Readers may recall that in 2008, a locksmith was called in to pick the locks of and re-key the long-unused tabernacles on the side altars of St. Josaphat Church. One of those tabernacles was in good condition and was found to contain a beautiful reliquary. The other three, however, were in various stages of disrepair. Two were filled with soot and unusable.[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 25, 2009. Hat tip to A.B.]
In the second phase of the tabernacle restoration, an intrepid volunteer has recently cleaned out, caulked, primed, and painted the interiors of the three tabernacles still in need of refurbishment. You may have noticed the tabernacle doors open over the past few weeks to permit the primer and paint to dry. Cloth-covered foam-board bases have been constructed as appropriate resting spots for the ciboria that may be placed there. This work has been done in preparation for a liturgical event, explained below.
All Souls Day Masses
As was done last year, this All Souls Day, Monday, November 2, will be a special day of prayer for the Souls of the Faithful Departed at St. Josaphat Church.
Starting at 6:00 PM, Tridentine Low Masses will be celebrated at the side altars of the church. In 2008 two side altars were in use. This year, Frs. Mark Borkowski, Peter Hrytsyk, John Johnson, and Louis Madey will be present to celebrate Masses at all four of the side altars. This may very well be the first time in decades that all of the side altars of one of our local historic Catholic churches are being used for Holy Mass simultaneously.
Following the Low Masses, at 7:00 PM a Solemn High Mass will be celebrated at the high altar. The Dies Irae will be sung. At the end of that Mass, the ceremony of Absolution will be conducted at the catafalque, the wooden platform which represents a casket for the departed souls.
The Church provides three separate sets of Mass Propers for All Souls Day, as there has been a longstanding tradition of priests celebrating multiple Masses on this day. The Church wishes to stress the need for prayer for the Souls in Purgatory, as once is in Purgatory, it can no longer pray for itself. That soul depends on the prayers and Masses offered by those still on Earth for its relief and ultimate release from Purgatory.
The accompanying photos show St. Josaphat’s four side altars: From top down are the altars which are clockwise from the left if you are standing in the church: The St. Anthony of Padua Altar, our Blessed Mother’s altar, the St. Joseph Altar, and the St. Francis of Assisi Altar.
NLM Covers Assumption’s Anniversary Mass
Last week’s Solemn High Mass at Assumption Church for the 18th Anniversary of the Windsor Tridentine Mass Community attracted the attention of the widely-read New Liturgical Movement blog. A story and photos, published on Monday, October 19, discussed how first-time Extraordinary Form celebrant Fr. John Johnson prepared for the Mass, and how the lessons he learned affect how he now approaches celebration of the Ordinary Form of the Mass. Faithful from across the region turned out; it was the best attended Tridentine Mass in the Windsor Community’s history. Read the whole story at www.newliturgicalmovement.org.
Related: Look to Exsultate Iusti in Domino for beautiful online photographs of these and other events at St. Josaphat.
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