Mass in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed, Corpus Christi 2013 at SS Gregory & Augustine, Oxford |
This story, for the website of the Archdiocese of Miami, has special poignancy for me because the church this lady is talking about it is one in which I regularly attend the Extraordinary Form, and sing at: SS Gregory & Augustine's, Woodstock Road.
Vida Tavakoli knew she had found her home in the Catholic Church when she first attended Latin Mass in England.
Formerly an atheist, her aversion toward religion changed at the end of her college career, when she became a Protestant. During her post-collegiate travels she became resolute in converting to Catholicism after attending a Missa Cantata, or sung Mass, in the parish of her favorite author, J.R.R. Tolkien, a devout Catholic who penned the “Lord of the Rings” series.
Though the homilies, the first reading and a translation of the Gospel are said in the vernacular, the prayers at the Extraordinary Form of the Mass are chanted in Latin, in the Church’s traditional Gregorian form.
When she heard Latin hymns coming from the choir loft, Tavakoli said, it felt like “hearing angels on high.”
She was mesmerized. “It truly is extraordinary,” she said. “There is something beautiful and sacred about this form of the Mass."
For more about the 'angels' who sing at this church see their website: the Schola Abelis. Here's a video of theirs.
Introit Cibavit of Corpus Christi, & Palestrina Kyrie's from his Missa Lauda Sion
When I previously read that article, I assumed it was referring to the Birmingham Oratory!
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ReplyDeleteSorry - is it possible to put an 'edit' on this blog? I can't be the only person who makes slips!
ReplyDeleteSS. Gregory and Augustine is quite beautiful. As, of course, always is the traditional Roman Mass. I was not aware of any connection to Tolkien - thank you very much. I shall have to go to Mass there if I'm ever in Oxfordshire.
That is where I first experienced the TLM. It was a mid week Low Mass in Mid June. I have never forgotten it. Just a handful of people there but oh so beautiful. I live abroad where there is no TLM and no priest interested in learning. Once I know I'm visiting somewhere the first thing I do is find out if there's a TLM, sometimes I am amazingly lucky and it's a short walk from my hotel. I miss having the chance to visit Oxford (my son was at Uni for 3 years, St John's College, perfect to get to the Oratory).
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