On CIEL

Article on CIEL at Oxford here.

"The offices of Lauds, Vespers, and Compline were chanted daily at Merton Chapel, as well as Solemn High Mass each day at noon, capped off with a rousing Solemn Pontifical High Mass on Saturday at noon, with Bishop David McGough, an auxiliary from the Archdiocese of Birmingham, England. Exquisite organ music with integrated Gregorian chant was provided throughout the colloquium, most notably from what became popularly known as "that traveling French schola" and a singer from Australia."

A wonderful singer, too! He once conducted a workshop on the chants of Compline for us - and it was so intense that one could have felt like going home, as well as an impromptu second sung Low Mass for St Stephen's day last year. I hope we have it again!

Mr Shawn Tribe at the New Liturgical Movement has begun writing a fantastic report on the experience, with photos!

Sorry about the fonts :)

Quis Ut Deus?

It's hard to believe that last Michaelmas was a year ago! We had a beautiful solemn Mass last night for the occasion, and because you all know how glorious St Michael and his Liturgy is, I thought I might share something lighter - a short reminder from our choir master, Hugh Henry - which went something along the lines of:

"Just a reminder that tonight we will be singing Mass IV, Credo I. That's the Credo we used to sing before we changed to Credo V. They do sound similar, so make sure you follow on the ordinary sheet. If you find that you are singing off tune, then... you probably are!"

Happy feast of St Jerome to every Latin loving, sometimes angry, soul! *waves!*

Pii Quinti!

This evening I was surprised by a special hand delivery!

All the way from 1850s France - via Scotland - some generous Dominicans and a very sweet friend - I received with great joy a missal purely in Latin, and just in time for Michaelmas!

How come...

... we don't have a link on here to Juventutem na hEireann ?

Just a thought...

(for those who can't figure, that's the Irish lot)

BTW, I'm surviving down here. Have more or less abandoned ancilladomini.

Now that the Ember Days had come to an end...

Deo gratias for a wonderful day! I have my glasses now and can enjoy the beauty of stained glass at last. Schola was particularly lovely, too.

Free to rest

Isn't it lovely how the Gospel readings of Ember Saturday and the 16th Sunday flow so nicely into each other? Deo gratias for true rest. (They both deal with healings on the Sabbath)

The Font

I am actually a melancholic-phlegmatic!

The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful job that I have been working at for about six weeks - I am a public servant! I am not able to go into too much detail of course, but I have the privilege of working on a project that will output a 'snapshot' of the nation. Sometimes the work is depressing, sometimes quite entertaining. Basically, I get to scan, analyse, and repair data from random members of the Australian public. Today, providentially, one of those members happened to be the priest who baptised me.

On that point, I must say that I am so proud of our Holy Father. The difference between the darkness and the Light is that we want heads over the font, not bloodied blocks.

Hello, I'm T Perpetua

And I'm a Melancholic.

Note: On accounts that I looked possessed, I have taken down the picture that was here!

Video Report first Latin Mass in the Agnes Church in Amsterdam

Here you can see a short video-report of the first Latin Mass in the Agnes Church in Amsterdam. It was a succes with about 350-400 faithfull attending. (=link)

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini...

Firstly, please pray for me. Boeciana can vouch for the mess I'm in. 'Nough said. Dark, dark, dark...

Secondly, despite darkness and ickiness and generally not being in sound mind or body, I have had a summons to speakers' corner by a dear muslim gentleman with whom I was dialoguing some weeks back.

We were engaged in a lovely debate over whether the doctrine of the Trinity was internally coherent or not. This was quite fun as were were all coming from a purely philosophical angle and several people were playing devil's advocate all over the place. Completely harmless.

Now the problem is this: While he is predominantly concerned with continuing this philosophical exercise, which I can tell you has certainly improved my philosophy! I suspect there will be others there (as there were last time) with a slightly different agenda. Given that I've already been accused of treason against the crown on at least one occasion (prompting me to a wonderfully satisfying oration about the Tyburn martyrs killed on that very spot) and therefore shouldn't be particularly concerned, I'm not certain I'm up for joining them just yet. Just now.

