It’s not often that we have news to report about our sister Extraordinary Form Community on the west side of Michigan. Today we are pleased to report that Diocese of Grand Rapids Bishop Walter Hurley attended Sacred Heart Church’s Tridentine Mass on Sunday, November 21 at 12:30 PM. His Excellency sat in choir to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Grand Rapids Tridentine Community.[Comments? Please e-mail tridnews@stjosaphatchurch.org. Previous columns are available at www.stjosaphatchurch.org. This edition of Tridentine Community News, with minor editions, is from the St. Josaphat bulletin insert for December 12, 2010. Hat tip to A.B.]
Bishop Sample Celebrates Pontifical Low Mass
Continuing with the outstate news, Diocese of Marquette Bishop Alexander Sample celebrated a Pontifical Low Mass in the Extraordinary Form at Marquette’s St. Peter Cathedral this past Sunday, December 5. We believe this is the first time that His Excellency has celebrated a Tridentine Mass. The event marked the inauguration of a weekly Tridentine Mass at the Cathedral.
Of even more interest, Assistant Pastor Fr. John Boyle reports that Bishop Sample hopes to celebrate the Extraordinary Form there approximately once per month from now on. If the plan pans out, Bishop Sample might very well become the most frequent Episcopal celebrant of the classic Roman Liturgy in North America.
St. Joseph Tridentine Mass Time Change
The monthly Extraordinary Form Mass held at St. Joseph Church on Fourth Sundays will henceforth be held at 10:30 AM instead of noon. The change was made to standardize the parish’s Latin Masses, Ordinary and Extraordinary Form, at a consistent time, following the elimination of the monthly German Mass that had been celebrated at 10:30 on Fourth Sundays.
St. Albertus Increases Frequency of Tridentine Masses
Many of our readers know that St. Albertus Church has been holding Tridentine Masses once per quarter. We are pleased to announce that because of the popularity of the Extraordinary Form, St. Albertus will be increasing its frequency to once every month or two, as logistics and celebrant availability allow. As always, dates will be posted here. Masses will continue to be held at noon on Sundays, providing a convenient alternative time between St. Josaphat’s 9:30 AM Mass and Assumption-Windsor’s 2:00 PM Mass.
Christmas Tridentine Mass Schedule
As in previous years, three Masses in the Extraordinary Form will be celebrated, at three different times, at three different churches, to accommodate everyone’s schedule and preferences. Each Mass will feature a full choir and chamber orchestra.
Sat. 12/25 Midnight: High Mass at St. Joseph
Sat. 12/25 9:30 AM: High Mass at St. Josaphat
Sat. 12/25 2:00 PM: High Mass at Assumption-Windsor
Joe Tuskiewicz Installed as AcolyteThis past Wednesday, December 8, seminarian and former St. Josaphat and Assumption-Windsor altar server Joe Tuskiewicz was installed to the Ministry of Acolyte at Blessed John XXIII Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts. The Pontifical Commission Ecclésia Dei has ruled that this is the equivalent step in the Ordinary Form system to the Extraordinary Form’s ordination as Subdeacon. As a result, when Joe returns to visit us over the Christmas break, he will be able to serve as Subdeacon at Solemn High Masses, which we hope to arrange on both sides of the river. We congratulate Joe and ask that you pray for him as he progresses towards the holy priesthood.
Fun vs. Enjoyment vs. Edification
Circa 1978, a memorable talk was given by the late Detroit area music instructor and harmonization expert Dr. Maurice White on the difference between “fun” and “enjoyment”. As we look forward to the solemn Masses of Christmas during the liturgically restrained season of Advent, his main points bear repeating today.
“Fun” can be broadly defined as entertainment of a fleeting, rather shallow sort. Riding a roller coaster, watching a NASCAR race, and going to a comedy show are three examples of activities that could be classified as fun by those who like such things. Fun experiences do not develop our intellect; they are mere recreation.
“Enjoyment”, on the other hand, has more depth to it. Great music, Dr. White argued, was to be enjoyed; it was not fun. Attending a concert of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, watching a documentary on the History Channel, or developing one’s woodworking skills are examples of enjoyable pursuits. They enrich us and expand our horizons.
It is appropriate to extend this distinction into the realm of the Sacred Liturgy. Many of our readers possess a great dedication to, and enthusiasm for, the Extraordinary Form of Holy Mass. As much as we may love the Mass, assisting at Mass is not “fun.” It is not even fitting to say that we “enjoy” the Mass, as that term seems superficial when discussing the Sacred Mysteries.
A term more appropriate to explain one’s love of Holy Mass is that it is “edifying.” Assisting at the Mass is more than entertainment, more than education. It breathes life into our soul and brings us closer to God. It is one of the highest pursuits in which mankind can participate, with spiritual, intellectual, and aesthetic fruits and appeal.
Tridentine Masses This Coming Week
Regular Sunday Masses are not included.
Mon. 12/13 7:00 PM: Low Mass at St. Josaphat (St. Lucy, Virgin & Martyr)
Tue. 12/14 7:00 PM: Low Mass at Assumption-Windsor (Feria of Advent)
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Bishop Hurley Visits Sacred Heart – Grand Rapids
Tridentine Community News (December 12, 2010):
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4 comments:
"The Pontifical Commission Ecclésia Dei has ruled that this is the equivalent step in the Ordinary Form system to the Extraordinary Form’s ordination as Subdeacon."
The PCED's ruling that acolytes may stand for subdeacons (with restrictions, e.g. no maniple) in the extraordinary form (aka "straw subdeacons"), is NOT the same thing as "ruling that the two are equivalent."
I am an instituted Acolyte (and Lector) and would love this to be true, but I submit that it simply is not the case and that the post is in error here.
The above anonymous poster is technically correct. In the course of writing a weekly column limited in space to one page, one cannot always elaborate upon the details of a given topic. The point was simply that Mr. Tuskiewicz will be able to serve as Subdeacon at a Solemn High Mass.
It would be interesting to understand what our anonymous friend desires. Besides permission to wear the maniple, just what does "ordination" to the subdiaconate (there is debate about whether that concept is still permissible in our day, given that Ministeriam Quaedam has not been superceded by new legislation) supply that he wishes? Neither the old subdiaconate nor the present institution as Acolyte constitutes entry into the clerical state.
^
Why then did not the article simply write what you did in the response? That certainly took less space. Whatever the "point" of the article might have been, it did overstate the case regarding the PCED clarification and may well have led to confusion amongst its readers. The problem here is not that the article failed to make elaboration, but that it made a false equivalence and interpretation of the PCEDs ruling.
What does your fixation with anonymity (twice mentioned) mean? Nothing to the point being made surely. Or maybe just a little ad hominem because you have nothing else constructive to say?
Maybe what I "desired" is simply that even under current interpretation, the acolyte is, or can be, suffered to serve as a subdeacon; it is not, however, considered 'ordinary' shall we say. Were the acoltye truly considered by law equivalent to the old minor order of subdeaconate, an acolyte could serve in a Solemn Mass by right of office rather than by sufferance.
Maybe where Mr. Tuskiewicz serves, the clergy are happy to allow him to serve a Solemn Mass whilst an acoltye; perhaps AlexB can find it in himself to realize that this is not the case everywhere and stop seeking other motivations?
Take a chill pill, Bill.
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