The first Mass that I attended in Finland was in English, on a freezing dark winter evening. After I settled, I started remembering my “good days” of going to Mass daily. So I started attending Finnish Mass without knowing any Finnish. It was not easy at the beginning, when I used to pray in my own language (Spanish) as I listened to the Finnish. As a new academic year is starting, I decided to write this guide for all the people who are new in this country, to make it easier for you to follow the Mass in Finnish. And I seriously encourage you go to weekday Mass, because even if you do not know that much Finnish, you can always learn!
The Order of Mass. In most parishes in Finland, there are red* books called Cantemus available at the back of the church. At the beginning of the book there is a complete order of the Mass and the end, you'll find a simpler one in Finnish (as in the photo above).
However, Cantemus is not your only option. The order of Mass is also available at the beginning of the blue plastic-covered song books, and in that version you have handy little figures that show if you should be standing, sitting or kneeling during that part of the Mass.
However, Cantemus is not your only option. The order of Mass is also available at the beginning of the blue plastic-covered song books, and in that version you have handy little figures that show if you should be standing, sitting or kneeling during that part of the Mass.
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