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Sunday, February 5, 2012

ARCHBISHOP WENSKI CELEBRATES PONTIFICAL SOLEMN HIGH MASS IN THE EXTRAORDINARY FORM IN MIAMI, OVER 1200 ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD AND CANDLEMAS

UPDATE THE FULL VIDEO!!!!
My Comments First: In an earlier post, I declared that the rupture between the manner in which the Ordinary Form of the Sung Mass is celebrated in most parishes today with how the Extraordinary Form of the Mass is sung is so great that if a person who is about 40 and a practicing Catholics all their life, went to an EF Sung (High) Mass for the first time, they would probably think they had entered a Hindu Temple so different is the EF celebration of the Mass compared to what that person would have experienced all his life by attending the OF Mass as celebrated today. Did Vatican II's document on the Liturgy really envision that kind of rupture? No! I don't think Pope Paul VI envision that sort of rupture either. But the unbridled liberal "spirit of Vatican II" did foresee such a rupture and placed a gigantic wedge between what preceded Vatican II and what came after through a progressive theology gone bizerk.

In the letter from Archbishop Wenski's secretary inviting the priests of the archdiocese to attend this "historic" celebration, it states Archbishop Wenski's hope of mutual enrichment between the two forms of the one Roman Rite. "By becoming more familiar with and deeply rooted in the Mass of the 1962 Missale Romanum, we can better understand the Missale Romanum of Pope Paul VI and its accompanying ars celebrandi" [art of celebrating the Mass of Paul VI].

The good archbishop is correct. Only by going to the Mass that is meant to be the very foundation of the revised Mass promulgated by Pope Paul VI and revised by Pope John Paul II in 2003 (Latin Version)and the revised English version in 2011, can we truly appreciate how to celebrate the Ordinary Form of the Mass.

What is the "ars celebrandi" of the Ordinary Form of the Mass taken directly from its foundation the Extraordinary Form? I list what it has done for me:

1. Attention to detail and choreography--there is no reason not to choreograph the OF Mass in the same manner as the EF Mass in terms of movements, especially those of the altar servers. There is no reason not to have beautiful vestments for priests, deacons and altar servers that are sumptuous in their noble simplicity.

2. Good liturgical music base upon Gregorian Chant and singing all the propers including the Introit and offertory and Communion antiphons and a genre of music added as filler and for devotional purposes that are within the same sort of chant genre even if with melody and/or polyphony or even more extravagant.

3. The priest paying close attention to all the simplified rubrics of the OF Mass and following them scrupulously.

4. The Benedictine altar arrangement for facing the people or a consistent celebrating of the OF Mass Ad Orientem.

5. Some Latin added to the vernacular--this really needs legislation though. The new Roman Missal in English clearly desires the following to be known by congregations in Latin as these are the only prayers in Latin in this new Missal: the Kyrie (which is Greek); the Sanctus; the Pater Noster (not ignotus) and the Agnus Dei.

What would the EF Mass benefit from the OF Mass?

1. The Liturgy of the Word as it is celebrated in the OF Mass but allowing for the Gradual which is actually allowed in the OF Mass (but how many have ever heard that apart from Pope Benedict's Christmas Mass?)

2. Some vernacular (specifically for the readings of Scripture, but also for some of the laity's parts, i.e prayers at the foot of the altar (which are more devotional in nature rather than liturgical) and perhaps the Gloria and Credo, but in chant fashion when sung and perhaps the changing parts of the Mass that the priest prays or the choir sings, like the Introit, Offertory and Communion antiphons and the Collect, Secret and Post Communion Prayers--all that remains fixed (including the Canon) would remain in Latin.

3. I would recommend the 1965 Missal Order of the EF Mass which eliminate the Last Gospel, makes as the norm, the "Requiem" Prayers at the Foot of the Altar and allows for an audible Roman Canon synchronized with the choir (the priest joins in singing the parts of the Mass with the choir and congregation, rather than being on a separate track saying the Mass quietly as the choir sings their own separately.

(On Second thought, what I suggest for the EF Mass, should in fact become the New Roman Missal for everyone!)

Dear Monsignors/Fathers:

The celebration of a Pontifical High Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite for
the feast of Candlemas will be celebrated by Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski on February 2nd
at 7:30pm at the Church of the Epiphany. All priests are welcome to attend.
This wonderful celebration is an opportunity to experience beautiful music in its intended
spiritual setting, but also to be immersed in the rich symbolism of the Tridentine Mass. It is
the Archbishop’s hope that this event will serve as a means for “mutual enrichment,” as
Pope Benedict XVI has noted, between the Extraordinary and Ordinary Forms of the
Roman Rite. By becoming more familiar with and deeply rooted in the Mass of the 1962
Missale Romanum, we can better understand the Missale Romanum of Pope Paul VI and its
accompanying ars celebrandi.
Attached you will find instructions for Clergy.
Many thanks,

Fr. Richard J. Vigoa
Priest Secretary to the Archbishop of Miami

This video is from a local newscast, yes, it made the local news! Listen to the newscaster introducing the piece--he can hardly believe that the Mass is celebrated in LATIN! Horror of horrors!
BY THE WAY, THE MASS IN THE EXTRAORDINARY FORM FOR SEPTUAGESIMA IS CELEBRATED TODAY, FEBRUARY 5 AT 2:00 pm AS A HIGH MASS, VIOLET VESTMENTS! WILL WE GET A PACKED CHURCH?

AND NEXT SUNDAY FATHER DAWID WILL CELEBRATE A EF LOW MASS FOR SEXAGESIMA AT 2:00 PM AS A KICK OFF FOR OUR NEW YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY FOLLOWING THE MASS, BUT ALL ARE INVITED TO THE MASS.

