Categories: uncategorized
Date: 11 November 2006 20:17:39
I went to mass today. Well, I sang in a mass today. It's only the 5th one I've ever been to (all of which I've sung in). It's like a different world!! The previous ones I've been quite a distance from the main bits going on.
It was completely in Latin and all sung. It was quite bizarre just how much I enjoyed it all. Being in the choirstalls, I was right next to the Altar table which meant I could watch what was going on really clearly.
The monk (it was at Prinknash Abbey where there's a monastry) who was leading walked in with the hood on his robe on his head and frequently put it up and down during the service too (looked a bit like a druid!). I've never actually seen a monk with their hood up, I just thought they were for decoration.
And the 'band of followers' (5 other random monks who helped at various points) were 'fascinating' too. Very very lacey surplices, just like doileys. There was 'little' and 'large' who made an interesting 'couple'. And then an old man and a young man (an apprentice?!) and finally the 'chief helper' who often had to pray one handed because he was holding the 'instruction booklet' or the cheif monks robes out of the way. And cheif monk had a cope which looked like it'd been made out of a pair of curtains from the 60's.
So the combination of all that, and the 'bobbing up and down' all the time, and ringing bells, and waving things, and mumbling made it fascinating.
I don't quite get why the 'cheif monk' mumbled so much of the whole service too - what's the point of that? Why doesn't everyone get to join in or at least hear it?!!
And there was a little 'drip tray' just in case anyone dribbled while receiving the wafer.
Apologies if this is completely insulting to anyone (Ian, I'm sure you can explain it all in great detail to me! ;) ), it's not meant to be! I just found it so interesting. So much so that I'm almost thinking about going to another one! Although, I don't think it'd be the same being in the congregation because you can't see or hear what's going on, and you don't get to join in anything at all. Hmmm.