Bishop Philip Egan presides from the throne at High Mass in the Extraordinary Form at Portsmouth Cathedral

Rt Rev Philip Egan, Bishop of Portsmouth, presided from the throne at a High Mass in the Extraordinary Form, organised by the Latin Mass Society, at Portsmouth Cathedral on Sunday, 27^th October.

 

The Traditional High Mass was the first at the cathedral for four years and joins the weekly Sunday morning Low Mass that has begun at Portsmouth’s mother church in recent weeks. Despite warnings of dire weather conditions, the Mass was well attended.

 



 

 

 The celebrant was Fr Phillip Pennington Harris, and the deacon was Rev Stephen Morgan, both of Portsmouth Diocese. The sub-deacon was Fr John Maunder of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, based at St Agatha’s, Portsmouth. Music was provided by the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge, directed by Christopher Hodkinson.

 

 

During his homily, Bishop Egan said that the Extraordinary Form of the Mass was welcome in Portsmouth Diocese where people wished it to be celebrated, and should have a place amongst the liturgical diversity of the diocese. He also highlighted the importance to the Church’s liturgy in both forms of the Roman Rite of Gregorian Chant and the Latin language. The bishop then spoke on the subject of the feast of Christ the King, celebrated on that Sunday in the 1962 Calendar. When Pope Pius XI had instituted it, it had been intended as a corrective to the rampant nationalism seen in inter-war Italy. Today, said the bishop, it still has great relevance as a corrective to the rise of secularism in our society.

 

  

After Mass, tea had been organised by the LMS in the cathedral centre and Bishop Egan stayed to talk with very many members of the congregation.

 

LMS General Manager, Mike Lord, said: ‘We were delighted that Bishop Egan was able to join us on this great occasion and were heartened by his words of welcome to those of us who are attached to the Traditional Latin liturgy and by the bishop’s affirmation of its legitimate place within the life of the Catholic Church. The annual High Mass at Portsmouth Cathedral has been revived after several years and today’s event has proved a great success and a very joyful occasion for all who attended.’

 

For further information, please contact Mike Lord, General Manager,

on (T) 020 7404 7284; (F) 020 7831 5585; (E mail) michael@lms.org.uk

 

 

Celebrations in Rome

Here is a report kindly sent to us by Peter Clarke, LMS Representative for the Isle of Wight, giving an account of the recent pilgrimage to Rome to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the canonical establishment of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP). Father Anthony Glaysher, who accompanied the pilgrimage, is parish priest of St Mary's, Ryde and St Michael the Archangel, Bembridge in the Isle of Wight. He is also the Latin Mass Society's new Regional Chaplain for the South-West, with responsibility for the dioceses of Plymouth, Portsmouth and Clifton.

The pilgrims outside the Church of Santissima Trinita dei Pellegrini

Fr. Glaysher’s Rome Pilgrimage – In search of St. Peter.

  Fr. Glaysher was pleased to be able to attend the celebrations in Rome recently on the occasion of the silver jubilee of the canonical establishment of the Society of St. Peter (FSSP). This is a priestly fraternity and a clerical society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical right, which has two main aims:- the formation and sanctification of priests to offer the traditional liturgy of the  Roman rite (E.F. Mass); and secondly, the pastoral deployment of priests in the service of the Church.  It was founded in 1988 after the excommunication of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre for consecrating bishops without papal approval.

  It was especially joyous for Father to visit the Eternal City as we conclude this Year of Faith; and in the year of the 150^th anniversary of the consecration of our beautiful church in Ryde. 

  Father accompanied a group of English pilgrims to Rome for these celebrations, led by Fr. Armand de Malleray (Superior of the Fraternity in England). The group visited some of the Roman places associated with St. Peter, i.e. the Mamertine Prison, where St. Peter was held before his crucifixion; the Church of St. Pudentiana, the site of Peter’s captivity where St. Peter would have stayed, thanks to Senator Pudens’ hospitality, when he first came to Rome; St. Peter ad Vincula (St. Peter in chains), a church which contains the chains with which Peter was bound; and St. Peter’s Basilica, built over the tomb of the great apostle. At these places, as well as the Coliseum, where many Christians were martyred, Fr. Armand outlined the history, its significance and its association with St. Peter.

