FSSP's Solemn High Mass in the Crypt Church
As noted in the post on June 4 below, the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter ended their annual pilgrimage of reparation with a Solemn High Mass in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Fr. Jonathan Romanoski, FSSP, assisted by his brother priests and seminarians of the Priestly Fraternity, offered the first Solemn High Traditional Latin Mass in the Crypt Church in over 40 years. It truly was a memorable occasion.
Father Romanoski had been ordained only the week before on 30 May 2008 by Dario Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The main altar of the Crypt Church before Mass.
The servers, subdeacon, deacon, and Fr. Romanoski processing at the beginning of Mass.
The Confiteor of the deacon and subdeacon.
Video of the Incensation of the altar at the beginning of Mass.
"Dominus vobiscum."
During the Offertory of the Mass.
The elevation of the Sacred Host, truly the Body of Christ.
The elevation of the Chalice containing the Precious Blood of Our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Video of Fr. Romanoski chanting the Pater Noster.
The "Second Confiteor" of the deacon and subdeacon.
"Ecce Agnus Dei."
The final blessing at the end of Mass.
Deacon Antony Sumich, FSSP and Fr. Romanoski process out after Mass.
Before the servers and the sacred ministers processed out, the Te Deum was sung in thanksgiving to God for all his blessings, especially for the blessing of this momentous Solemn High Mass.
Fr. Romanoski returned the sanctuary of the Crypt Church to give the blessing of a newly-ordained priest. It was the first time in my life that I received such a blessing. It was a tremendous honor, and per the tradition, I kissed Fr. Romanoski's hands. It was like nothing I had experience before, and I thank God for allowing me to be there and receive this blessing.
Fr. Romanoski giving the blessing to a friend of mine.
Most of the laity who attended the Mass waited in line to receive this blessing. Each one received a beautiful holy card of Our Lady of Sorrows that was printed to mark Fr. Romanoski's ordination.
It was very nice to see the prayer from which this blog gets its name (Dignare me laudare te Virgo Sacrata; Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos.) on the back of the holy card, at the very top.
In addition to this prayer, the following prayer by Blessed Miguel Pro, SJ was printed in both the original Spanish and in English on the back of the holy card:
Between the holy card and my conversation with him after he finished giving his first blessings, I received a very good impression from Fr. Romanoski. It is clear that he has a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and that God has blessed him with a devout spirit.
As I said before, Deo gratias!
Father Romanoski had been ordained only the week before on 30 May 2008 by Dario Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The main altar of the Crypt Church before Mass.
The servers, subdeacon, deacon, and Fr. Romanoski processing at the beginning of Mass.
The Confiteor of the deacon and subdeacon.
Video of the Incensation of the altar at the beginning of Mass.
"Dominus vobiscum."
During the Offertory of the Mass.
The elevation of the Sacred Host, truly the Body of Christ.
The elevation of the Chalice containing the Precious Blood of Our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Video of Fr. Romanoski chanting the Pater Noster.
The "Second Confiteor" of the deacon and subdeacon.
"Ecce Agnus Dei."
The final blessing at the end of Mass.
Deacon Antony Sumich, FSSP and Fr. Romanoski process out after Mass.
Before the servers and the sacred ministers processed out, the Te Deum was sung in thanksgiving to God for all his blessings, especially for the blessing of this momentous Solemn High Mass.
Fr. Romanoski returned the sanctuary of the Crypt Church to give the blessing of a newly-ordained priest. It was the first time in my life that I received such a blessing. It was a tremendous honor, and per the tradition, I kissed Fr. Romanoski's hands. It was like nothing I had experience before, and I thank God for allowing me to be there and receive this blessing.
Fr. Romanoski giving the blessing to a friend of mine.
Most of the laity who attended the Mass waited in line to receive this blessing. Each one received a beautiful holy card of Our Lady of Sorrows that was printed to mark Fr. Romanoski's ordination.
It was very nice to see the prayer from which this blog gets its name (Dignare me laudare te Virgo Sacrata; Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos.) on the back of the holy card, at the very top.
In addition to this prayer, the following prayer by Blessed Miguel Pro, SJ was printed in both the original Spanish and in English on the back of the holy card:
My wish, O most Sorrowful Virgin, is to stand at thy side, strengthening my spirit with thy tears, consummating my sacrifice with thy martyrdom, sustaining my heart with thy solitude, loving my God, and thy God, with the immolation of my being.At the bottom of the holy card, Blessed Miguel's last words, "Viva Cristo Rey," were printed in large block type.
Between the holy card and my conversation with him after he finished giving his first blessings, I received a very good impression from Fr. Romanoski. It is clear that he has a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and that God has blessed him with a devout spirit.
As I said before, Deo gratias!
posted by Matthew | 10:55 AM
13 Comments:
As noted by Father James Buckley during his wonderful homily, special thanks goes to William Cardinal Baum, former archbishop of Washington, for his intervention with respect to location. Although the Lourdes chapel in the basilica shrine is a beautiful place for small Low Masses, the crypt church was much more appropriate -- and full -- for this glorious Missa Solemnis.
Do you know whether they brought the vestments with them? In other words, does that Mass set belong to the FSSP / the celebrant? Or has the Shrine obtained a new High Mass set?
They brought the vestments with them as far as I gathered.
How did they work the distribution of the Eucharist since there is no altar rail in the Crypt Church?
They used the first pew on either side as an altar rail. It actually worked very well, and reception of Holy Communion flowed (I think) better than it does at most Masses.
They cleared out the front row of pews and used it as a makeshift communion rail.
Does anyone know who the organist was? I really enjoyed his chant improvisations.
The organist was Dr. Gianfranco DeLuca, the music director and organist of Saint Ambrose parish in Annandale, Va. He was kind enough to donate his time and outstanding talent (including the fantastic Vivaldi-Bach recessional) for the Missa Solemnis.
Sir,
If you had attended Ordinations at an SSPX Seminary, you would have had many opportunities to kiss a new Priest's hands.
Who is the Judge of all Priests? Let us leave that matter in His Holy Hands.
God bless Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Without him we would have no FSSP, or Muto Propio.
We who are sons of Nuestra Senora Santa Maria de Guadalupe hold the Lefebristas in as much esteem as we do the San Patricios.
Thank you for the great Pictures! Fr. Romonoski is also going to offer the 1st Solemn High Mass in Carmel Indiana in over 40 years on June 22 at 2pm at St. Elisabeth Ann Seton. Here is a link to pictures of his first Mass.
http://uvcarmel.wordpress.com/2008/06/06/1st-mass-of-fr-jonathan-romanoski-fssp/
Perhaps soon there will be a Tridentine Latin Mass in the upper or main Church, rather than in the crypt chapel (which is beautiful of course....but celebrating the TLM in the main Church would be better)
O my gosh! I attended his first Mass at St. Alphonsus. I received Holy Communion from his hands, his first blessing, (kissed his hands) and the same prayer card (beautiful, by the way) There was a reception afterwards for him. I was shocked to see he is, in a sense, a famous priest :)
Interesting side note: I believe the candles and altar crucifix are the same used by His Holiness at the Crypt Vespers and the National's Mass
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