A rather Old Rite Bank Holiday

This last few days over the Bank Holiday and since I have been able to enjoy something of a festival of traditional liturgy, or indeed, liturgies.

Last Saturday I was at Blackfriars here in Oxford for a celebration of the Dominican Rite by Fr Oliver Keenan O.P. - a young priest whom I had the privilege of teaching medieval church history in 2013.

On Sunday I travelled with a friend to Reading for Mass at the FSSP church of St William of York, so here was the 1962 Rite celebrated , and when we returned to Oxford we were able to go, as usual to traditional Vespers at the Oxford Oratory.

Monday saw another Dominican Rite Mass, this time at SS Gregory and Augustine, and celebrated by Fr Matthew Jarvis O.P., again a fine young priest from Oxford Blackfriars and whom I know from our membership of the committee of Churches Together in Central Oxford.

Today, Thursday, there was a celebration of a High Mass from the 1962 Missal for the feast of the English Martyrs at the Oxford Oratory - this is, of course in effect 'the Mass the Martyrs died for.' Given that historic claim it is a pity that some of the more vocal enthusiasts for the Traditional  Liturgy were not there. I appreciate that not everyone can get to every such celebration, but I sometimes sense that some do not try as hard as others to support public celebrations of something they hold so dear.

May Devotions at SS Gregory and Augusti

This afternoon I went to the May Devotion in honour of Our Lady at SS Gregory and Augustine here in Oxford.

In recent years I have aimed to attend this occasion, and usually managed to get there, and it has normally been blessed, as it was today, by fine weather. The afternoon begins at an altar set up in the grounds with prayetrs before astatue of Our Lady which is then carried in procession out and along part of Woodstock Road and into the church for prayers. We were all provided with roses to carry and then offer before the statue of our Lady of Fatima which is above the Lady altar in the church. Ss Gregory and Augustine was decorated with spring flowers and with garlands strtching from the baldechino to the side walls for the occasion ( and the visit of the Archbishop for the parish Mass in the morning ). The style that is used there for floral arrangements aims for a 'country' look to blend with the Art-Nouveau/Art-Deco style of the church, which dates from 1912. The effect was very pretty, and we added to the flowers as we offered the blooms we were all carrying for vases on the Lady altar.

After more prayers and an act of dedication to the Virgin we concluded with quintessentially English refreshments of tea and cake out in the open air.

A happy and holy afternoon that was very traditional and very English.

Celebrating St George

Today has been the feast of St George and as he is our national patron here in England a feastday I am always keen to observe.

One way I do so as an individual is by wearing on the day a lapel badge which is a reproduction of a medieval pilgrimage badge from St George's Windsor showing St George and the Dragon. I got this at the British Museum exhibition on Saints and relics the other year.

Yesterday evening I was able to attend at SS Gregory and Augustine an anticipated celebration of the feast with an EF Mass followed by veneration of a relic of St George.

This morning I was at the Oxford Oratory for their 10am Mass  and then this evening I was, in effect by chance, at  Blackfriars and attended their celebration of Mass. This was in a somewhat more traditional liturgical style than I have seen there hitherto - as a friend and I observed to each other more like the Oratory than we had seen there on other high days and holy days, and provided a dignified end to the celebrations. 

 

Image: Breviary.net 

St George, pray for us 

 

Celebrating St Gregory

Today is the EF feast of St Gregory the Great, and yesterday evening I attended an anticipated celebration of the day which was also the patronal feast at SS Gregory and Augustine in north Oxford. Fr John Saward offered a Missa Cantata in his church, which had put aside Lenten austerity and was suitably decorated with spring flowers in a style which complemented the Arts and Crafts style of the building.

A good occasion, if not quite as spectacular as the Mass of St Gregory...

 

The Mass of St Gregory 

 Image:cathcon.blogspot.uk

Oxford Benedictine Oblates - forthcoming meetings

The Sodality of St Benedict of Norcia and St Scholastica will hold its next meetings on the following Wednesdays at the church of SS Gregory and Augustine, 322 Woodstock Road, Oxford: January 13th, February 3rd and March 2nd.

St Benedict and St Scholastica

Image:forallsaints.wordpress.com

The meetings, which last for an hour, begin at 7pm, following on from the 6pm Mass in the church. We are very grateful to Fr John Saward for his welcome and support.

