Video debate with Fr Joseph Fessio

The Mass of the Ages team set up this debate between me and Fr Joseph Fessio, the well-known proponent of the 'Reform of the Reform'. This is the beginning section of the debate, when we each read  short pre-prepared talks. Mine starts at 3 minutes 12 seconds, which is where this video will start -- scroll back to Fr Fessio's (it doens't matter which you hear first as they don't respond to each other).

The full version is available to subscribers on the Mass of the Ages 'vault', along with a lot of other material.

In this opening statement I make the point that the Traditional Mass sacrifices intelligibility (audibility, visibility, etc.) for what will increase the devotion of the worshipper. Later in the discussion we go into the place of Latin in the Mass (Fr Fessio likes Latin), the authority of Vatican II, the interpretation of Sacrosantum Concilium, and other matters.

To see the vault, you can get the Mass of the Ages App for Android or IPhone, and go here:

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Pope Leo XIV: LMS press release

Press Release on the Election of Pope Leo XIV from the Latin Mass Society

 

The Latin Mass Society welcomes Pope Leo and assures him of our heartfelt prayers.

The Society has been distinguished since its foundation for its obedience to the Holy See, even in the most difficult and indeed tragic circumstances. We pray that Pope Leo, like his distinguished namesakes, the first Pope Leo, the Great, and the most recent, Pope Leo XIII, may be a beacon of orthodoxy and charity in a troubled world. May all the faithful say, like the Fathers of the Council of Chalcedon: ‘Peter has spoken through Leo’.

We pray that he may have the greatness of soul to acknowledge the contribution the Traditional Latin Mass continues to make to the life of the Church, allow it a place of honour in our churches, and promote the reconciliation of Catholics attached to it.

We invite our supporters and all Catholics to have Masses said for Pope Leo, and to offer the rosary for him, and other devotions. We will present a spiritual bouquet of these offerings to him in due course; those wishing to contribute can do so through this web page.

The Society will have a Solemn Te Deum sung on the occasion of the regular Sung Mass at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, London, that will take place on Monday 12^th May.

Prayer for a newly elected Pope (from the ancient Roman Missal):

Deus, ómnium fidélium pastor et rector, fámulum tuum Leonem, quem pastórem Ecclésiæ tuæ præésse voluísti, propítius réspice: da ei, quǽsumus, verbo et exémplo, quibus præest, profícere; ut ad vitam, una cum grege sibi crédito, pervéniat sempitérnam. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

O God the Pastor and Ruler of all the faithful, look favourably on Thy servant Leo whom Thou hast been pleased to appoint as shepherd of Thy Church: grant to him, we beseech Thee, that by word and example he may edify those over whom he is placed, so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may attain unto life everlasting. Through Christ our lord.

 

Notes for Editors

The Latin Mass Society was founded in 1965 to support the continued celebration of the Catholic liturgy in the form it took at the eve of the Second Vatican Council: the ‘1962 Missal’, the ‘antecedent Missal’, the Vetus Ordo or Traditional Mass.

The Traditional Mass has been given greater or less freedom by successive recent Popes; in 2021 Pope Francis restricted it with his Apostolic Letter Traditionis custodes. 

Press contacts:

Communications Officer, Daniel Beurthe daniel@lms.org.uk

Chairman, Joseph Shaw oxford@lms.org.uk

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Pray for the Conclave

For the Conclave, the Collect of the Votive Mass pro eligendo:

Supplici, Domine, humilitate deposcimus: ut sacrosantæ Romanæ Ecclesiæ concedat Pontificem illum tua immensa pietas; qui et pio in nos studio semper tibi placitus, et tuo populo pro salubri regimine sit assidue ad gloriam tui nominis reverendus. Per Christum.

We entreat Thee most humbly as suppliants, O Lord, that Thy boundless mercy may give the holy Roman Church a Bishop whose loving care in our regard will always be pleasing to Thee, and may be constantly honoured by Thy people for the glory of Thy name for his beneficent rule. Through Christ our Lord.

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Fr Mawdsley, the Holocaust, and the Traditional Mass

'Catholic Unscripted' have a released a full session with me talking about these matters. If you don't know about the context this may or may not be of interest, but it is a response to an internet sensation, which needs a response, and a wider problem of people in the Traditional Movement being sucked into conspiracy theories and antisemitism.

Here it is.

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Requiem for Pope Francis

A beautiful Mass in Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, celebrated by Fr Alan Robinson and accompanied by the Southwell Consort, who sang Victoria's Requiem. (Cardinal Nichols had given a general permission for Requiems to be celebrated for Pope Francis during the Octave, and celebrated one himself the same day.)

The Jews and the Liturgical Reform: in the Homiletic and Pastoral Review

Venerating the Cross on Good Friday (St Mary Moorfields, London)

This month I have an article in the Homiletic and Pastoral Review. It takes its start from a 1961 Memorandum sent to the Holy See, Anti Jewish Elements in Catholic Liturgy by the American Jewish Committee, which was intended to influence the reform. 

Until the conclusion of the paper I keep the question of the validity of those concerns separate from my main question: did the reformers of the Consilium act on them?

The short answer is 'no'. I was myself surprised to discover this, but the evidence is quite clear. I encourage readers interested in the subject to read my paper which sets out why I come to that conclusion in full.

Briefly, there are three main indications that the Consilium was not guided by this document.

Walsingham Pilgrimage Volunteers wanted 2: drivers

Booking is now open for the LMS Walking Pilgrimage to Walsingham, which takes place from Thursday 22nd August to Sunday 25th August. But before we can welcome 200+ pilgrims, we need to be able to look after them. We need volunteers! Today I am going to talk about drivers.

To volunteer, email walsinghampilgrimage@lms.org.uk

From its first year the Pilgrimage has had 'support drivers', and these have been becoming more and more numerous in recent years. For this year, we are in particular need of a van driver, as we need to have two luggage vans, and not just one. We can't get a lorry down the country lanes, so we hire an 'extra long' Mercedes Sprinter, or the the equivalent.