11 comments:

Joseph Johnson said...

Catholics will not become "more familiar with and deeply rooted in the 1962 Missal" until it is celebrated with some (even periodic and occasional) regularity in parishes. There needs to be a concerted effort to make this happen. Bishops should openly encourage (as has Wenski) priests to make time to learn it.

Anonymous said...

The full 2 hr 52 min video of this solemn pontifical Mass is well worth a look. It is available for download at

livemass.net/LiveMass/Live.html

This Mass was exemplary in several ways--perhaps in splendor second only among broadcast TLMs to the April 2010 Mass at the NBSIC--partly for the participation of diocesan priests in choir (perhaps 40 or more, mostly young) of the Archdiocese of Miami, and for the chanting of the propers by a choir of young nuns from the archdiocese.

A notable feature of the video is that probably few Catholics alive now have ever witnessed the full pontifical ceremonies of Candlemas, with the entrance with cappa magna, the blessing of candles with all the traditional prayers, the Candlemass procession with all the specified antiphons chanted, then vesting of the bishop while pontifical Terce is sung, and finally the solemn pontifical Mass itself. I felt that the eloquent but unobtrusive commentary throughout by Fr. Calvin Goodwin FSSP, explaining incisively the Sacrifice of the Mass generally as well as pontifical ceremony specifically, was so informative as to be worth the time.

Holy Communion was unusually interesting. The assisting clergy and priests in choir approached in pairs to kneel and receive over a cloth stretched before the archbishop by two acolytes. Then most of the 1200 in attendance appeared to receive, all kneeling despite the lack of an altar rail in the church. While there were a few prie deux at the side. most of the people simply knelt on the floor before the altar steps.

Marc said...

The full Mass can be streamed or downloaded by going here: http://www.livemass.net.

This Mass was coordinated by the FSSP, who continue to do great things for the Church.

I agree with many of your other ideas about the revisions to the OF and, as you mention in your bulletin letter this week, adding back in the season of Septuagessima is really imperative to the working of the calendar. It is a shame it's missing now and that might be one of the more major problems with the OF calendar.

I usually advocate the continued use of the Latin; however, seeing how the Mass can be celebrated in the Anglican Use with the hieratic English, yet in the Tridentine Form, I have hope that English could work for some portions. This could be a very good thing for the ordinariness to bring to the universal Church.

I do think the silent Canon is prudential, though, and would disagree with changing that. There is no need for the people to participate in the priest's private prayer on behalf of the people. The advent of better music in most parishes would alleviate the need for the audible canon.

Marc

Anonymous said...

Also, an "extraordinary" article on the pontifical Mass at the Archdiocese of Miami web site:

http://www.miamiarch.org/ip.asp?op=Article_1224115643853

Bill said...

The "ancient Mass", which in the ignorance of the reporter only became ancient a little more than 40 years ago. Until then, it was the contemporary Mass.

What a magnificent Mass it must have been!

Anonymous said...

This return to basics is very important. As for Part I, #5 of you post, I agree and would note that the 1962 Missal has the virtually the entire Mass side by side in English/Latin, making this relatively easy to do. Also the Catholic Truth Society has the Roman Missal, 3rd edition with the 'split screen' translations. The only thing about that version is some of it varies from the US Ordinary, so I am told. I'll pick one up this summer and see for myself.

We MUST regain the reverence in Mass. this morning we went ot our 'regular' parish and they were changing everything to inclusive genderless and the time before Mass sounded like a festival with lots of yammering, etc. We didn't have time for blessing the throats, but had a presentation of scout badges before dismissal. Lots of fun all around! My face paint ran, though.

rcg

Gene said...

RCG, Damn. Did everybody have their clothes on?

Templar said...

I wish that every Bishop would offer his Diocese such an opportunity.

rcg: Report that sorry Priest to the Bishop.

Dan Z. said...

In my worthless opinion, I think there should remain the EF and OF for at least another generation. The EF should be the 1962 Missal, as it is. But the OF should gradualy, yet quickly (ie, over the span of about 5 years), be changed from the Paul VI Missal to the vernacular dialogue 1965 Missal, adapted to the current calander and 3 year cycle of readings. After a full generation of that, then the OF can be phased out (along with the Anglican Use Liturgy), with the EF as the only form of the Roman Rite.

Dan Z. said...

Let me elaborate on the 5 year period I mentioned. During that 5 years, the Pauline Missal should be used, but the rubrics should be gradually changed to match the 1965 Missal. The first year, holding hands or parroting the priest for the Our Father should be supressed, the Eucharistic Prayer should be ad orientum, and Communion should be taken on the tongue while kneeling. The second year, more of the celebrant's rubrics should change to match the older form. The third year, the handshake of peace should be supressed, and more kneeling by the people should be added. The fourth year, any other rubrics should be changed to match the 1965 Missal, and then there should be a year just for people to adapt and assimilate. At the end of the fifth year, the Pauline Missal should be supressed and replaced with the vernacular dialogue 1965 Missal, adapted to the new calendar and 3 year cycle of readings. Also, I think Eucharistic Prayer 2 should remain as an option to the Roman Canon.

Fr. Allan J. McDonald said...

Templar has left a new comment on your post "ARCHBISHOP WENSKI CELEBRATES PONTIFICAL SOLEMN HIG...":

Dan, I'm not confident enough to lay cash wager on it, especially that 5 year time line, but I don't think you're too far off.
Another delete by accident on big thumb, little iPhone letters

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Posted by Templar to southern orders at February 7, 2012 12:08 PM