Collect:
“O God who under a wonderful Sacrament hast left us a memorial of Thy Passion: grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood that we may ever feel within us the fruit of Redemption.”
Technically Thursday was the feast of Corpus Christi. Did you see the Papal Mass? Beautiful!
But of course most places have moved the feast to today. We attended mass last night. The first local Latin Mass of the newly formed satellite group of an official FSSP apostolate community. Did you get all that?
There’s a Latin Mass community in Harrisburg. Approved by the bishop, operating in their own chapel and functioning not quite as a parish but with a similar structure. And as of yesterday that community has expanded here to our area. They don’t have their own chapel but are sharing space at another parish.
The mass itself was well attended with close to 300 people. Of course there were many who were just curious and it will be interesting to see how many of those people return. We plan to attend regularly bit also remain at our current parish. At least for now.
I am coming to really love the Latin Mass. I am still not up on all the prayers but I’ll get there. There’s such beauty, quiet (I love quiet!), reverence.
In practice it is quite different from the Ordinary Form (formerly known as the Nous Ordo) of the mass. I have heard some say they don’t like it because they don’t understand it. I don’t understand it either, but really, who understands bread becoming God? We participate, we open our hearts and minds, but in truth the reality of it escapes us more than we know.
Other have complained that it’s too passive and that “active participation” means that people have to be doing stuff. Actually not. Fr. Z does a good job explaining the true meaning of “active participation” if you want to better understand.
Two of the boys were altar servers and we laughed at home at how much more of a workout it is serving the Latin Mass. Still, both boys declared they prefer it.
The girls and I commented how nice it was to not be the only ladies wearing veils since we have worn veils at mass for years and are oftentimes the only ones. There was one woman there wearing a lovely hat. I like hats –I may have to get a few.
A blessed Sunday to you and yours!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Ruth 05.25.08 at 5:27 pm
I’m so happy for you, Michele. We LOVE the Traditional Latin Mass, as you can on my blog : ) We are now driving an hour and a half twice a month to attend.
Jessica 05.25.08 at 10:40 pm
A Blessed Sunday to you as well!
You are so blessed to have a FSSP parish in your area now!!! This has been our dream for years, but hasn’t come about… yet… we are still praying!!!
In fact, we are currently on our way to attend the FSSP ordinations (it will be telivesed on EWTN live on Friday!), since my brother-in-law is one of the four to be ordained!
God Bless!
Lori Richmond 05.25.08 at 11:11 pm
Hi Michele,
If the spirit moves you,will you write a blog about wearing viels at mass? As a convert,I have never understood why one would choose to.There are a couple families in our parish who wear them. To me they seem odd and out of place.Perhaps part of it is because their attire tends to be prudish and unfashionable. It seems to me that overly modest dress calls as much attention to the person as one who is immodestly dressed. Opps! That’s two blog topics! (BTW-You always look nice in the photos I have seen!)
Blessings,
Lori
Jennifer 05.29.08 at 7:57 pm
Mom and Dad have been searching out FSSP Masses, they are so few and far between it is quite a commitment to get to them. I’d be very interested to hear you expound upon this as well, Michele.