What to Expect When Attending Mass
When attending the Mass at St. Joseph's, a reverent
demeanor should be maintained whenever possible. The true
sacrifice of our Lord Jesus takes place at every Mass.
If you wish to go to confession, arrive at lease 20
minutes before Mass. Only one priest is available. He must
exit the confessional 10 minutes before Mass.
Appropriate and modest attire is desired in this parish.
Men wear no head covering. Women wear a hat or mantilla or
chapel veil. Veils are available on a table just inside of
the main door of the church. Traditionally, single women
wear white, married and widowed women wear black or other
colors
Fonts just inside the entrances contain holy water most
of the year. Dip a finger in the water and bless yourself by
making the Sign of the Cross.
Only Catholics in the state of grace – meaning absent a
mortal sin – may receive communion, A common rule of thumb
is to go to Confession monthly, but in fact the church
requires one to go only once a year, during Eastertide.
Communion is received in only one species, bread and on
the tongue as one kneels at the altar rail.
One genuflects or makes a dignified bow of the head upon
entering or departing a pew and when passing before the
consecrated host, at St. Joseph's almost always to be found
at the main altar.
If one finds it necessary to speak out, other than when
participating in the mass, one does so in a whisper.
At almost all times of the year a bell is rung when Mass
is about to begin, signaling the entrance of the priest. He
often enters from a door at the side of the altar and
sometimes up the center aisle.
Stand as the priest enters. The red missals in the pews
have Latin and English facing pages. Also in the pews are
hymnals and booklets of Gregorian chant. For the first-time
visitor, arriving 15 minutes before Mass allows enough time
to read the explanation in the missal about the rite
observed at St. Joseph's. Helpful explanations of what is
transpiring are found throughout the missal.
The Mass at St. Joseph's is most commonly called the
Tridentine Mass, after the Italian city of Tridenta
(Trent) where the Council of Trent was held. This is the
Mass as it was said prior to Vatican II (1962 Missal), not a
Latin version of the New Order of the Mass, which came about
after Vatican II (1970 Missal).
The congregation is encouraged to sing during the Mass.
Some parts of the Mass call for the congregation to
participate with responses to the priest. At the High Mass,
depending on the occasion, there is both singing and
chanting.
It makes sense for the newcomer to arrive ten minutes
before attending their first High Mass so as to read then
pre-mass Asperges (Solemn Sprinkling with Holy Water),
lovely in wording, purpose and the way it's wording is sung.
During High Mass incense is used. This powder gives off a
fragrant smoke and when blessed is a symbolic sacramental.
Its burning signifies fervor, its fragrance virtue, and its
rising smoke prayer going up to God.
At the end of the Mass, one waits to depart until the
priest himself leaves the altar through the side door or via
the center aisle. At that point, one may leave even if there
is a postlude of music.
Depending on the weather, the priest will be found
outside the main door or just inside it. If a question
cannot be held until the end of Mass, one may step
discretely to the rear of the church and pose the question
to an usher.
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