I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE AT THE CENTER OF TWO FIRSTS AT THE CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST IN SAVANNAH: MY FIRST, FIRST WAS THE CELEBRATION ON DECEMBER 8, 2019 OF THE SOLEMN SUNG TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS AT THE CATHEDRAL'S HIGH ALTAR WHICH HAD NOT BEEN USED SINCE AROUND 1966; MY SECOND FIRST WILL BE THE LAST TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS AT THE CATHEDRAL ON SUNDAY JULY 31, 2022 FOR THE 8TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST: BE THERE OR BE SQUARE, LAFAYETTE SQUARE THAT IS, 1 PM!

ONE JOYOUS AND ONE SAD OF TWO FIRSTS FOR ME AND THE CATHEDRAL. 

I was the main celebrant for the TLM's Solemn Sung Mass for the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2019, with deacon and subdeacon at the Cathedral's high altar, not used since about 1966 nor had this version of the TLM been celebrated at the Cathedral since the 1970 Roman Missal became mandatory. 

The Traditional Latin Mass is moving from the Cathedral in Savannah, to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Savannah, about six blocks away for the 9th Sunday after Pentecost, the first Sunday in August. I am sadly blessed to be the celebrant for the last Sunday TLM at our Cathedral. It has been there for almost fifteen years.

 Sacred Heart Church, too, is a Neo-gothic/Romanesque church and quite beautiful although I pray that one day it will be restored to its original look. It has a fine pipe organ and choir loft too.

Before and after:

December 8, 2019, The Solemn Sung TLM for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at Savannah Cathedral's high altar:

 

 

Still photos:

 The last Sunday Traditional Latin Mass at our cathedral, yours truly the celebrant, be there or be square, Lafayette Square that it is:

Season: After Pentecost 

Mass Classification: II

Liturgical Color: Green 

Select a Missal Angelus Press 

Introit (Psalms 47: 10-11) 

Suscépimus, Deus, misericórdiam tuam in médio templi tui: secúndum nomen tuum, Deus, ita et laus tua in fines terræ: justítia plena est déxtera tua. (Ps. 47: 2) Magnus Dóminus, et laudábilis nimis: in civitate Dei nostri, in monte sancto ejus. Glória Patri et Fílio et Spíritui Sancto, sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen. Suscépimus, Deus, misericórdiam tuam in médio templi tui: secúndum nomen tuum, Deus, ita et laus tua in fines terræ: justítia plena est déxtera tua.

We have received, O God, Thy mercy in the midst of Thy temple according to Thy name, O God, so also is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of justice. (Ps. 47: 2) Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised, in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. We have received, O God, Thy mercy in the midst of Thy temple according to Thy name, O God, so also is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of justice.

Collect 

Largíre nobis, quǽsumus, Dómine, semper spíritum cogitándi quæ recta sunt, propítius et agéndi: ut, qui sine te esse non póssumus, secúndum te vívere valeámus. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.

Bestow upon us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we who cannot exist without Thee, may be able to live according to Thy will. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Epistle (Romans 8: 12-17) 

Fratres: Debitóres sumus non carni, ut secúndum carnem vivámus. Si enim secúndum carnem vixéritis, moriémini: si autem spíritu facta carnis mortificavéritis, vivétis. Quicúmque enim spíritu Dei aguntur, ii sunt fílii Dei. Non enim accepístis spíritum servitútis íterum in timóre, sed accepístis spíritum adoptiónis filiórum, in quo clamámus: Abba - Pater. - Ipse enim Spíritus testimónium reddit spirítui nostro, quod sumus fílii Dei. Si autem fílii, et herédes: herédes quidem Dei, coherédes autem Christi.

Brethren, We are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh; for if you live according to the flesh, you shall die but if by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live. For whoever are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry, Abba (Father). For the Spirit Himself gives testimony to our spirit, that we are the sons of God and if sons, heirs also, heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ.

