What say ye?
Fr. Martin Kelly is a self-described "company man." He wants to do things right liturgically. We are truly blessed to have him as a pastor as one who is both willing and able to accomodate the extra-ordinary form according to the 1962 missal! We are also blessed to have Fr. John help out as well. (BTW St. Patrick's has confessions readily available "in the box" like 340 days of the year!)
As a regulat 9am parishioner, I was surprised at the near capacity turnout. I estimate at least 600. I agree that this extra-ordinary form requires more effort to participate in terms of coordinating our hearts and minds to the actions before us. It did allow for more "personal prayer" especially when there is a 25 minute distribution of Holy Communion.
I was wondering why the Last Gospel was not recited aloud. At another 1962 Mass I attended, the priest went to the pulpit for this.
I attended the Mass in Nashua. Being from out-of-town, it was my first time at St. Patrick's. But I'm quite familiar with the 1962 Missal, having attended indult masses for twenty-three years.
I knew nothing about the celebrant. He said the Mass almost perfectly. I was impressed by the quality of the chant from the loft. The little mistakes (like standing for the Our Father) will be corrected in time. I think the kneeling handout was needlessly complicated for first-timers.
I was a little put off by some of the remarks and manner of the celbrant--awkwardly joking about his inability to remove his manipole, needlessly carping on the presumed pre-Vatican II minimalist attitudes about Mass attendance, and himself minimalizing the unique character of the 1962 ritual by saying that it possesses nothing of special note that is remarkably different from the Novus Ordo.
On the other hand, he is obviously very devoted to his parishioners and wishes to accommodate them (at least he wore the manimpole!--that great symbol of labor in the Lord's vinyard.) With such a large turnout, it is hoped that the Mass can be offered weekly and at a more reasonable hour for those who fast from midnight to Communion.
Next 1962 Extra-ordinary rite Mass will be Sunday September 30, 2007 2 PM at St. Patrick's in Nashua.
I know what you mean by a "deep participatio...". I have experienced this at the Extraordinary Form, and have found it extremely...holy is the only word I can find to describe this feeling.
As an acolyte at the Novus Ordo, I can appreciate the beauty of this rite too, but I favour the Extraordinary Form, and am much gladdened by the fact that more and more parishes are adopting the Form, and giving it it's proper place beside the Novus Ordo.
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