Our aspiration is to be linked to the developing foundation at Norcia, St Benedict's birthplace.


Newcomers will receive a warm Benedictine welcome.

Solemn EF Masses for Epiphany

Yesterday evening I attended the Solemn High Mass in the Extrordinary Form for the Epiphany at the Oxford Oratory.

There had been a Low Mass for the feast at 12.15, but the main celebration was at 6pm. This was very well attended - those who love the EF, regular 6pm attenders and those who wish to keep Epiphany on the proper day, not the nearest Sunday. On the basis of a well-filled church I am tempted, once again, to ask who it is that says Mass in the Extraordinary Form and the celebration of Epiphany on the day traditionally assigned to it are not wanted.

This was a particularly beautiful liturgy, and the calm professionalism with which it was executed brought to my mind the phrase 'noble simplicity' to describe it. This was liturgy that was both elegant and eloquent.

The Choir did a fine job of singing the Mass by Palestrina and the Propers

We had the proclamation of the moveable feasts of the coming year in Latin as well as a sermon from the Provost, Fr Daniel, which linked this celebration into the whole cycle of redemption, of giving thanks for the gifts of this life and the call to spread that news to a world that needs to know it.

Alas there appeared to be no photographs being taken which I could share with readers.

A couple of miles away to the north at SS Gregory and Augustine there was also a Solemn High Mass in the EF celbrated by Fr Saward. The friends with whom I had supper afterwards who had been there said that there were again good numbers ,and that everything was done very well. The commented in particular on the quality of  music - in this case William Byrd - and on the serving.

It is heartening to think that there were two such Masses offered yesterday, and that they were so well supported. Those of us who live in or near Oxford are very lucky, and very grateful, for such provision.

Being a proxy godfather - again

Yesterday I attended the baptism of Eleanor, the second daughter of a couple who are long standing friends from my days at Pusey House and who like me have entered into full peace and communion with Rome. Eleanor was born just before Christmas. Owen and Emily invited me to join them on this happy occasion which followed on from the Morning Mass at SS Gregory and Augustine here in Oxford, the church in which they were married.

The baptism was conducted by Fr John Saward, who conducted their wedding and also baptised their elder daughter. The rite was that of the Extraordinary Form, with its series of exorcisms and associated prayers, and was preceded by Emily's churching at the door and High Altar of the church.

When their elder daughter was baptised I was assigned the role of proxy godfather, the actual godfather being unable to be present as he was out of the country. Yesterday I found myself being tapped on the arm and asked once more to be the proxy as the godfather on this occasion was unable to attend due to his car having broken down the day before. So once more unto the font I went...

The traditional liturgical form of the rite of baptism emphasises to those who are cognisant of what is going on the seriousness of being redeemed from Original Sin and the significance of what is happening. The stress in the responses made on the child's behalf by the godparents is very much of a personal desire for baptism - and  all it entails - rather than on rearing the child within a particular tradition - that is assumed. This I assume reflects the antiquity of the rite, when catacumens were of years of discretion.  A baptism in the traditional form is a very thorough process - nothing gets left out.

Following the ceremonies at the church door with exorcisms and salt and the signing with the cross, the oil of the catacumenate, the actual baptism and the Chrismation we proceeded to the Lady Altar, with Eleanor carried by her godmother Alex Lloyd and me bearing the baptismal candle, where the newly baptised infant was, as is the custom at SS Gregory and Augustine, consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady.

By a happy chance of coincidence in the congregation at Mass beforehand and then invited to the baptism, was the former Anglican clergyman, recently reconciled to the Catholic Church, who had baptised Owen as a schoolboy here in Oxford and prepared him for confirmation as an Anglican.

Afterwards I was one of those at a most enjoyable lunch party to celebrate the baptism with grandparents and other family members, and an occasion to toast the by now very sleepy centre of attention in her pram. 

Please pray for Eleanor Clare Olwen Curry, for Owen and Emily and their other daughter Alice, and for their families.

Oxford Benedictine Oblates

Last night we held the first meeting of our revived Benedictine Oblates group here in Oxford. For the last couple of years we have languished somewhat but over the summer we made plans to revive it, and have resumed meetings. Our aspiration is to be linked to the developing foundation at Norcia, St Benedict's birthplace.