All play to the Holy Father: 'I'm sorry you're so offended'. He's very clever indeed.

'Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini...'

Benedictus

BENEDICTUS Dominus Deus Israel, quia visitavit, et fecit redemptionem plebis suae ... Illuminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent: ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis.

Rejoicing and Relief

A resounding Deo gratias for a most beautiful day! The Archdiocese is rejoicing in its four newly ordained priests, three of whom I have had the honour of studying with over the past year.

The Liturgy was about as beautiful as it could get - organ, boys' choir, half the priests of Melbourne, all her bishops, and surprisingly more chapel veils than one would likely see at a European High Mass!

I think I made the same comment back in June after Father McCaffrey was ordained, but the experience remains indescribable.

On a personal level, it was such a great relief to see all the lovely people that I studied with up until three months ago, and many others whom I had the pleasure of meeting today. What a blessing, goodness me A great relief indeed as the last three months have been difficult - wonderful in many ways, but ploughingly difficult. It is nice to have some peace.

Liturgical entertainment ad extra the Ordinations included the always edifying postlude of French Latin excerpts from the Breviary. I'm afraid a certain Dominican's pitch and 'r' swallowing are far better than mine! Latina Gentium! Hooray! :)

Good news too, on the pro-life front. Despite that today's Ordinations and Right to Life Australia's annual Freedom to be Born March ran concurrently, the March was attended by some 2000 people, and attracted media attention from the major networks. One of the newly ordained will be offering this month's Mass in reparation for abortion at the Cathedral organised by the Helpers of God's Precious Infants.

Tea for Tradition

I will here attempt to highlight some of the goings on during the past weeks. It might be a little messy! I continue to enjoy informal internet access, even if it means falling behind in all things related to the blog. It does leave more time to read!

Last Sunday a few of us went along to a focus group held by two Sisters of St John of God, doing market research if you like, into factors that will surround the survival of the order. It was a very interesting exercise. As Jude remarked, the flame is still flickering, and yet the old 'Cosmic Christ' idea keeps wanting to raise its head. We told the dear Sisters that we are not interested in farout ideas, we are much more interested in them and plain sick of ambiguity. Vos estis lux mundi! Still, they were impressed, and despite any difference of opinion, one could clearly tell that these ladies with twinkling eyes, and home-made biscuits, had consecrated themselves to God. One Sister particularly was greatly taken with our love for the Classical Liturgy, and we have firm hopes that she will visit us in the near future. This same Sister, in the way of Christ, though seeing that I was a rather ill, gave me a sweet kiss on the cheek, and we exchanged promises to pray for one another. The other lovely Sister kindly offered us "traditionalists" (it was so sweet!) biscuits as we admired episcopal birettas behind glass at the College venue. I do wish that other congregations would attempt similar initiatives - I would like to see war-like recruiting posters around the place...

On a related note, today the Caroline Chisholm Library (established in the 1920s under Archbishop Mannix to encourage the intellectual life of Melbourne's Catholics) had a morning tea. Cake, cream, freshly brewed tea - and an old leather covered prayer book. Now a certain person (whose name has already been mentioned, and is quite a prolific blogger) insists on letting tea sit, covered, to brew. Covered in this case, however, with the aforementioned prayer book - the same prayer book that now features a gaping big hole in its cover! Either the stuff for an agreeable science experiment, or at least a cautionary tale.

The Calendar continues to fly by so fast - so many prayers for many happy Feasts, and the success of CIEL!

PS E-mail shouldn't bounce anymore. I saw Into the Great Silence last month - too much to say, so I will shorten it to two words - Sanctuary Lamp! Deo gratias.

Ordinations tomorrow! Please pray for the four men being ordained for the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

More good stuff...

... added to the Vatican's website: The compendium of social doctrine is now online here. It's even in English. Waiting for the Latin edit. to come out, of course...

