reluctantly asking to be pinged. We took our houseguest to the local Latin Mass yesterday. He’ll be here six weeks so I’m not going to decide about it until he’s gone and will go with him every week. I will go buy a mantilla at the local Catholic store but I will not wear panty hose in Kansas in August. I will also start taking an Advil before I go since kneeling for over an hour is hard on this old body.
As for extended kneeling -- if you wear a below-knee-length skirt, nobody need know that you have your gardening kneepads on! (nobody noticed mine!!!!) I went to Mass at the Cathedral -- they not only have very minimally padded kneelers (unlike the nice cushy ones at our parish), there are NO KNEELERS at the rail, just hard marble!!!!! Thought I was gonna die waiting for the priest and his cadre of acolytes ... there's some real penance!
Excellent idea to try the Latin Mass and see if you like it. Many of us can’t live without it, but it is not something to make yourself miserable about. Mantilla hint: Use a bobby pin in the top or stitch a small hair comb into the front. Stockings: If your skirt is lower-calf (tea length in the old tongue), I wouldn’t worry about the stockings. If anyone can tell that those 3-4 inches of exposed ankle are uncovered, they’re looking too close and need to go to confession!
Happy Chanting!