Sunday, December 25, 2011

Any words of wisdom?

I want to attend the Extraordinary Form as a way to continue increasing my faith, and I'm thinking about doing it on Jan 1st since the Cathedral only does it on the 1st Sunday of the month. It will depend on Steven's work schedule since I want to go together, but regardless I want to go the first time that we can. I am even thinking about buying a head covering for it, but I might wait until after the first time I go in case I decide to always just attend the ordinary form. Anyway, I've never been before and don't really know what to expect. I know some things like it will be in Latin and they will face the tabernacle and altar, but beyond that... how do our parts change? Do I need to take something with me to know the Latin responses? I only know the few that we sometimes do in mass. Are we still sitting/standing/kneeling at the same times? I will read up a little online as well, but wondering for those who attend if there is anything you think I should know going into it. Thanks!

6 comments:

  1. There are booklets there for you to follow along with the Latin on the left side of the page and the English translation on the right. You don't really say any responses - all the responses are usually said by the altar servers only. If you just sit toward the back, you can watch other people and follow along. It's kind of confusing the first time and I was grateful I went my first time with my husband and his family so they could guide me a bit. My husband and I usually go, but we'll still be out of town next Sunday. If you don't end up going, you can meet us there for the first Sunday in February and you can follow along with us.

    The church (chapel really) that my husband's family goes to in Colorado Springs only has Latin Masses, I think two every Sunday and no woman would dare go without a head covering (there are even ones at the entrance of the church to borrow), but when we've gone in Raleigh, only maybe half of the women have a head covering. I wouldn't go without one because it doesn't feel right , but I think no one would really notice if you didn't have one. You can always just use some kind of scarf that you already have for the first time.

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  2. Oh, do get there early though, because the first time we went, all the books were already taken by the time we got there. I will warn you though, it's pretty difficult to follow along the first time (I let David turn the pages when we get to it because he was training to be an altar server at Latin Mass and has it all down pretty well). Don't get discouraged the first time - it gets easier over time! At first I struggled through it but I really enjoy it now!

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  3. Hey Stacy! Why do you think the Extraordinary Form would increase your faith, just out of curiosity? I've been to, and enjoyed, Latin Mass, but I'm not sure I would say it's increased my faith necessarily anymore than attending any Mass does. But, I also wear a head covering to Mass in English...! So maybe I'm just odd!

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  4. Good question, Martha! It may not increase my faith... but so far everything new we have added has done exactly that, and has made me more excited about the faith, made me want to learn even more, made me want to incorporate even more into our everyday life, and helped lead me into other things. I actually have a post coming up in a day or two about one of the other things we are doing (and will have more posts on this topic in the future). I love the Tradition of the Catholic church and have always loved hearing my dad talk about the way mass was when he was little, so I guess that's part of it too.

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  5. I think that's great that you are getting more into your faith! Delving into your faith more is important, and adding new practices can be very helpful. But of course there's a different between tradition with a small "t" and Tradition with a big "T"!
    Enjoying Mass in any language - Latin, English, Spanish, etc. does help to remind us that the church is everywhere and is incredibly varied in its worship. Just so long as we're going on Sundays, and any other day we can, I think it's a good thing!

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  6. Yes the big T is what I love! :) I've seen mass in Latin in Rome but it was so rushed that it was hard for me to focus so I'm excited to see that again.

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