The Most Beautiful Thing This Side of Heaven
On Monday, August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, Mater Ecclesiae Roman Catholic Church of Berlin, NJ, which uses only the Traditional Roman Rite, celebrated its Fifth Annual Mass of Thanksgiving at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden. Hundreds filled the cathedral to its capacity, and there were at least sixteen priests and seminarians in attendance. The Rev. Robert C. Pasley, KHS, Rector of Mater Ecclesiae and an active member of the CMAA, was the celebrant and homilist.
Many, including committee members, sacristans, altar servers, and the musicians made great efforts to ensure the solemnity of this marvelous occasion. The gifts of the laity are bearing much fruit at Mater Ecclesiae.
Perhaps one of the more striking elements of the Traditional Latin Mass is the rich symbolism that it contains. These liturgical gems not only give cause for inspiration, but serve as a homily in action. The words of the Introit, for example (Rev. 12.1: A great sign appeared in heaven...), illustrate a scriptural basis for our belief in the Assumption and the Queenship of Mary. The many genuflections by those in the sanctuary emphasize belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the reverence that is due to so great a sacrament. One of the more interesting details involves the subdeacon resting the Last Gospel on his head while the priest reads it. There is a great courtliness and formality, too, which communicates the seriousness of the action that is taking place. There are many other items, of course, all of which come together to make a liturgy which nobly strives to be an anticipation of the Heavenly Worship.
Despite objections that are often raised to the contrary, this Mass was not a nostalgic trip to the 1950's. This was the Mass of all time, celebrated by clergy and laity of the 21st century, many of whom were not even born before the II Vatican Council had ended. The people in attendance desired to imitate neither the uninvolved congregations of the pre-conciliar era, nor the uninvolved congregations of the post-conciliar era. They are demonstrating that the tradition-minded Catholic need not be nostalgic nor fearful of the future, but may indeed live in the present day with a confidence that can only come from being well-rooted in the patrimony of the faith.
Perhaps the greatest demonstration of this is the fact that many decrees of the II Vatican Council are being better implemented at Mater Ecclesiae than they are in the average parish church.
The Council said that, in the liturgical renewal, the full and active participation of the faithful, both external and internal, is to be considered before all else. It might be assumed that this is an impossible objective to achieve in the Traditional Rite, but anyone who arrived at the Assumption Mass with this idea most likely did not retain it for long. The people not only followed along with precision for cues as to which posture to take, they also involved themselves in the dialogue with the priest and often engaged in silent prayer. In addition to all of this, the vigor with which the hymns were sung was overwhelming.
The Council also called for the renewal of sacred music, especially Gregorian chant and polyphony, and Mater Ecclesiae has been particularly dedicated to this cause. The schola cantorum, under the leadership of Mr. Nicholas Beck, sang the propers of the Mass with a precision and beauty that is very worthy of imitation by other groups. Mr. Jonathan Coopersmith led the Ars Laudis Festival Chorus in singing Palestrina's Missa Assumpta Est Maria, a beautiful work which lends its own commentary to the liturgical action and creates a gateway to heaven, like all good sacred art, by a "materialization of the spirit and a spiritualizaton of matter." (Quotation from M. Deutinger)
In his homily, Fr. Pasley spoke of the beauty of Mary, a beauty which comes from her virtue and obedience to God's will. He then addressed the wonderful ceremony of the evening. Many in our era, he said, question the efficacy of such splendor when it comes to encouraging people in the faith. He admitted that it's possible that a spectator could attend this Mass merely to enjoy its solemnity and never gain any spiritual benefit from it, but then asked, "How is that the fault of the music?" Noting that attendees of this Mass with the proper disposition can be quite inspired to grow in the faith, he inquired whether mediocrity and sloppy ceremony have ever inspired similar growth. "Never," was his conclusion, and I agree.
How many Catholics who suffer through mediocre and sloppy liturgies each week would be surprised to find out, upon assisting at one, that they like the Traditional Latin Mass? How many of the faithful, sincere in their belief yet bored with banal worship, would be reinvigorated by the beauty of this most venerable rite? Are there not more than a few Catholics who desire a more Christocentric worship, the worship of a community that is gathered by and focused on Christ, rather than turned in on itself?
