Tridentine Trivia: Did You Know . . .

Tridentine Community News (October 9, 2011):

... that a Bishop celebrant does not cross his stole for Mass, as a priest would, because he wears a Pectoral Cross over his alb? And that he does not put on the maniple until after the Indulgéntiam during the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar?

... that the bow that the celebrant makes towards the center of the altar prior to praying the Opening and Postcommunion Collects is to the Crucifix that must be on or above every altar, and not to the Tabernacle, which is not required to be on the altar?

... why the Deacon at a Solemn High Mass examines the inside of the Burse, the envelope containing the Corporal cloth, during the Credo, before taking it to the altar and unfolding the Corporal there? It is a ritual gesture to ensure that nothing harmful or impure might have been placed inside the Burse, a legitimate concern in particularly anti-Catholic times and places.

... why the Subdeacon at a Solemn High Mass holds the celebrant’s paten under a humeral veil while facing the altar during the Canon of the Mass? Centuries ago, a fragment of a Host consecrated by the Bishop would be placed on the paten later in the Mass. The position of the Subdeacon at this point represents unity with the Bishop of the diocese by waiting for that moment.

... why the Celebrant chants or says “Orémus” before the Offertory Antiphon? In other parts of the Mass, “Orémus” or “Oráte” is said only before a Collect (prayer) [Opening Collect, Secret, and Postcommunion], but not before an Antiphon [Introit and Communion]. Many years ago, the Mass contained Bidding Prayers after this “Orémus” but before the Offertory Antiphon, analogous to the Prayers of the Faithful in the Ordinary Form. Today only the “Orémus” remains as a sign of the since-excised prayers; it is technically not associated with the Offertory Antiphon at all.

... why a server or Subdeacon holds the Last Gospel altar card out at an angle while the celebrant reads it? As with the main Gospel in the Holy Mass, which is read from the altar missal turned at an angle, the Last Gospel is read facing Liturgical North, to represent preaching to the pagan North Countries of Europe.

... that the large priest’s hosts do not fit the lunas [glass holders] of every monstrance, and that they must be trimmed down to size [prior to Consecration] before they will fit inside?

... that many beautiful fixtures in our churches are, in fact, fakes? Some of the large “marble” pillars are in fact not marble, and only painted to look like marble. The pillars on the front of St. Josaphat’s High Altar are neither marble nor structural, but actually removable decorative objects. Our immigrant predecessors who built these magnificent churches were simply trying to produce the best appearances with the meager resources they had at their disposal.

... that a year and a half after it debuted as the #1 Best Seller upon publication, the Altar Missal for the Extraordinary Form remains among the Top 10 best selling books on the Vatican Bookstore web site, www.paxbook.com?

Cardinal Arinze Celebrates Tridentine Mass

His Excellency Francis Cardinal Arinze, former Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, recently celebrated a Pontifical Low Tridentine Mass at Providence, Rhode Island’s Holy Name of Jesus Church. A prominent advocate of rubrically correct celebrations of the Ordinary Form, His Eminence has never been known as an advocate of the Extraordinary Form. He becomes the latest in a series of Bishops, Archbishops, and Cardinals formerly indifferent to the Tridentine Mass who have begun to celebrate it.

Quote of the Week

As has often been stated in this column, while the goal over the long term should be to follow all of the rubrics of Holy Mass correctly, an accident, oversight, or missing object should not cause us stress. On the New Liturgical Movement’s post about the above Mass by Cardinal Arinze, commenters who should have been delighted that the event took place instead got a little carried away critiquing what appeared to be a mistake in the rubrics regarding the application of the maniple to the bishop’s arm.

To lighten the mood and put some perspective on the issue, Allen Maynard, one of the leaders of the Tridentine Community at Holy Name of Jesus Church, posted the below comment:

“I believe I can put the whole maniple question to rest: unfortunately Mr. Tribe has only seen fit to include a few images, however if he would be so kind as to make available frames #1962-1970 of the “Zaprinze Film” it would be possible to see the infamous “lone subdeacon” (vested as an M.C. since this was a low Mass) enter the frame at the extreme lefthand side. He is unmistakeably bearing a red item, which appears to have gold tassels. In frames #1970-2007 he can be seen handing it off to the capellanus ad sinistram who thereupon installs it on the cardinal. This is especially clear in the new digitally enhanced version (available on DVD for $19.95 from Conspiracy House Books and Media). Alas, the only remnant we can see of this action in frame #2011 (above) is the starboard chaplain tardily finishing his “Profound Bow at the Imposition of the Maniple”, which is supposed to have been completed by the time the ruby-headed maniple pin (amethyst for bishops) has penetrated the obverse drape of the maniple. (Stehle, v.3, Addendum for Rhode Island and Providence Plantations)”

Tridentine Masses This Coming Week

Mon. 10/10 7:00 PM: Low Mass at St. Josaphat (St. Francis Borgia, Confessor)

Tue. 10/11 7:00 PM: High Masses at both Assumption-Windsor and St. Josaphat (Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

Sun. 10/16 Noon: High Mass at St. Albertus (Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost)

[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 October 9, 2011. Hat tip to A.B.]