Post intelligent and civil comments. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the NLM
It all sounds wonderful!
But when on EWTN at a later date? Or has it not been announced yet?
Pictures! Anyone have pictures? Oh! I do hope so!
bjr
I am sure Vernon Quaintance will have photos up in due course...
Yes. Vernon Quaintance was there, busily taking pictures.
The Mass was splendid. Well done the LMS and all those involved.
It was indeed a wonderful and moving occasion. As regards the Epistle and Gospel not being given in English before the sermon, well printed Mass books were provided but the numbers attending were so great that they ran out. An appeal was made for those who had their own missals to pass on the Mass books to those without.
Yes there was only one hymn, but how moving to hear the whole cathedral, packed to the rafters, singing Adoro Te, many remaining on their knees throughout the whole of communion,( at least 15 mins).
I was there. No pictures, but I was surrounded by crying babies - young families, obviously. Lot's of religious, clerics, people couldn't find seats. Synchronised sitting, standing, people promptly following the directions in the LMS' printed booklet. During the processions, the congregation rippled beautifully as people genuflected before the cardinal.
Shawn
Thanks for moving these impressions from the comment box. Justin's is infinitely better than mine: fresher, more detailed, and enthusiastic as you would expect from somebody of his age.
As for crying babies, there were only a few among many happy babies, they were tiny, and I am delighted they were there with their parents. No Catholic congregation is complete without them. What impressed me most about the congregation was not only its size but the wide and broad age of the people. All generations were represented. It was a wonderful achievement.
There is some video of the recessional on our blog...
I had the privilege of serving on the altar (Torch Bearer No 6). It was truly an historic Mass and, looking down the Nave, one saw just a sea of faces. How wonderful. How Holy. Deo Gratias.
The Hoyos Mass was the most Catholic liturgy I have attended in my life. The Cardinal clearly has a great love of the liturgy and an awareness of his own position as a herald of hope to Catholics who have gone through so much in England simply to worship Almighty God in the same way as countless saints and Popes. We were in sacristy early and so were able to see with great glee the arrival of all the great and good of the Catholic clergy in England and Wales. In their first place superiors of traditional religious communities; the Abbot of Farnborough and the Prior of the Premonstratensians. Traditional religious were also in choir; Benedictines, more Premonstratensians and Dominicans. Then there were all those countless priests who have done so much for the Extra-ordinary Form; Fr. Tim Finigan, Andrew Southwell, Ray Blake and others representing great centres of tradition; Belmont, St. Mary's Clapham and of course the Oratories of London and Birmingham. The MC and servers were exceptionally well trained and were thankfully a great aid to some of us slightly bemused clerics.
As we entered turned into the nave, seeing a packed cathedral, there was a superb feeling of triumph. It really did feel as though the Catholic faith, in all its glory, had returned. It was almost from some sort of scene straight out of a Benson novel. The congregation was packed with young people and families, as well as religious of all varieties. The Cardinal clearly enjoyed the Mass and his very presence is so reverent and commanding. The message from Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor was polite, but simply a reminder of the disgraceful way the hierarchy have ignored this glorious event and Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ. The Cardinal himself seemed to recognise the difficulties of traditionalists in England. The music was a triumph, but to be expected from the great Westminster Cathedral choir. I think the most moving moment for me was witnessing a Knight of Malta making so much effort to get on his knees to receive Our Lord, such a rebuff to those today who seem to stand and defiantly stretch out their hands to a God they cannot recognise. Going out in procession one saw yet more famed faces; the Chairman of the LMS in his glorious uniform, Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and the Order of St. George, along with those other chivalrous people of the Catholic Herald. As we entered the sacristy, in a strange image going from the sublime to the ridiculous (as one priest commented) was Bishop Stack processing into the Lady Chapel, with girl altar servers in jeans. Simply another example of how totally out of touch some members of the hierarchy in this country are with Catholics, particularly young male Catholics.
One left with an extra-ordinary feeling that finally, at long last, the enemies of Catholicism would finally be forced to realise that the faith will rise once more in triumph in England, and we see now exactly how this will be done - through the restoration of the Extra-ordinary Form, in all parishes and places of this country. Deus vult.....
I certainly didn't mention 'crying babies' in a negative way, Fr. Symondson. It was great to see how many children did attend.
I glad of the comments of Mr. Aloysius. It's hard for me to appreciate the desperation of the more traditionally minded Catholics in England; I've been fortunate to only attend churches with regular Masses offered in both Forms.
I was stood at the back and I reckon those at the front missed out. It was the most Catholic sight I have ever seen. Full and standing, unamplified, gestures rippling through the congregation, visibly holy.
"I think the most moving moment for me was witnessing a Knight of Malta making so much effort to get on his knees to receive Our Lord, such a rebuff to those today who seem to stand and defiantly stretch out their hands to a God they cannot recognise."
Aloysius -- I never knew people had the gift of reading people's minds and hearts. Keep up snotty comments like that and you'll find more than a few people turned off by that sort of arrogant comment.
I have never carried such a heavy professional cross in all my life at the end of the Mass, the whole thing was to die for, and if you were me to die from!
PAX
I meant processional, I had professional on the braiN!
Chris
If indeed it was you who was crucifer at yesterday's Mass at Westminster Cathedral, can you explain why you were given a tunicle to wear, please? This was the only element that surprised me. In the Roman Rite the crucifer wears a cassock and cotta. It is an early c20 Anglican custom to vest one in a tunicle. Was there an explanation? Of course, if you were the subdeacon that would explain the tunicle; but subdeacons are not crucifers.
I attended with my son. It was such a priviledge to be there and living in these times. A great big thank you to all priests and faithful who kept the lamp burning over these years. Speaking for my family we are eternally grateful.
God is so good.
Well, If I am to be totally honest, I just wore and went with what I was told, and the lace was to die for and so beautiful I was not going to complain!
Chris
Heigh ho!
To R.F. Anthony SYMONDSON, S.J.: Quando provincia intra Societatem Jesu ipsam in qua membra, patres, scolastici et fratres secundum morem antiquum vivunt et laborant,umquam erigi possit? Dico: provincia privata similis "a personal parish". Thank you in advance.
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