A first-timer’s guide to the Traditional Latin Mass

Last week, I (Autumn Jones) wanted to check out the Traditional Latin Mass for the first time. I’ve always attended the Norvus Ordo and knew little about what to expect. With the pope’s recent motu proprio, which regulates the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, I had a lot of questions. 

Thankfully, my colleague and CNA’s managing editor, Carl Bunderson, was willing to help. Carl has been attending the Traditional Latin Mass for about 12 years. I rolled my office chair over to his desk and asked him everything I could think of. 

We offer this dialogue as a helpful guide for anyone interested in exploring the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite. 

Autumn Jones: Is it illegal to go to a Traditional Latin Mass (TLM)?

Carl Bunderson: By no means. In Traditionis custodes, Pope Francis states that diocesan bishops are to provide priests entrusted with celebrating Traditional Latin Masses and providing pastoral care for groups who use the 1962 Roman Missal. The pope can hardly legislate to provide for something illegal. 

AJ: But what about what Pope Francis said in the motu proprio a couple weeks ago?

CB: Well, he said that where groups exist that use the 1962 Roman Missal, diocesan bishops are “to designate one or more locations where the faithful adherents of these groups may gather for the eucharistic celebration,” and to appoint a priest “entrusted with these celebrations and with the pastoral care of these groups of the faithful.” This means that the faithful are permitted to attend Masses said according to this missal.

AJ: Does a TLM fulfill the Sunday Obligation?

CB: Unquestionably. It is a Mass celebrated in a Catholic rite. 

AJ: What makes a TLM different from my normal Sunday parish mass?

CB: The things that will likely strike you most are that the liturgy is entirely in Latin, and that the priest celebrates facing the same direction as the people. Granted, both of those things can, and (perhaps) should, be done in the Novus Ordo, but in practice they’re about as rare as hen’s teeth. But there are more substantial differences that might not be as immediately striking. 

AJ: Like what? 

CB: The calendar is different; in addition to Lent, there’s a pre-Lenten season called Septuagesima, and the Sundays of what is Ordinary Time in the Novus Ordo are Sundays after Epiphany or Pentecost. The texts of the proper prayers will be different — i.e. the collect at the beginning, the secret, and the post-communion. The offertory prayers are different, and there are additional prayers at Holy Communion and after the priest’s reception. “Lord, I am not worthy…” is said thrice, and the priest says Amen as part of the prayer when distributing Holy Communion. 

AJ: Holy smokes! That’s a lot of differences!

CB: But wait, there’s more! The priest prays the Our Father alone, except for the last line, which is said by the congregation. The readings will be different, and there are generally two rather than three: a gospel, preceded typically by an epistle from St. Paul. The sacrifice is always offered using the Roman canon. The canon is said silently, and there is more silence in general. The proper chants (introit, offertory, communion) are always sung or recited. There is no responsorial psalm; in its place is (usually) a gradual. After the Confiteor and saying “May almightyGod be merciful to you…”, the priest says an additional prayer, “May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon…”, and gives a blessing. During the creed, one always kneels at the “And became incarnate…” There are certainly more differences, but I’m afraid I’m not allowed to bore you. 

AJ: Ha! Do I respond to any of the things the priest says? How will I know what to say or what to do and when to do it?

CB: You’ll likely be lost the first time, and that’s okay. As Venerable Pius XII wrote in Mediator Dei, “the chief element of divine worship must be interior.” Just try to follow the gestures of those around you. Many churches that offer the traditional Mass will provide some sort of aid to those new to this form; the most ubiquitous is the “red booklet”, which contains the ordinary prayers in Latin and English on facing pages. Proper prayers will usually be on an inserted paper. Or, you can bring your own missal to follow along with. Many parishes will have introductory classes from time to time, so check the parish bulletin. It is praiseworthy to follow along with the texts, and that should be your long-term goal, but don’t sweat it your first few times. 

At sung Masses the choir makes the responses to the priest’s prayers; in some places the congregation makes the responses as well, and this is to be commended. At low Masses, however, only the servers respond to the priest.

AJ: Wait. What’s a low Mass? Is there a high Mass?

CB: Well, the fullest form of the Mass (excepting those said by bishops) is a Solemn Mass. In this form, the priest is assisted by a deacon and a subdeacon, and both the ordinary and propers are chanted. Incense is used, and there are typically a number of servers. The ministers exchange the kiss of peace, and the Asperges, a sprinkling rite, are sung on Sundays.

Next in solemnity to the Solemn Mass is the Missa Cantata, or sung Mass. There is neither deacon nor subdeacon, but both the ordinary and propers are chanted. Incense is typically used, and there are still a decent number of servers. The Asperges are sung on Sundays. The experience is much like being at a Solemn Mass; both are sometimes referred to as high Mass.

A low Mass is much quieter than Solemn or sung Masses. The ordinary and propers are not chanted, but only recited. There is neither deacon nor subdeacon. Incense is not typically used, and there are fewer servers. There are no Asperges.

AJ: Which Mass—low or high—should I try first?

CB: You should go to a sung Mass. Just immerse yourself in the music, and follow along as best you can, but focus more on what the choir is doing than on what the priest is. If the choir is singing Gregorian chant, you can sit and meditate on the words of the psalm and really pray the Mass. It takes work to participate actively in the Tridentine Mass, but if you put the time and effort in, it will be worth it.