St Benedict and St Scholastica

Image:forallsaints.wordpress.com

Under the name of the Sodality of St Benedict and St Scholastica we aim to meet initially on the first Wednesday of each month at 7pm in the church of SS Gregory and Augustine; the meeting follows on from the 6pm Mass, and is designed to last for an hour. We are very grateful to Fr John Saward for his welcome and support.

Although only some of us were able to meet last night we found it a suitable, indeed successful format, and certainly achieved a prayerful quiet that to my mind savoured very much of the Benedictine ideal and spirit.

We followed the structure of an Oblate manual from 1937 which had been provided by one of our group, and are grateful to him for his work in producing a traditional and reflective office. Another member had the excellent idea of our turning the month's calendar of Benedictine saints into a litany, which worked well. We had two readings - one from Bishop Fulton Sheen on the Rosary ( it was, after all, the Feast of the Rosary ) and one from St Gregory the Great on the Gospel in the EF for last Sunday. This included an example from the life of his monastery on the Coelian Hill, which seemed eminently apposite. We ended by saying Compline in the traditional Benedictine form.

We hope this can become a regular part of the devotional life of Oxford, and anyone interested would be most welcome to join us at our next meeting on November 4th.

Dominican Rite Mass for St John Macias

Yesterday evening I attended with a friend the 6pm Mass at SS Gregory and Augustine here in Oxford. Instead of the usual Friday evening celebration of the EF the liturgy was the traditional Dominican rite, celebrated by Fr Richard Conrad O.P.

September 19th is the feast of the Dominican lay brother St John (Juan) Macias, 1585-1645, of whom there is a biography here.

St John Macias

Image: lasagradaexpedicion.weebly.com

St John, who was canonized in 1975, and having been born in Spain, worked feeding the poor in Lima in Peru. Fr Conrad recounted in his homily how the saint trained his donkey to go to the houses of benefactors by itself and to wait until gifts of food were placed in the panniers on its back. His canonization followed from a miracle in the twentieth century - a Spanish priest's housekeeper was accustomed to cook and provide meals for the poor on a daily basis. On one occasion she found she had only a few grains of rice and invoked the then Bl. John Macias' aid. The resulting, overflowing multiplication of rice was attested to be many independent witnesses.

I have attended the Dominican Rite celebrated by Fr Conrad in its Solemn form at Blackfriars here in Oxford on LMS Pilgrimage days, but this was the first opportunity I had to attend it in the Low form. The differences in form from the EF are not many - the most obvious being the preparation of the chalice at the beginning of the liturgy - as in the Sarum Use -  and we were provided with very clear service booklets. The Mass wasa quiet and meditative one - ideal at the end of a day -  and one came away feeling refreshed but also privileged not just in attending  Mass at all, but one in so venerable and elegant a form.

 

 

Observing Ash Wednesday in Oxford

I began Lent yesterday by attending two Masses for Ash Wednesday.

The first was a Low Mass, at 12.15, offered in the Extraordinary Form at the Oxford Oratory, with a very sizeable congregation. This was approaching in numbers those for the 11am Sunday novus ordo Mass. If many were regular attenders at EF Masses there were also many others for whom this was a convenient time to attend, and suggests that many who do not regularly attend the usus antiquior are perfectly happy to do so when it is the one they wish to attend - that is, they, ordinary Catholics, are not people who resolutely refuse to attend the EF as some seek to suggest. I saw some friends at this Mass who travel something well over a hundred miles round trip Sunday by Sunday to attend the 11am novus ordo Mass.

I understand from one of my students that the 10am Ordinary Form Mass drew a large congregation as well.

After my two small collations with a friend during the afternoon and other errands, I returned to the Oratory for the 6pm Solemn Mass celebrated in Latin in the novus ordo. This drew a very large congregation - as many, if not more than, at the Sunday 11 Mass. 

In the evening I saw my companion of the afternoon who had gone to the Sung EF Mass at SS Gregory and Augustine, which had again drawn good support.

Numbers are not the be-all and end-all of parish life, but they do suggest on the evidence of yesterday that Catholics in Oxford take Lent seriously and do attend church to mark its commencement.