Gradual (Psalms 30: 3) 

Esto mihi in Deum protectórem, et in locum refúgii, ut salvum me fácias. (Ps. 70: 1) Deus, in te sperávi: Dómine, non confúndar in ætérnum. Allelúja, allelúja. (Ps. 47: 2) Magnus Dóminus, et laudábilis valde, in cìvitáte Dei nostri, in monte sancto ejus. Allelúja.

Be Thou unto me a God, a protector, and a place of refuge, to save me. (Ps. 70: 1) In Thee, O God, have I hoped: Lord, let me never be confounded. Alleluia, alleluia. (Ps. 47: 2) Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised, in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Alleluia.

Gospel (Luke 16: 1-9) 

In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus discípulis suis parábolam hanc: Homo quidam erat dives, qui habébat víllicum: et hic diffamátus est apud illum, quasi dissipásset bona ipsíus. Et vocávit illum et ait illi: Quid hoc audio de te? redde ratiónem villicatiónis tuæ: jam enim non póteris villicáre. Ait autem víllicus intra se: Quid fáciam, quia dóminus meus aufert a me villicatiónem? fódere non váleo, mendicáre erubésco. Scio, quid fáciam, ut, cum amótus fúero a villicatióne, recípiant me in domos suas. Convocátis itaque síngulis debitóribus dómini sui, dicébat primo: Quantum debes dómino meo? At ille dixit: Centum cados ólei. Dixítque illi: Accipe cautiónem tuam: et sede cito, scribe quinquagínta. Deínde álii dixit: Tu vero quantum debes? Qui ait: Centum coros trítici. Ait illi: Áccipe lítteras tuas, et scribe octogínta. Et laudávit dóminus víllicum iniquitátis, quia prudénter fecísset: quia fílii hujus sǽculi prudentióres fíliis lucis in generatióne sua sunt. Et ego vobis dico: fácite vobis amicos de mammóna iniquitátis: ut, cum defecéritis, recípiant vos in ætérna tabernácula.

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples this parable: There was a certain man, who had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods; and he called him, and said to him: How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship, for now thou canst be steward no longer, And the steward said within himself: What shall I do, because my lord takes away from me the stewardship? To dig I am not able; to beg I am ashamed. I know what I will do, that when I shall be put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses, Therefore calling together every one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first: How much dost thou owe my lord? But he said: A hundred barrels of oil. And he said to him: Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then he said to another: And how much dost thou owe my lord? Who said: A hundred quarters of wheat. He said to him: Take thy bill, and write eighty. And the lord commended the unjust steward, as much as he had done wisely: for the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light. And I say to you: Make unto you friends of the mammon of iniquity, that when you shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting dwellings.

Offertory (Psalms 17: 28, 32) 

Pópulum húmilem salvum fácies, Dómine, et óculos superbórum humiliábis: quóniam quis Deus præter te, Dómine?

Thou wilt save the humble, O Lord, and wilt bring down the eyes of the proud; for who is God but Thee, O Lord?

Secret 

Súscipe, quǽsumus, Dómine, múnera, quæ tibi de tua largitáte deférimus: ut hæc sacrosáncta mystéria, grátiæ tuæ operánte virtúte, et præséntis vitæ nos conversatióne sanctíficent, et ad gáudia sempitérna perdúcant. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.

Accept, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord, the gifts of Thine own bounty, which we bring Thee: that these holy and sacred Mysteries, by the working of the power of Thy grace, may sanctify us in our conduct of this present life and bring us to everlasting joys. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Communion (Psalms 33: 9) 

Gustáte et vidéte, quóniam suávis est Dóminus: beátus vir, qui sperat in eo.

Taste and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that hopes in Him.

Postcommunion 

Sit nobis, Dómine, reparátio mentis et córporis cæléste mystérium: ut, cujus exséquimur cultum, sentiámus efféctum. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.

May this heavenly mystery be to us, O Lord, for renewal of mind and body: that we may enjoy the fruits of that which we celebrate. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.