He says:
I thought the best plan of action was to just sit at the back, observe and join in with the Latin I knew, without trying to flick around in the booklet to follow it.I think that this is a good approach for anyone who is new to the older form of the Mass: you can look through a booklet or missal later when you are a little more used to what is going on.
(See: The Hermeneutic's Party)
2 comments:
I would encourage anyone interested to have a bit more interest than to just sit at the back and join in with the bits they know.
You know ALL of it, folks. This time, it's in 3-D technicolour.
Most of the Old Masses put out booklets at the back with a word for word translation. Many will put out a translation of the gospel and other readings for the day as well. My children (12 and 8) are able to participate fully following the booklets put out for us. Like Richard, my son says he likes it for the lack of mucking about that we are so used to. We also sit at the front. (Unlike the usual Parish Fayre where we sit as far to the back as is possible so as to faciliate an early getaway.)
Sit up the front, Richard and get into it !!
St. Bernadette, whose feast we celebrate today, would be proud of you, Bernadette, for your sage advice to Richard. Can you imagine her sitting before her heavenly visitor during an apparition, behind the crowds? How much more fitting to be kneeling as close to the altar as possible when Christ comes down to nourish us with his Body and Blood. At the very least, that's what active participation means.
Grab that missal or pamphlet, Richard, and follow along personally as intensely as you can. All things considered, we get out of Mass what we put into it, or, as Bernadette says, get into it so you'll get more out of it.
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