Tuesday 20 April 2010

An Anniversary

A friend brought to my attention that it is two years since The Order of Mass book, written and edited by me, was launched.

Bishop Elliott had this (amongst other things) to say about the utility of the book at the launch:

I see this assistance being offered to the reader at several levels. At one level this book may be used as a guide to the Mass, providing a rich liturgical and theological commentary, deeply spiritual in tone, full of interesting but relevant details, presented with an originality which engages the reader. This work can serve as an introduction for those who may not be familiar with the “extraordinary” form. The explanatory material wisely assumes that the reader knows nothing about the classical rite, particularly celebrating towards the East, the use of Latin and the sacred setting. Yet this is not done in a patronising way. Those of us familiar with the rite will find original nuances in the explanations which invite us to deeper faith in the Divine Mysteries. The author writes in the best perspective - “faith seeking understanding”. So there is another level of Eucharistic catechesis offered to the reader.



Flushed with the honour of having the Ignatius Press approach me to publish my book and then having the liturgist-bishop Monsignor Peter Elliott launch the work in Melbourne with such high-praise, I thought my book would become a best-seller in Traditionally-oriented liturgical circles. How mistaken I was...

In these two years, there hasn't been a single review of the book, except that which I drew up myself. The various Catholic blogs, which will be well-known to those reading this post, have been completely uninterested in the work, as if it doesn't exist. Complimentary copies which I sent to a number of people were passed over without response. Two Catholic Blogs kindly put up some advertising posts about the book but the response in the Comment Boxes was disturbing: extreme hostility, particularly to the inclusion IN THE APPENDIX of a small number of Prefaces from the 1970 Missale Romanum (permitted by a decision of the Ecclesia Dei Commission, which I cited in the book).

This reaction from sectors of the Traditionalist Catholic movement was disappointing, to say the least. I am also of the view that my decision to make a translation which did not include the use of "thee", "thou" etc. was seen by Traditionalists as decidedly modern, and therefore suspect.

The truth is that my motivation in preparing this work was to lead people to the Extraordinary Form of Mass who knew nothing of it and approached it without pre-conceived notions of what it might - or should - be. It was to be as much a catechetical work as an Order of Mass. Well, from Ignatius Press data, I know that more 3000 copies of the book have been sold, which is most encouraging, but nothing like what I expected.

Do you have a copy of the booklet? If not, why not purchase a copy and then you can judge for yourself whether it has more merit than defect. In the right-hand column of this Blog is link to the Ignatius Press, from whom you might purchase a copy.

Thank you.

Monday 19 April 2010

Prayer for the Needs of the Church

Almighty, Eternal God, by ever giving strength to our weakness, you enable the Church to flourish even amidst its trials, so that when it appears to men to be utterly cast down, then rather does it gloriously prevail. Whilst, then, it accepts affliction as a proving of its faith, let it persevere, by your grace, in triumphant loyalty.

Missal of Robert of Jumieges - 11th century

Friday 16 April 2010

Mitres Part III

UPDATED
The Saint Bede Studio was commissioned by the Latin Mass Community of Caulfield (Archdiocese of Melbourne) to make four mitres for the use of His Lordship Bishop Meeking during the Liturgies of Holy Week and Easter. We are pleased to shew some photographs of the Bishop wearing the mitres, in addition to some other photographs giving further detail of the mitres.




Left and above:
Precious mitre worn during the Masses of Easter Night and Easter Day. The shape and ornament of this mitre is based on illustrations and examples found in 12th-13th century Italy and France. The mitre is made from cloth silver and ornamented with braids in varying shades of gold. The photographs also shew the conical chasuble designed by the Studio based on the famous chasuble of S' Thomas Becket kept at Sens Cathedral. This will be the subject of a separate post.





Click on each image for an enlarged view.




Below:
Cloth gold mitre worn on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, the Easter Vigil, Easter Day and Easter Monday.


















Click on each of the pictures for an enlarged view.



Photographs of the Holy Week liturgies were taken by Dr Chris Steward





Below:

Precious mitre worn during the Procession of Palms on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Easter Monday. This mitre is a simplified form of the 14th century mitre found throughout Europe and UK. By that century the mitre had begun to be made taller, without the exaggerations which occurred from the late 15th century onward. This mitre is made from silk damask. Its ornament is derived from the designs of AWN Pugin.






