"Said Mass"

[lisa1978]

Although I've been a Christian for most of my life I've just begun at a new anglican church. It is higher than I am used to and there is a "sung mass" and a "said mass".

What is a "said mass"?

I'd appreciate your help as I don't know which service to go to.

[AveMaria]

I'm going to guess that 'Said Mass' (which is a term I'm not familiar with) is used to differentiate itself from 'Sung Mass'. And the 'Said Mass' is spoken normally, rather than being sung or chanted.

[Albion]

Although I've been a Christian for most of my life I've just begun at a new anglican church. It is higher than I am used to and there is a "sung mass" and a "said mass".

What is a "said mass"?

I'd appreciate your help as I don't know which service to go to.

The words in the Holy Communion service (sometimes called the 'Mass') can either be spoken as written...or chanted. The former is called a "said ___" and the latter is often called a "sung ___." Either can be dignified and uplifting and many people appreciate them both in their own respective ways.

Usually, the Said Mass is accompanied by fewer anthems and ceremony, whereas the Sung Mass is generally more elaborate all around. In many parishes, a Said Mass is held early on Sunday and a Sung Mass around 10 or 11:00, and people take their pick.

[alban]

The said mass at my church is a standard eucharist service but with no hymns, organ etc. Essentially it is just the spoken part of the mass. As a result i often find the atmosphere to be a lot more reflective (especially as usually there is only 10 people or so), and the service would probably only last about 20 minutes or so.

[PaladinValer]

The said Mass is the liturgy simply spoke.

The sung Mass is the liturgy either chanted, sung, or both.

Personally, I prefer the latter, especially on holy days.

[Albion]

The said mass at my church is a standard eucharist service but with no hymns, organ etc. Essentially it is just the spoken part of the mass. As a result i often find the atmosphere to be a lot more reflective (especially as usually there is only 10 people or so), and the service would probably only last about 20 minutes or so.

That's common. Unfortunately, because the Said "Mass" is shorter already, there is a tendency to shorten it even further by abbreviating the sermon with the idea that the early risers tend to be older people who would prefer a shorter service. But as you say, the smaller, earlier, and simpler service can foster a sense of reflection and intimacy.

[cenimo]

Said Mass for us is the same that alban described....everything is spoken, no chanting and no music.

[SirTimothy]

I would hate a 20 minute service if only 10 people were there. I would add extra time at the communion rail for us to kneel in the presence of Almighty God, and praise God together.
Maybe that's just me though...

Timothy

[benedictine]

Add Benediction and Morning Prayer (maybe Noon prayer afterwards, with a possible recitation of the Rosary.)










;)

[Lel]

I'm a bit different, I suppose, but I personally do not like sung Masses, and much prefer a said Mass. I love singing, but I focus so much on the music that it distracts me from God. Thus, no music, and I can concentrate a bit better.

You can always try both services and see which you prefer.

[Albion]

I'm a bit different, I suppose, but I personally do not like sung Masses, and much prefer a said Mass. I love singing, but I focus so much on the music that it distracts me from God. Thus, no music, and I can concentrate a bit better.

You can always try both services and see which you prefer.

I believe many agree with those sentiments. In fact, virtually everyone in my parish seems to prefer not to have the distractions from prayer and mediation that too much "showiness" presents. That's what they say.

[Lel]

I believe many agree with those sentiments. In fact, virtually everyone in my parish seems to prefer not to have the distractions from prayer and mediation that too much "showiness" presents. That's what they say.

I can understand that, although for me it's not so much showiness as the fact that I focus too much on following the music and listening for proper harmonic structures instead of the words.

[Albion]

I can understand that, although for me it's not so much showiness as the fact that I focus too much on following the music and listening for proper harmonic structures instead of the words.

I understand that there's a distinction to be made, but many parishioners I know seem to feel that what you say and an excess of ceremony do the same damage.

Obviously, everyone finds some distractions more distracting than others and each one of us has our own thoughts as to which distract more.

[Fish and Bread]

I understand that there's a distinction to be made, but many parishioners I know seem to feel that what you say and an excess of ceremony do the same damage.

Obviously, everyone finds some distractions more distracting than others and each one of us has our own thoughts as to which distract more.

I think sometimes what one grows up with can play a factor as well. Having grown up with Roman Catholicism, if there isn't enough attention to liturgy, music, and ceremonial things, it's actually very distracting for me, because it's so different than what was ingrained into me as the right way to do church at a young age. The vestments and music and the repetition of the same (or close to the same) reverently done liturgy week after week create an atmosphere where I feel immersed in the presence of God. It's a little like Pavlov's dog syndrome, to a certain extent -- I need the right cues to feel as though something is truly a service or a mass at a gut level (Regardless of my intellectual take on the matter) and to feel relaxed enough to enjoy it spiritually. I also think the sense of creating something otherworldly can make people understand the set apart nature of what they are doing a bit more fully, and the historic liturgy can create a sense of connection to the communion of saints who worshipped in a similar way in years past.

That said, I think it's mostly simply an issue of what is going to work best for the group of people involved. Liturgy and music are important only in so far as they can create a closer connection to God for some people. If other people connect in different ways, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with that, though I do think some common practices within a denomination need to be maintained for the sake of unity like adherence to the BCP, even if we allow deviation in terms of other things like music versus no music, incense versus no incense, ornate vestments versus simple vestments, etc.

John

[Lel]

I understand that there's a distinction to be made, but many parishioners I know seem to feel that what you say and an excess of ceremony do the same damage.

Obviously, everyone finds some distractions more distracting than others and each one of us has our own thoughts as to which distract more.

Oh, sure, it's the same damage, I'm just saying there are different reasons. No matter, I still do better with a simpler said mass anyway.