Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Solemn High Mass for the Feast of the Chair of St Peter

On Tuesday 22nd February 2011 Fr Gary Dickson celebrated his first Solemn High Mass in the EF at his church in Thornley, Co Durham. The Mass was on the Feast of St Peter's Chair and the intention was "In thanksgiving for Pope Benedict XVI and Summorum Pontificum". Father Gary's ministers were Fr David Phillips from Stella as deacon and Fr Michael Brown from Forest Hall as subdeacon. The Ordinary of the Mass was "Missa de Angelis" sung by the Schola Sancti Baedae under Dr Michael Dunn. They also sang the plainchant motets "Attende Domine" and "Ave Verum" as well as the Proper from the Liber Usualis. The 3 Lydon sisters sang Cesar Franck's "Panis Angelicus" at communion as this is Father Gary's favourite motet. Also on the sanctuary was Fr Simon Henry who preached a most uplifting sermon on what we have lost liturgically since Vatican II. He also quoted from the writings of Cardinal Pacelli (later Pope Pius XII) on the subject of liberalism and speaking prophetically of how his papacy would be denigrated later. Pope Benedict was also quoted telling us to avoid materialism and to remember Christ's words that "the gates of Hell will never prevail against His Church". Also in choir was Fr Aldo Tapparo of Birmingham Archdiocese based in Oxford. A congregation of over 75 attended the Mass and joined in the recessional hymn "Hail Queen of Heaven". The evening ended with a buffet provided by the ladies of the parish. Low Mass in the Extraordinary Form is celebrated every Sunday in the church of The Sacred Heart & English Martyrs.
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  1. Father GaryFebruary 23, 2011 at 10:33 PM

    I would like to say a big thank you to my fellow priests who assisted at the altar and in choir, and to our preacher. Those who attended were treated to some fine singing from the Schola Sancti Baedae, as well as from Rachel, Miriam and Debbie Lydon. For those who think this Form of Mass holds no attraction for the young, I would point out that the Lydon girls are aged from 14-20; three of our servers were under 13, and our MC is probably the youngest man in the Diocese able to officiate at such a Mass, being only 22 –and self-taught by Fortesque’s Ceremonies book over the last few weeks! Comments received from those who do not normally attend the TLM were very positive: the ceremonies of this Form impressed them as ‘wonderful’, ‘beautiful’, ‘lovely’. The Novus Ordo, with its proper chants instead of hymns and the use of Latin, can have a similar effect, but the silence of this Form for the Canon and Communion Rite gives a particular impression of sacredness that is hard to duplicate in the Novus Ordo where the silences are not silences but gaps. Although the folk were not too put off by my singing I cannot say that I am in any rush to be celebrant again!
    Fr Dickson

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