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Simplex mitre worn on Good Friday.

Saturday 10 April 2010

Holy Week in Melbourne (part three)

We continue our series of photographs from the Latin Mass Community at Saint Aloysius' Church, Caulfield North (Archdiocese of Melbourne) of the rites of Holy Week. A complete set of photographs can be found here.

As mentioned in our earlier posts, this year, Holy Week was especially significant for the Melbourne Community, since the rites were celebrated by the Most Rev'd Basil Meeking DD, Bishop-emeritus of the Diocese of Christchurch (New Zealand) and well-known supporter of Catholic Tradition. These ceremonies at Caulfield also represent the first occasion since the mid-1960s that the Holy Week rites have been celebrated Pontifically in Australia according to the Extraordinary Form.

In this post, photographs of the Easter Vigil, Easter Day and Easter Monday.

Click on the photograph for an enlarged view.



The Paschal Vigil
At the Lumen Christi
Father Tattersall carrying the Paschal Candle:

The Paschal Vigil
During the Renewal of Baptismal Promises:

Pontifical Mass of Easter Night
At the Consecration:

Pontifical Mass of Easter Night
At the Bishop's Blessing:

Pontifical Mass of Easter Day
During the singing of Terce:

Pontifical Mass of Easter Day
Incensation of the Bishop at the Offertory:

Pontifical Mass of Easter Day
At the Ecce Agnus Dei:

Pontifical Mass of Easter Day
At the Bishop's Blessing:


Pontifical Mass of Easter Monday
At the Offertory
Assistant priest, Father Tattersall;
deacon,Father McDaniels; subdeacon, Father Terence OFM (Conv.):


Pontifical Mass of Easter Monday
Incensation at the Offertory:

Pontifical Mass of Easter Monday
Incensation of the Bishop:

Pontifical Mass of Easter Monday
At the Preface:

Pontifical Mass of Easter Monday
Lavabo after Holy Communion:


Pontifical Mass of Easter Monday
At the Bishop's Blessing:

Thursday 8 April 2010

Extraordinary Scenes in Melbourne: part two

We are pleased to continue our series of photographs taken by Dr Chris Steward of the Latin Mass Community at Saint Aloysius Church, Caulfield North (Archdiocese of Melbourne) of the rites of Holy Week.

This year, Holy Week is especially significant for the Melbourne Community, since the rites are being celebrated by the Most Rev'd Basil Meeking DD, Bishop-emeritus of the Diocese of Christchurch (New Zealand) and well-known supporter of Catholic Tradition. These ceremonies at Caulfield also represent the first occasion since the mid-1960s that the Holy Week rites have been celebrated Pontifically in Australia according to the Extraordinary Form. May we not hope that what has happened in Melbourne this year may become a common phenomenon world-wide in the years to come?

In this post, photographs of the Bishop's Low Mass on Spy Wednesday; Tenebrae of Maundy Thursday; the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Maundy Thursday, Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, followed by the Solemn Commemoration of the Lord's Suffering and Death.
Link
Note that a complete series of photos can be found here.

Please click on each photo for an enlarged view.

Spy Wednesday in Holy Week: Low Mass of the Bishop
Orate Fratres.

Spy Wednesday in Holy Week: Low Mass of the Bishop
Ecce Agnus Dei
Chaplains to the Bishop Father Terence OFM (Conv) and Father Tattersall.

Maundy Thursday: Tenebrae
Lesson in the 2nd Nocturn
sung by director of the Schola, Nick Dinopoulos.

Maundy Thursday: Tenebrae
Lesson in the 3rd Nocturn
sung by Father Tattersall.

Maundy Thursday: Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper
The Mandatum.

Maundy Thursday: Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper
At the Altar of Repose.

Maundy Thursday: Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper
The Stripping of the Altars.

Good Friday: Stations of the Cross
The Schola at the 1st Station.

Good Friday: Stations of the Cross
The Bishop assisted by Father Terence OFM (Conv).

Good Friday: Commemoration of the Lord's Suffering and Death
The Passion Gospel.

Good Friday: Commemoration of the Lord's Suffering and Death
The Bidding Prayers.

Good Friday: Commemoration of the Lord's Suffering and Death
The Unveiling of the Cross.

Good Friday: Commemoration of the Lord's Suffering and Death
The Communion Rite.