The Oxford Oratory 's services and devotions  over the coming weeks can be seen at Lent and Holy Week 2015 Leaflet

Forthcoming EF Masses in the Oxford area

I have received information from the Chairman of The Latin Mass Society about celebrations in the Traditional rite in the Oxford area.

In addition to these celebrations I would add that there are regular 8am Masses on Sunday at the Oxford Oratory, and at 6pm on Wednesdays and Fridays and also at 12.30 on first Thursdays at SS Gregory and Augustine.

The clergy of FSSP at St William of York in Reading offer a full pattern of services with a Sung High Mass every Sunday at 11am.

Our Lady of Caversham

Image:ourladyandstanne.org.uk

The main additional event coming up for the LMS is their annual Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Caversham, coinciding with the Ember Saturday of Lent, 28th February, at 11:30am. This impressive Mass with extra readings and chants is an ideal liturgical preparation for Lent and Easter. It will be accompanied by the Schola Abelis of Oxford with polyphony provided by Cantus Mangus of London. Caversham is in the outskirts of Reading, and is the Marian Shrine of the Birmingham Archdiocese. it is at 2 South View Avenue, Caversham, RG4 5AB. The LMS encourages peopel to support this event if you can. As i have opined before the Shrine is delightful and a wonderful example of restablishing devotion in aplace celebrate din the medieval period as a place of pilgrimage.

 The Shrine of Our Lady of Caversham

Image:ourladyandstanne.org.uk

This Sunday there is a Missa Cantata in SS Gregory and Augustine's in Oxford at 12 noon. This is part of their regular pattern of an EF Mass at noon on the third Sunday of each month.

On Ash Wednesday there will be Low Mass with ashes at 12.15pm at the Oxford Oratory and a Sung Mass with distribution of ashes in SS Gregory and Augustine's at 6pm.

There will be a Sung High Mass for the Annunciation at the Oxford Oratory on March 25th at 6pm.

Sunday Masses at the church of Holy Trinity, Hethe, near Bicester, continue at 12 noon; that on the 2nd Sunday of each month is Sung. Hethe also now has Low Masses at 12 noon on Saturdays in the church.

Holy Trinity, Hethe

Image:Wikimedia/Geograph

There is also another new venue for the Extraordinary Form at Holy Rood, in Abingdon Road, Oxford. Throughout Lent there will be Low Mass on Fridays at 12:30pm. This has been organised in conjunction with the Ordinariate who use this church.  The address is Folly Bridge, Oxford, OX1 4LD. 

For those who love and appreciate the usus antiquior there is somethimg of an embarassment of riches in this area, unlike some parts of the country, or indeed the world.

Lourdes Mass at SS Gregory and Augustine

Image; turnbacktogod.com

Last night I attended the Extraordinary Form High Mass for the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes at SS Gregory and Augustine here in Oxford. This was a beautiful and reflective liturgy, accompanied by a consort of singers under Nicolas Haigh of New College who sang Byrd's Mass for Four Voices and Victoria's Ave Maria.  

The preacher was Dom Oswald McBride OSB, Prior of St Benet's Hall, who fdrew upon his experiences of visiting Lourdes with the combined insights of a Benedictine monk who is also a trained medical doctor. As someone who had long been reluctant to go to Lourdes based on reports of its commercialisation he had, when he did finally go a few years ago, found himself humbled and profoundly moved by the compassion and faith he witnessed there. 

This Mass proved to be a fitting climax to the parish's Lourdes Novena, which has, I understand, been well supported by parishioners.

** By the way this is the 2000th post I have published on this blog **

Oxford Novena at SS Gregory and Augustine

Today the church of SS Gregory and Augustine commences a Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes, beginning at their Extraordinary Form High Mass of Candlemas at 6 pm. This will have a polyphonic setting  The Novena is being made to pray for the sick and for those who care for them.

During this time there will be EF Low Masses on Wednesday and Friday at 6 pm and on Thursday at 12 noon as well as Masses in the Ordinary Form.  

The Novena concludes with the EF High Mass of Our Lady of Lourdes (also with polyphony from some of Oxford's finest young singers) at 6pm on that feast on February 11th. The preacher at that celebration will be Dom Oswald McBride OSB from St Benet's Hall.

The Epiphany of Our Lord

Today is the Epiphany of Our Lord according to the traditional use of the Church.

