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Saturday, September 26, 2015

MASS AT THE GARDEN


Last night's Mass at Madison Square Garden was splendid and what the Ordinary Form was meant to be. No ad libs and music that was quite sober and uplifting; nothing bombastic.

I heard a new Latin Sanctus and it was a quite familiar English Sanctus translated into Latin. I'm not sure if it was the Mass of Creation or the Community Mass, but it was quite familiar although I had never heard it in Latin. It was beautiful in Latin.

The parts of the Mass chanted in Latin to include the Pater Noster were robustly chanted by the congregation. It makes no sense whatsoever to have multiple languages in a multiple language assembly. Latin is such a uniter and makes the Mass an integrated celebration as it concerns language and music!

The Kyrie was beautiful as well and it was the EF's nine-fold Kyrie in Greek, with the Cantor chanting the first, the congregation the second and the choir the third with flourishes. Quite stunning. There was no Gloria or Credo since it was a daily Mass.

The Communion antiphon was splendid Gregorian Chant, absolutely stunning and captures the true spirituality of the Mass which should be integrated into the entire Mass.

The greatest flaw with so many sung OF Masses is the hodgepodge of styles and language of what is sung trying to please everyone and usually in the process making the Mass an unintegrated musical mess.

Madison Square Garden was set up for the Mass in a wonderful way. It was stunningly beautiful and appeared churchy. Move the altar to the highest point of the platform where the Pope chair was, and it would have been wonderful for an EF Mass.

Of course after Holy Communion, Cardinal Dolan had a few remarks and the New Yorkers, well, they were New Yorkers and the thunderous prolonged standing ovation given to the Holy Father, while over the top and thus typically New York,  was quite moving and even Msgr. Marini was smiling which says something.

At the Vatican people are warned about not doing this sort of thing for Pope Francis, either at the procession or the end and usually Pope Francis, once the procession enters, doesn't even look at anyone and certainly doesn't gesture to them. Even in the recession at the Vatican, the Pope looks angry when he departs and does not even offer the Signs of the Cross to the congregation.

But not last night! Pope Francis at the end of Mass for the recessional was exhuberant and looked papal. He departed down the asile blessing the congregation which is traditional for bishops and popes to do.

Just watch any papal Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica with Pope Benedict at the beginning and end and you will see and hear raucous applause and the Pope egging them on. Pope Francis put a stop to it, but last night was a first at the recessional for him in this regard to do it.


9 comments:

John Nolan said...

It being a weekday the use of EP II with its proper Preface was justified (it should not be used on Sundays and solemnities and should not be used with any other Preface).

Note the seven acolytes (a Benedict/Marini restoration) and for once the cantrix did a good job in leading the congregation without drawing attention to herself.

The Communio (Beati mundo corde) was sung with Psalm verses and Gloria Patri, a praiseworthy restoration which dates I believe from 1958. The Introit may be treated likewise, and in the Offertoriale Triplex the melismatic verses for the Offertory have been restored after centuries of neglect. These are genuine restorations, not the pseudo-restorations of much of the liturgical reform which are in fact innovations.

The use of Latin from the Preface to the Pater Noster didn't seem to faze the New Yorkers, although Fr K will no doubt assure us they didn't understand a word of what they were hearing or singing, unless they belonged to the 0.001 percent who can understand this so-called foreign language.

Kudos to all concerned. I could even forgive Cardinal Dolan his exuberance at the end!

Rood Screen said...

I wonder why there were six candles?

Vox Cantoris said...

I'd never heard of Mo Rocca until someone tole me this morning. I truly wish I had not heard of him.

Openly Gay.

Did the First Reading.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=mo+rocca+pope+mass&oq=mo+rocca+pope+mass&aqs=chrome..69i57.7662j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8

Still think it was so good?

All lace and no grace.

Fr. Allan J. McDonald said...

Yes, Anderson Cooper on CNN last night after the Mass mentioned that he was homosexual. But what does that mean? I am heterosexual! Do you then presume that I am in an illicit marriage not recognized by the Church or fornicating or have never fornicated if I am a single person in his 40's?

Yes, it says something that he was chosen for the Mass, but I have read too much about what that something is and what Rocca's stance is with the Church--I'm sure we will hear and soon and very soon.

There are many Catholics in Courage. Are they excluded from being lectors and EMC's?

Anonymous said...

Given the attacks upon the Church from the Left and from inside, having an openly gay lector is just more in your face. When are you Priests going to wake up...when they are snatching at your britches while you are at the ambo?

Vox Cantoris said...

Father, nothing indicates that Mr. Rocca is part of Courage, the opposite in fact. This was an "in your face" moment for those who organised this as Anon at 8:46 said.

Fr. Allan J. McDonald said...

Courage wasn't my main point. My main point to ask you is, do you know for sure that Rocca did not go to confession prior to this and that he was not in a state of grace to read?

DJR said...

Perhaps we should allow the head of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Cecile Richards, to read the lesson at the next papal Mass.

After all, would anyone know for sure she did not go to confession prior to then and that she was not in a state of grace to read?

Clyde Catholic said...

No, no...it would be most fitting for a Muslim to read the next lesson. We need to be open to other religions, other deviate life styles. After that, a pedophile (plenty of those available), a mass murderer, somebody who practices bestiality, a Buddhist, a Hindu, a Baptist,a necrophile, and a KKK member. Hey, God is love, man, who are we to judge.