Back to the future: Traditional Latin Mass

You are invited....

On June 29, 2008, Sunday, at 9:30 A.M., Fr. Grato Germanetto, CRS, will celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (Traditional Latin Mass) according to the 1962 Roman Missal in the Parish of St. Jerome Emiliani in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

We invite you to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with us, and worship in the same manner as your grandparents: at the Traditional Latin Mass — the Mass that the saints glorified and for which the martyrs gave their lives.

The first thing people need to know about the Tridentine Mass is that it’s emphasis is silent prayer and quiet reflection. This means that from the moment you walk into the church, you change all your actions from social to prayerful.

Movements should be reverent and slow. Absolutely no talking, not even a “Hi!” Treat the Mass is if you were at the foot of the Crucifixion of Christ, silently watching Him offer is sacrifice for your sins, because that is what the Mass is, even the Novus Ordo Mass. Treat the Tabernacle is if you were being presented face to face with the Triune God in Heaven for the first time, because that is who is in that Tabernacle. Christ said to Saint Gertrude: “One idle word in church is worth a hundred years in Purgatory.” Of course, “idle” means unnecessary but what words are necessary?

1. Dress as if you have died and were about to see God face to face in Heaven.

2. Men should never go to Mass in shorts or short sleeve shirts.

3. Women should dress modestly and feminine (not like men).

4. Women should use veils as is traditional but not mandatory.

5. Please remember to kneel, sit and stand during the proper times at Holy Mass:

KNEEL: Beginning of Holy Mass; at the SANCTUS; at the Agnus Dei; at the Final Blessing; and when the Bishop passes.

SIT: At the readings of the Epistle and at the Sermon.

STAND: When the priest enters/leaves the church; at the Gospel; at the Creed; at the Pater Noster; and at the Last Gospel.

6. Music is sung like a whisper. The choir is taught to sing to God and not to the people. The choir is well trained and any singing along should be done very quietly so as not to interrupt the trained singers.

7. Follow along with the mass in the Missal (English on one side and Latin on the other). If you do not have one and the church has not provided the missalette at the pews, you may avail of the locally printed missalette (at church entrance). Your donation to defray printing cost is welcome.

8. After reading the words of the Tridentine you will see that most of the Mass the priest is praying to God and only when he turns and faces the people does he speak to the people. This is the high priest (Christ) praying to the Father for us. It is Christ offering His sacrifice for us, and we are just there watching and thanking God.

9. Remember that people are there to pray, so do not fidget with your rosary or make sounds or movements that would distract others from prayer. Just use common Church etiquette, which means making others comfortable around you.

10. When going to communion stay in line and go to the next space at the altar rail and kneel down and wait for the priest to come to you. If there is a communion cloth over the altar rail, but your hands under it.

11. The communicant does not say “Amen” in response to the priest’s “Corpus Dominie nostri…” [May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve your soul unto everlasting life.”] You will receive communion on the tongue, bow your head a moment and get up and go back to your pew. Remain kneeling until the priest starts the final prayers of the Mass.

12. After Mass leave the church without talking because a great many people will remain inside praying and you do not want to interrupt God. After some distance from the front door, it is time to socialize and share your faith with others. [In the future we hope to invite the faithful to the social hall (basement) for coffee and donuts because Catholics should get to know each other but not in church. In the past everything was done at the church and boys and girls met there, husbands and wives met for the first time at church. Friends were made there. Faith was shared and taught at the church. Socialization builds a parish but prayer builds faith.]