As I have posted on this day in recent years I, and I think many others, would wish to see a return to the traditional date of January 6th for its observance in the Ordinary Form in England and Wales - and indeed in other countries as well - rather tham transferring it to the Sunday. I do very much hope that the Bishops will resolve to petition ther Holy See for a restoration of the customary dates for Epiphany, Ascension and Corpus Christi in the near future. It is surely not unreasonable to expect the faithful - if such they really are - to go to Mass on a day other than Sunday on three occasions during the year, or if they are in a parochial unit with several churches but only one priest to travel a slight distance - it will certainly not be as far as the Magi travelled.

I was quite happy to observe an anticipated Mass and Vespers of Epiphany in the Ordinary Form last Sunday, though otherwise I said the Office for the Second Sunday after Christmas, but, thanks to the rules governing the Extraordinary Form, I am able to observe this wonderful feast on its proper day, that is today. So, as in previous years, and as I described in my post Epiphanylast year, I am saying the Office for Epiphany, will go to the EF Low Mass at the Oxford Oratory at 12.15 and then, this evening, attend the Sung Mass at SS Gregory and Augustine at 6. Those possibilities do, I realise, make Catholic life in Oxford both richer and easier in practical terms than in many other places, and thanks be to God for that fact.

The Adoration of the Magi

This work in tempera on wood, also called Pala Strozzi, was painted in 1423 by Gentile da Fabriano, and is one of the best known images of the Epiphany. It was commissioned by the wealthy banker and intellectual Palla Strozzi for the family chapel in the church of Santa Trinita.

 Image: uffizi.org

A Happy and Joyful Epiphany to you all.

Corpus Christi in Oxford

Last Thursday I attended the EF Low Mass for Corpus Christi at the Oxford Oratory at lunchtime, and then went to the 6pm High Mass at SS Gregory and Augustine.  

This High Mass was celebrated in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed, and it concluded a celebration of the parish's Forty Hours Devotion. The Mass was followed by a procession round the grounds and along the side of Woodstock road and with other traditional devotions. It was a splendid a celebration of Mass in what is a small church, with the attendant logistical problems.

Images: LMS Chairman's blog

Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day for the fifteenth annual North Oxford Deanery Corpus Christi Procession. These photographs are all from the account on the Oxford Oratory's website, with some additional comments I have added.

Many people contributed to making the procession a great success. The marshals were briefed about keeping us safe - as readers can see I was again habited in the distictive garb of such an esteemed person:

The congregation was briefed by the Provost, Fr Daniel:

Members of the congregation are encouraged to wear their academic dress, as can be seen here:

The Dean, Fr John Hancock, flanked by two permanent Deacons carried the Blessed Sacrament from the Oratory to Blackfriars:

The procession leaves the church. Seminarians from the Ordinariate were amongst those serving:

The procession passes along St Giles, and can be seen here passing Pusey House. We were joined by some Benedictines:

 

The children who had made their First Holy Communion this weekend scattered rose petals before the Blessed Sacrament. The petals were in profusion as flowers from a wedding on Saturday at the Oratory were re-cycled:

We alternated between saying the Rosary and singing Eucharistic hymns, accompanied by the Witney Town Band. Fr Daniel led the saying of the Rosary, and is usual on this occasion, looked a bit like a Mafia Priest...:

 

The canopy over the monstrance was carried by the Conventual Franciscan Friars who are currently establishing themselves in Oxford:

At Blackfriars the Dominican friars sang the Lauda Sion and Fr Robert Ombres, O.P. preached a fine sermon. This Dominican appears to be wondering if everyone will fit into the church - we did n't quite:

Fr Ombres then carried Our Lord along part of Cornmarket and up St Michael's Street:

 

The band and the procession in St Michael's Street:

Fr Dushan Croos, S.J., Chaplain to the University of Oxford, then carried the Blessed Sacrament to the Chaplaincy:

 

The procession crosses Queen Street, goes down St Ebbe's Street and into Rose Place:

At the Old Palace, the Dean gave Benediction, before the singing of the Salve Regina and Faith of our Fathers:

We then concluded with some very welcome refreshments!

This was a very successful occasion - as indeed it always is - and a striking act of witness to the city of Oxford of the Catholic faith and devotion to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.