Sorry I've not been around. New job. Have to decide October's music for the special Sunday by noon tomorrow, apparently. The joys of being a choir director...

I'm more than willing to resign to any young gentleman who wants the job...

Classical Roman Rite after 40 years back in Dutch parish

PRESS-RELEASE ST AGNESCHRUCH AMSTERDAM
Amstelveenseweg 161 te 1075 XA Amsterdam
www.agneskerk.info - agneskerk@tiscali.nl

Starting September the 17th 2006 the Traditional Mass will be back in a Roman Catholic parish church in the Netherlands. From that date on there will be a H. Mass acoording to the Classical Roman Rite (Missale Romanum 1962 in the Saint Agneschurch in Amsterdam at 12:00 hour.

This Tridentine H. Mass is introduced in the Saint Agneschurch with the permission of the bisshop of Haarlem, Mgr. dr. J.M. Punt and the blessing of Pope Benedict XVI, in cooperation with the Fraternity of Saint Peter.

The first Solemn Sung High Mass will be celebrated by the Superior General oof the Fraternity of Saint Peter, Father J. Berg, Deacon Provincial Superior of the Benelux Father H. Hygonnet and subdeacon Father G. Duroissin; master of ceremonies is Father M. Knudsen (all FSSP).

Vocal Ensemble Col Canto will sing the Mass in D dur of Antonin Dvorák, organ Bram Biersteker, conductor Joyce Hoohenkerk. With the cooperation of the Gregorian Schola of the Saint Agneschurch (director Bram Biersteker).

This Mass wil be celebrated in memoriam for Mgr. H.J.A. Bomers (+ 1998). This former Bishop of Haarlem (1983 - 1998) has always been positif towards the Classical Roman Rite. Mgr. Bomers has ordained 6 priests for the Fraternity of Saint Peter in Witzgrabad (Germany) in juni 1998.

[Please note, this is a quick translation of the first half of the press release that was released by the parishboard of the Saint Agnes Church. The second half of the release contains general knowledge about the Latin Mass that should be know to the reader of this blog]

Surprising podcast

http://www.sqpn.com/?p=328

Somehow he has some good points.

Salvete!

Edit: A rather messy post appeared here in the last few hours - which I have since erased. It has been some time, and I do have things to say, however, I must repose so that I can properly give due honour to Our Blessed Mother on the Feast of her Nativity.

In the mean time, do go and look at the new movie on the Christus Rex Pilgrimage Website. Join too in prayers for the protection of the altar rails and other interior features of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo, before the meeting of the parish council on the 3rd October.

Amsterdam Indult Update

The first Mass, September 17th, 12:00h, will be a Solemn High Mass
Celebrant: father Berg fssp [Superior General] (deacon and subdeacon: father Hygonnet fssp [Superior for the Benelux] and father Knudson fssp)
Music: Mass in D dur by Antonin Dvorák.

Thereafter father Knudson fssp will celebrate the weekly Sunday Mass at 12:00h.

There is a good (not indepth, but not negative and not the usual nonsense about the Traditional Latin Mass) on the website of the Roman Catholic Television (the Dutch bisshops have some time on national television), for those reading Dutch it can be found here: link (for those not reading Dutch, there are some nice photos of the interior of the church).

I also heard rumors about local and national television voicing interest.

Old Rite Masses in English Cathedrals

Over the next few months the following cathedrals will have Old Rite Masses:

Cathedral of Our Lady and St Philip Howard, RC Diocese of Arundel & Brighton

Sunday 24 September 2006 15:00 Sung Mass

Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, RC Diocese of Portsmouth

Sunday 1 October 2006 15:30 Solemn High Mass with Mozart's Coronation Mass for the 250th anniversary of the birth of W A Mozart.

Metropolitan Cathedral of the Precious Blood, RC Archdiocese of Westminster

Saturday 9 September 2006 16:30 Low Mass in Side Chapel

Saturday 14 October 2006 16:30 Low Mass in Side Chapel

Saturday 18 November 2006 14:00 Sung Requiem Mass (Cathedral Choir)