I submit that one of the key ingredients to a successful "Reform of the Reform" of the sacred liturgy is a more widespread availability of the Mass according to the 1962 Missale Romanum, properly and reverently celebrated. For this Mass, which Fr. Frederick Faber called "the most beautiful thing this side of heaven," teaches lessons that must be learned in the current liturgical climate.
Many, including committee members, sacristans, altar servers, and the musicians made great efforts to ensure the solemnity of this marvelous occasion. The gifts of the laity are bearing much fruit at Mater Ecclesiae.
Perhaps one of the more striking elements of the Traditional Latin Mass is the rich symbolism that it contains. These liturgical gems not only give cause for inspiration, but serve as a homily in action. The words of the Introit, for example (Rev. 12.1: A great sign appeared in heaven...), illustrate a scriptural basis for our belief in the Assumption and the Queenship of Mary. The many genuflections by those in the sanctuary emphasize belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the reverence that is due to so great a sacrament. One of the more interesting details involves the subdeacon resting the Last Gospel on his head while the priest reads it. There is a great courtliness and formality, too, which communicates the seriousness of the action that is taking place. There are many other items, of course, all of which come together to make a liturgy which nobly strives to be an anticipation of the Heavenly Worship.
Despite objections that are often raised to the contrary, this Mass was not a nostalgic trip to the 1950's. This was the Mass of all time, celebrated by clergy and laity of the 21st century, many of whom were not even born before the II Vatican Council had ended. The people in attendance desired to imitate neither the uninvolved congregations of the pre-conciliar era, nor the uninvolved congregations of the post-conciliar era. They are demonstrating that the tradition-minded Catholic need not be nostalgic nor fearful of the future, but may indeed live in the present day with a confidence that can only come from being well-rooted in the patrimony of the faith.
Perhaps the greatest demonstration of this is the fact that many decrees of the II Vatican Council are being better implemented at Mater Ecclesiae than they are in the average parish church.
The Council said that, in the liturgical renewal, the full and active participation of the faithful, both external and internal, is to be considered before all else. It might be assumed that this is an impossible objective to achieve in the Traditional Rite, but anyone who arrived at the Assumption Mass with this idea most likely did not retain it for long. The people not only followed along with precision for cues as to which posture to take, they also involved themselves in the dialogue with the priest and often engaged in silent prayer. In addition to all of this, the vigor with which the hymns were sung was overwhelming.
The Council also called for the renewal of sacred music, especially Gregorian chant and polyphony, and Mater Ecclesiae has been particularly dedicated to this cause. The schola cantorum, under the leadership of Mr. Nicholas Beck, sang the propers of the Mass with a precision and beauty that is very worthy of imitation by other groups. Mr. Jonathan Coopersmith led the Ars Laudis Festival Chorus in singing Palestrina's Missa Assumpta Est Maria, a beautiful work which lends its own commentary to the liturgical action and creates a gateway to heaven, like all good sacred art, by a "materialization of the spirit and a spiritualizaton of matter." (Quotation from M. Deutinger)
In his homily, Fr. Pasley spoke of the beauty of Mary, a beauty which comes from her virtue and obedience to God's will. He then addressed the wonderful ceremony of the evening. Many in our era, he said, question the efficacy of such splendor when it comes to encouraging people in the faith. He admitted that it's possible that a spectator could attend this Mass merely to enjoy its solemnity and never gain any spiritual benefit from it, but then asked, "How is that the fault of the music?" Noting that attendees of this Mass with the proper disposition can be quite inspired to grow in the faith, he inquired whether mediocrity and sloppy ceremony have ever inspired similar growth. "Never," was his conclusion, and I agree.
How many Catholics who suffer through mediocre and sloppy liturgies each week would be surprised to find out, upon assisting at one, that they like the Traditional Latin Mass? How many of the faithful, sincere in their belief yet bored with banal worship, would be reinvigorated by the beauty of this most venerable rite? Are there not more than a few Catholics who desire a more Christocentric worship, the worship of a community that is gathered by and focused on Christ, rather than turned in on itself?
I submit that one of the key ingredients to a successful "Reform of the Reform" of the sacred liturgy is a more widespread availability of the Mass according to the 1962 Missale Romanum, properly and reverently celebrated. For this Mass, which Fr. Frederick Faber called "the most beautiful thing this side of heaven," teaches lessons that must be learned in the current liturgical climate.
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