  Both the parish and Fr. Glaysher have a close association with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. In the past twelve years at least ten priests of the Fraternity have visited Ryde to support the faithful by offering Mass, giving talks and days of recollection, hearing Confessions, giving Benediction and visiting the sick and the housebound. Consequently, Father urges those of us affiliated to the Old Mass to give thanks to Almighty God, at this special time, for the Fraternity and for their ministry worldwide.

Inside Santissima Trinita dei Pellegrini

  On the Feast of St. Luke, the Evangelist, Fr. Glaysher was present in the sanctuary of the Church of Santissima Trinita Dei Pellegrini, (Most Holy Trinity of the Pilgrims), for Solemn High Mass offered by Very Rev. Fr. Berg, Superior of the FSSP, in thanksgiving for the Silver Jubilee. Fr Armand de Malleray was the Deacon, and Fr. William Barker the Sub Deacon. This Roman church was entrusted to the Fraternity in 2008, by His Holiness Pope Benedict. It is conveniently situated only a few hundred yards from the Venerable English College. We were delighted to be able to have a guided tour of the college after the High Mass. As a Fraternity priest working in England, Fr Armand de Malleray was particularly pleased to visit the college for the first time and to witness the persecution of the martyrs (vividly displayed on the walls of the gallery above the college chapel). It was through their strength, selfless ministry and courage in adversity during the penal times, that the Faith was kept alive in England.

  In his sermon at the High Mass Fr. Berg gave thanks for the growth and development of the FSSP throughout the world. It has grown from 12 to 250 priests worldwide in 25 years. There are now two seminaries, - in Germany and the United States. He spoke about the importance of family life and how vocations to the holy priesthood are nurtured in the family praying together as committed Catholics.

  The significance of Pope Benedict’s Motu Proprio, “Summorum Pontificum”, of 2007, was highlighted by Fr. Berg. It lifted virtually all restrictions on priests offering the immemorial Mass. This Mass emphasises adoration and worship of Almighty God as our Creator and Saviour. He reminded the congregation present of the dignity and the reverence with which Mass should be offered. “It is Christ who is foremost in the Mass; not the priest”. To highlight this point he mentioned the words of Fr. Ronald Knox, who suggested that the best Mass is the one where people leave the church and say to each other, “now can you remember, which priest was it who said Mass this morning”?

  Fr. Berg thanked members and supporters of the Confraternity of St. Peter for their prayers and their financial support over the past 25 years. This had contributed greatly to the growth of the FSSP. Each member commits themselves to recite a decade of the rosary and say the Confraternity Prayer every day for priestly vocations and ministry; and to have an annual Mass offered to the same intentions.

  It was interesting to witness what happened at the end of the High Mass. When the clergy departed for the sacristy, after the singing of the “Te Deum”, about 90% of the congregation remained in the pews for at least five minutes. There was complete silence as people made their thanksgiving after receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion. Contrast this to the usual rush for the church door at the end of Sunday Mass (or even before), with people talking and laughing, that we often have to endure today. There is much in terms of reverence, respect and dignity that we can learn from the Fraternity.

L-R: Fr Glaysher, Fr de Malleray, FSSP, Fr Southwell, Fr Berg, FSSP.

  Outside the church it was good to meet Fr. Berg socially. He posed for photographs with the English pilgrims. Two other English priests were delighted to see us; namely, Fr. William Barker FSSP, who is the curate at this Roman church, and Fr. Andrew Southwell, formerly of St. Bede’s, Clapham Park, - now based in Rome. 

