The documents of the Second Vatican council call for a full, active (or actual depending on the translation) participation of the laity in the Mass. Keeping that in mind let us consider the Mass. The Mass is the Rite in which we celebrate the sacramental Mystery of the Eucharist. Mystery in the sacraments is not the same as in a mystery novel. In a mystery novel there is a specific mystery which must be understood and then solved. The mystery of a sacrament cannot be understood or solved, just deepened. Many people will say that they enjoy knowing what is going on in the english Novus Ordo Mass, but no one can know what is going on in Mass. The Church speaks of the Mass as a re-presentation of the mystery of Christ's death on Calvary. The Mass has been described as a participation in the Liturgy of Heaven that St. John describes in the book of Revelation. In the Eucharist, the Church believes that Jesus Christ is present under the form of Bread and Wine, as he said at the last supper, "This is my Body, This is the Cup of the New Covenant in my Blood". These are not things to say, "I understand", but rather, "I enter in to this mystery". It takes effort to follow the Low Mass in the Missal. To keep pace, and to enter into the prayers demands full attention and active participation. As the priest whispers the prayers, the mind naturally feels drawn into a mystery, a secret, and a thing not easily known. In that way the Low Mass does feel like a mystery novel. The priest and the alter server are participating in an act that is secretive and we are attempting to break into that mystery without disturbing it.
The silence in the low Mass, is for me, the best part. Blessed John Paul II in the Theology of the Body, speaks of the love between a man and his wife, as an image of the Trinity. There is an aspect of that love I want to engage, and that is silent whispers. When I am with friends I am usually engaged in conversation, when i am praying privately I usually pray in silence, but with my wife I have both times of conversation and of silence. I also sometimes have a whispered conversation with her, and that is an intimate conversation. The silent whisperings of the Low Mass convey a similar intimacy for me. When I receive the Eucharist, I am receiving Christ into myself, not in a sexual way, but in a profoundly unitive manner. While the Low Mass is still public worship it becomes at the same time personal and contemplative.
I am quite thankful for our Holy Father Benedict XVI for the permissions granted in the Motu Proprio allowing wider usage of the Extraordinary form. I encourage everyone to attend the Extraordinary Form Mass at least a few times (expect to be confused the first several times if you've never been before, but persevere) in order to better understand even the Novus Ordo Mass. Go and experience the music and the beautiful liturgy of the High Mass, but do not neglect the small wonders of the Low Mass.
In omne, Deo Gratias.
