After eight years of celebrating the Extraordinary Form of the Mass on a regular basis, Saint Joseph Church will move its first Sunday of the month EF High Mass at the special time of 2:00 PM to the last Sunday of the month at our normal 12:10 PM Sunday Mass.
Our 12:10 PM Mass is celebrated in the Ordinary Form but "ad orientem" for the Liturgy of the Eucharist and Holy Communion is distributed at the full length of our newly restored altar railing.
Because the orientation of this OF Mass is similar to the orientation of the EF Mass and we have been celebrating the Mass this way for four years, I feel that this congregation will not be too unsettled by the all Latin, all orientem EF Mass the last Sunday of the month.
We plan to use a bit more Latin for the OF Mass than currently, but not too much. We hope to chant the Gloria and eventually the Credo in Latin each Sunday and perhaps in a year we will strive to learn the Pater Noster for the Ordinary Form. But the OF Mass will remain primarily English.
22 comments:
Thank you!
Sheila
Father, a kind, thoughtful and generous decision on your part and I am sure it will have a very welcoming effect on those who attend the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. I travelled some distance to a EF Latin Mass today - where it is offered every third Sunday. Virtually every Mass in my diocese is over-run with guitar music and it is becoming a struggle to attend Mass - the only alternative being an SSPX Mass once a fortnight. (Ironic but the SSPX priests travelled two hours to offer Mass here in my diocese today and I travelled two hours in the opposite direction!)
In his sermon the priest made mention of those who had travelled a distance to attend the Mass and said they would be blessed for doing so. For the first time in many years I felt a part of the Church whereas before I felt out on a limb ... Deo gratias for good, holy priests, the Church would not survive without them ...
Jan
Congratulations father. How many variations of Mass do you offer?
All our Masses are the same in music (except of course for the EF Mass). The 9:30 Mass has the full blown choir and we use incense each Sunday. The 12:10 PM Mass uses incense each Sunday but the Liturgy of the Eucharist is ad orientem (only Mass we do this and Holy Communion at the full length of the railing.) Communicants have the choice to kneel or stand as the Host stationary stations are behind the railing. Works effectively even when we have chalices for the communicants for special occasions.
A good start...
Maybe a good start toward that smaller but purer church.
Thank you, Father!
Why not? It's not either/or but both/and. Later this month HE Raymond Leo, Cardinal Burke will be celebrating a Pontifical High Mass in the OF at the Oxford Oratory for St Philip's Day. It will of course be ad orientem and in Latin with full accoutrements (deacons at the throne, bugia bearer, pontifical dalmatic etc).
The following morning he will celebrate Low Mass in the EF at a north Oxford church where I sang today at a Missa Cantata.
His Eminence will also be in England next autumn where he will confer Confirmation in the traditional Rite and celebrate a solemn Requiem EF Mass in Westminster Cathedral.
These events will attract large congregations but most of us will get to meet the cardinal on 26 May. I would just like to say to him 'thank you'.
Perhaps a start toward that smaller and purer Church.
Wish I were closer to St. Joseph! Good move Father.
Anonymous,
How would this start to make the Church smaller and purer?
Great news! I only wish I lived closer to Macon. . .
Thanks.
Hey, Dialogue, How would strict constructionist interpretation of the US Constitution and strict adherence to the laws on the books regarding immigration, limited government, and treatment of felons make the country smaller and purer…duh.
Why should it take a year to learn how to sing the Pater Noster in Latin?
John N....how about "because you're not interested"?
Father,
What is your hypothesis on people's reaction?
Deo gratias!
Can you please offer it every Sunday?
I have to attend SSPX weekly because the once a month thing isn't fulfilling my Sunday obligation.
I am begging you, Father. Please give us a weekly TLM.
A most sincere thank you for the changes you're making so far...
Thank you Father. I pray for you in doing this, that the wolves will not attack; also I pray that those who attend the 12:10 regularly will become exposed to the TLM and find it to their liking in a way that having it as a "special" 2PM Mass never allowed for. Who knows, in time maybe the 12:10 can become all TLM all month long.
Thank you again Father, for all you have done, and all you will do.
I don't want to sound proud, but all our Masses at Saint Joseph are first and foremost valid, meaning that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated and God is worshiped in the highest way and the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ are present on the altar and for our adoration and reception. There are not different levels of "Real Presence" or "sacrifice" or graces available for those properly disposed between the EF and OF, a low, high, or solemn high EF or any type of Mass celebrated in an ornate chapel or a dirt hut.
The EF crowd that constantly denigrates a well-celebrated by the Roman Missal OF Mass has placed the EF community on a collision course with bishops and priests. It is sad, sad, sad!
I would also say that denigrating the OF Mass and refusing to attend it is a form of sacrilege. I'd say the same about those who would stop going to Mass if only the EF was celebrated or drove to Atlanta each Sunday for it.
meant to write, drove to Atlanta every Sunday for the OF Mass if it was the only place that offered it.
Validity is not the only consideration when it comes to Mass attendance.
And you are wrong in your statement that there are not different merits (you said graces, I assume you mean merits) from each sort of Mass - Low, High, Solemn.
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