  In the evening there was Solemn Vespers for the Feast of St. Luke and by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The evening concluded with a concert by the St. Andrew Camerata from Scotland, (once the Blessed Sacrament had been removed from the tabernacle into the sacristy). Among the hymns which they sung were Exultate Deo (Scarlatti), Christus factus est (Buckner), Alma Redemptorist Mater (Palestrina) and  O Sacrum Convivium (Viadana). 

  Details of the concert and other aspects of the pilgrimage (and photographs) can be read in the IoW Catholic History Society web site  www.iow-chs.org  after 27^th October. 

Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam.

All Saints and All Souls

Madonna and Child enthroned with saints, Benozzo Gozzoli, 1461-2.

Here are the details of Masses being celebrated on the feast of All Saints and All Souls in the diocese of Clifton:

All Saints Day – Friday 1st November

- St Dominic’s, Dursley – 8am Low Mass

- Prinknash Abbey – 8.15am Low Mass

- Our Lady and St Kenelm, Stow-on-the-Wold – 11am Low Mass

- Our Lady and St Alphege, Bath – 12 noon Low Mass

- Our Lady of Glastonbury – 12 noon Low Mass

- Holy Cross, Bedminster – 12.45pm Low Mass

- SS Joseph and Teresa, Wells – 6pm Low Mass

The Last Judgement, Michaelangelo, 1541.

All Souls Day – Saturday 2nd November

- St Dominic’s, Dursley – Three consecutive Masses will be celebrated from 8am onwards.

- Our Lady and St Kenelm, Stow-on-the-Wold – 10 am Low Mass

- Prinknash Abbey – 11 am Low Mass

- Holy Cross, Bedminster – 12 noon *Solemn High Requiem Mass*

- Our Lady and St Alphege, Bath – 12 noon Low Mass

- SS Joseph and Teresa, Wells – 6 pm Low Mass

Walsingham film

The Latin Mass Society has released a lovely new film about the recent LMS pilgrimage to Walsingham.

Please click  vimeo.com/76993160 to view it. It is about 13 minutes long, and well worth watching!

Latin Mass in the Vendee

A report kindly submitted by Clifton LMS members Ken and Carol Reis:

 Do you holiday in the Vendee region of France?  If so, you may be interested in learning that during the months of July through to September a Latin Mass is celebrated every Sunday in Les Sables-d'Olonne.   The Mass is held in the Chapelle du Sacre Coeur at 10.00 am.  Parking is available at the Chapelle.

The Masses which are now in their second year are celebrated by three priests, one of whom is Fr Bede Rowe who hails from the Clifton Diocese and is currently on secondment at Chavagnes International College.  Fr Rowe was invited to participate by Mgr Castet, the Bishop of Lucon.

The Chapel was originally the hospital chapel of La Sagesse sisters.  The  Chapel is now in regular use by the Parish to provide the Latin Mass at the behest of Mgr Castet.  The La Sagesse sisters and the Parish have provided the relics, altar cards and candles.  The mainly French congregation have also contributed magnificently as can be seen by the photo.  There is even a set of portable communion rails!

The Latin Mass has a distinctive French flavour.  A Rosary is said before the Mass and a small choir accompanies the Mass as the Gloria and Creed are sung along with some hymns. 

It is hoped that the Masses will continue and it is anticipated that from October onwards there will be Masses on the first and last Sundays of each month at the same time of 10.00 am.  For further information please e-mail lesamisdelachapelle@free.fr

Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

Our Lord Jesus Christ the King,
from 'The Last Judgement' by Giotto, in the Arena Chapel, Padua c.1304.

There will be a Missa Cantata to celebrate the great feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, on Sunday 27^th October at 12pm, at the church of Our Lady and St Alphege in Bath. 

Do come and celebrate the feast with beautiful music and liturgy.

However… if you happen to be closer to Portsmouth on that day, there is to be a Solemn High Mass for the feast of Christ the King, at St John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth at 3pm.  Bishop Egan has kindly agreed to preside at this Mass, and to preach. This is a rare example of a Bishop presiding and preaching at an EF Mass, and it will be a great event. Do support it if you can.