Thoughts on today's Traditional Latin Mass

From my own blog:

I attended Low Mass in the extraordinary form this afternoon. Having grown up experiencing the Novus Ordo I was lost in quite a few places and found it odd that the I couldn't hear most of what Fr Augustine Tay was praying. But I guess that's because I'm not used to it. I think I need to learn more about the significance of the Mass and especially on the congregation's role - how best to concentrate and immerse oneself in the Tridentine Mass.

The level of reverence and dignity is certainly very beautiful. The most moving moment was during the consecration: the priest genuflects and then elevates the consecrated Host and the bells start ringing and so does the main chapel bell as if announcing to the world that something wonderful was taking place inside - the greatest miracle on earth was taking place. Beautiful!

The prayers too are very rich and I feel excellent even as personal prayers or to reflect upon outside Mass.

Here's the picture that was on the cover of the misalette. It's so full of meaning:

When a Mass is celebrated, we pray for and with the whole world. We are joined by all the saints, the angels and our Blessed Mother worshipping the Triune God. And the merits of that Mass are used to help our brothers and sisters in Purgatory. Wonderful!

Accept, most Holy Trinity, this offering which we are making to Thee in remembrance of the passion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, Our Lord; and in honor of blessed Mary, ever Virgin, Blessed John the Baptist, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and of (name of the Saints whose relics are in the Altar) and of all the Saints; that it may add to their honor and aid our salvation; and may they deign to intercede in heaven for us who honor their memory here on earth. Through the same Christ our Lord.

Here's another picture I found that I love very much. I think it represents the words of a prayers also found in the First Eucharistic Prayer (the Roman Canon) of the Novos Ordo

Father, we celebrate the memory of Christ, your Son. We, your people and your ministers, recall his passion, his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension into glory; and from the many gifts you have given us we offer to you, God of glory and majesty, this holy and perfect sacrifice: the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation.

Look with favor on these offerings and accept them as once you accepted the gifts of your servant Abel, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the bread and wine offered by your priest Melchizedek.

Almighty God, we pray that your angel may take this sacrifice to your altar in heaven. Then, as we receive from this altar the sacred body and blood of your Son, let us be filled with every grace and blessing. [Through Christ our Lord. Amen.]

Finally, I know this is a prayer which the priest is supposed to say during the Mass, but I found it a wonderful prayer before communion for myself too:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Who, by the will of the Father, with the cooperation of the Holy Ghost, hast by Thy death given life to the world: deliver me by this Thy most sacred Body and Blood from all my iniquities and from every evil: make me always cling to Thy commandments, and never suffer me to be separated from Thee, Who with the same God the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, God, world without end. Amen.

Let not the partaking of Thy Body, Lord Jesus Christ, which I, though unworthy, presume to receive, turn to my judgment and condemnation; but through Thy loving kindness, may it be to me a safeguard and a remedy for soul and body, Who with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever. Amen.

And finally we had one of my favourite prayers after Mass:

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

The vespers and benediction were beautiful too! The Litany of Loreto in Latin was a first (I've heard it on EWTN but never actual prayed it live).

Hopefully I can attend Tridentine Mass more often.