Traditional Mass Vs. Nontraditional Mass
Catholic Mass is traditionally celebrated on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. There are two parts to a Catholic Mass: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In a traditional setting, Mass is sometimes said in Latin, and traditional religious music is used. In a non-traditional Mass, more modern religious music is used, and the message of the homilies focuses on hot-topic issues.
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Liturgy of the Word
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The Second Vatican Council changed the way Mass is performed. It was a conference involving the Pope, Cardinals and Bishops to discuss the way Mass was performed, and the efficacy of the Catholic Church as an institution. In Catholic Masses before the second Vatican Council, the entire mass was recited in Latin, with the priest facing away from the congregation; most traditional Masses today are performed in English.
In traditional Masses, homilies relate directly to the two readings -- one from the Old Testament, and another from the epistles of St. Paul and the Gospel reading. Non-traditional homilies may not always focus on the text and its interpretation, but rather on some modern, hot-button issue, or may even focus on the younger members of the congregation.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
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This is the part of the Mass where the bread and wine are blessed. Catholics believe that they are transubstantiated into the body and blood of Jesus, and they are partaken of by the congregation. The prayers and blessings were recited in Latin in traditional Mass settings, prior to Vatican II; now, in both non-traditional and traditional Masses, the prayers and blessings are recited in English. In traditional Masses, only members of the church are encouraged to participate in the partaking of the Eucharist, but in non-traditional Masses, all comers are welcome to partake.
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Congregation Participation
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In traditional Masses, the congregation's participation is limited to responding to the priest, joining in prayers and hymns, and partaking of the Eucharist. In a non-traditional Mass, members of the congregation can become lectors, who do the two readings before the Gospel; cantors, who lead the congregation in the hymns and sung responses; and Eucharistic ministers, who give the body and blood.
Music
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Traditional music for a Mass includes religious hymns and settings in Latin. Many hymns share the same tunes and are based on familiar settings; traditional settings involve verses, resembling poems, which are sung. Some of these hymns go back to Puritan times. An organist provides the accompaniment for the hymns. In non-traditional Masses, a smaller choir may perform modern, upbeat religious music; some of these songs are Christian rock songs.
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