Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Wednesday, 16 October 2024

Carmelite Traditional Rite


To mark the Feast of St Teresa of Avila yesterday the New Liturgical Movement posted an article with a film from the 1950s or early 1960s of the celebration at Aylesford Priory of Mass according to the traditional Carmelite Use. 

As the article explains this originally was used by the Carmwes as it was the Use of the Church of Jerusalem in the Crusader epoch. As the Carmelites moved into Europe they brought the liturgy they were used to with them. It has remained a possession and preserve of the older Carmelite community. The reformed, discalced version established by St Teresa and St John of the Cross were, after their deaths to adopt the 1570 form of Mass.

The article gives a few further introductory comments and then links to the film of the Mass. This is therefore the Mass as attended by SS Teresa and John of the Cross in the Spain of King Philip II, but also the one offered across medieval Europe in Carmelite friaries, and, until more recently, in those of the White Friars  who followed the ancient practice of the Order. Ultimately it is a living 000 link to the spiritual life of the Crusader kingdoms if the Holy Land and the founding fathers of the Order on Mount Carmel.



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