Never been to a Traditional Latin Mass Before?
Check out these handy tips!
Here are some common questions & pointers for your first visit!
The language is different.
The prayers are different.
The priest has back turned to me.
What’s going on here?!?!
How is it Different?
Many people who have never attended a Traditional Latin Mass have concerns about what to expect from the experience. Don’t worry! The purpose of the Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo) and the Extraordinary Form (the Latin Mass) are the same: to give glory to God through adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and supplication expressed through the liturgical prayers of and actions of the priests during Mass.
It may seem odd at first, but there are very good reasons to use Latin in a Mass!
Why Latin?
The use of Latin in the Mass maintains unity in the Catholic Church. The use of one common language in all the Latin Rite churches all over the world unifies us. Go to a Latin Mass in Poland, Mexico, Austria or Texas, and you’ll understand what’s going on! If you live in a bilingual area like Southern California, whether the homily is in English or Spanish, you’ll be able to follow along with the words of the Mass itself.
Latin connects us with our past.
It is the language our ancestors prayed in the catacombs.
It is the language so many saints used to pray at Mass throughout the centuries…
this connects us to them!
I don’t speak Latin.
How can I understand what’s going on?
No Worries!
Very few people are fluent in Latin these days, and that’s not a big deal. At the back of the Church, you’ll find Latin missalettes. The ones with red covers are Latin-English; the white covers are Latin-Spanish.
Latin Missalettes
White Book Missals
are Spanish-Latin editions.
Red Book Missals
are English-Latin editions.
I have no idea what’s going on!
Where are we in the missal?
What’s happening?!
If This is Your First
(or even your third or fourth) time attending a Traditional Latin Mass, that’ completely normal, and completely OK! There are a lot of things going on, and just about everyone has trouble “keeping up” the first few times they attend.
If it’s Your Very First Time
Just spend your time observing and praying. You’ll recognize many familiar parts of the Mass. Portions will seem very similar to what you’re used to in the Novus Ordo Mass. Others will seem completely different. At, first, just taking it all in is the most important thing you can do. You’ll see the precision in the rubrics which Father and his altar servers use as they perform their various actions at and around the altar. You’ll see the reverence, the beauty. And, of course, you can observe those around you!
Don’t sit in the front row your very first time.
Sit a few rows back so you can see what everyone else is doing. Again, much of it will be quite familiar. You’ll acclimate quickly. When you’re ready, begin thumbing through one of those Red Book missals which are typically provided at the back of the church.
If you can’t quite find your place,
it’s no big deal!
Regular attendees are quite willing to point out the place where we’re currently at.
Just ask!
Inside the missal you’ll find the prayers side-by-side: Latin on one side, English or Spanish on the other! Pretty soon you’ll be following along like a pro!
Why does Father have his back turned towards us? Seems weird.
The priest faces God,
along with the people.
Our priest offers Mass facing the same direction as the people because he and the people together are offering worship and sacrifice to God. He is not turning his back on the people to exclude them. No way! As a Christian community, we are all facing the altar together, offering Him worship and homage while we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In a TLM,
we all receive on the tongue,
and kneeling (if able).
How does Communion work in a Latin Mass? What’s different?
In the Traditional Latin Mass,
we receive the Eucharist kneeling at the altar rails, and on the tongue (not in the hand). As the priest administers Holy Communion, he will say “Corpus Domini Nostri Iesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam, Amen,”
Which in English means “May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve your soul unto life everlasting. Amen.” Because the priest says “Amen,” there is no need to respond to him as you await reception of the Sacrament.
Is there a dress code?
As a general rule,
You’ll see people attending a TLM dressed a little less casually than you might see at other Masses. That being said, you also see many people dressed in what might be called “nice casual.” Many men wear sport coats, but not all. Many women wear dresses, but not all. Lots of attendees simply show up with modest casual attire. If you arrive for Mass dressed in flip-flops, Bermuda shorts, and a tank top emblazoned with the name of your favorite heavy metal band, well, yeah, you might find yourself just a bit underdressed…
Veils are a beautiful custom! You’ll see a lot of them at a TLM, but wearing one isn’t mandatory.
Do I have to wear a veil, or mantilla, or hat or something?
In the Traditional Latin Mass,
That’s completely up to you! Wearing a veil at Mass is an ancient and beautiful tradition. While it is customary for girls and women to cover their head at a Traditional Latin Mass, this practice certainly isn’t mandatory in most TLM venues. Some communities might be a little more strict on this practice, so you might want to check first.
So…are there formal “dress codes?”
They vary from community to community, but the underlying idea is that we try to dress appropriately when meeting Someone important. Common sense and modesty are really your best guidelines.
If lay people aren’t doing the readings and bringing up the gifts, how do the laity participate?!
As a general rule,
Do people feel “left out” at a Latin Mass? After all, there are no lay people serving as Extraordinary Eucharistic ministers, lectors, or song leaders, or even processing forward with the gifts in a Traditional Latin Mass. So how does a lay person sitting in the pews take part? We assist the priest by praying with him and following his actions on the altar.
​
​We have plenty of work to do!
How do I participate
at a Latin Mass?
By being attentive, responsive, and offering my prayers as the Holy Sacrifice is made!