics love children. If
your children are old enough to understand what is going on, explain
to them before Mass what is going to happen, and maybe sit near the
front so that they can see what is happening. If
you have infants or toddlers, you might want to sit near the back so
that you can leave
discreetly if necessary.
In any case, please make sure that your kids behave themselves and
are not disruptive to other people at Mass.
Turn
off
your cell phone before you enter the church.
If you are a police officer or medical professional who must be on
call, you can have your phone on vibrate. Otherwise, turn it off.
Nothing is more annoying and disruptive than a cell phone ringing
during Mass. Texting or
checking Facebook
during Mass is not appropriate. Similarly,
food, drink, and chewing gum are not appropriate in the church.
When
you enter the church, dip your finger in the font of holy water,
always located near the entrance, and bless yourself with the Sign of
the Cross. You may genuflect on your right knee toward the altar as
you do so. Blessing ourselves with holy water is a reminder of our
baptism and helps us direct our minds and hearts to God as we enter
his sacred place. Find a pew to sit in, and genuflect toward the
altar before sitting down. If for some reason the tabernacle is not
located behind the main altar, genuflect first toward the tabernacle
and then again toward the altar. Any time we enter or exit our pew
(except to receive Communion) and any time we pass before the altar,
we genuflect as a sign of reverence to God. If
the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, kneel on both knees and make a
profound bow.
Sacred
silence should be maintained in the church at all times. Always
remember that God is present in the tabernacle. In addition, the
church is solemnly consecrated to be a sacred space where the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass is offered. Take some time to pray silently and
spiritually prepare yourself to assist in the Mass. In some parishes,
devotions such as the Rosary may be led publicly before Mass. If
it is necessary to talk to someone, keep it to a soft whisper.
Personal conversations are not appropriate in the church.
Look
up at the crucifix and see our Lord, suffering and dying on the Cross
for our redemption. Meditate on the sacrifice
that
you are about to assist in.
Tell God sincerely that you are sorry for ever having offended him
and that you will strive to never sin again. At many parishes,
confessions are heard before Mass. Finally, greet our Blessed Mother,
Mary, and ask for her intercession as you prepare to assist in the
Holy Sacrifice. A
server will ring a bell to signal the beginning of Mass.
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