Cardinal Burke celebrates magnificent Ordinary Form Mass

[YoungTradCath]

I’m not sure it’s Catholic per se, but rather a Victorian vision of what Catholic should look like.

In my opinion.

And that’s the problem… outside of the rubrics the rest is a matter of taste.

I would disagree that outside of rubrics things are simply a matter of taste. One who adamantly ignores tradition is, to my mind, generally very stubborn and maybe even egotistical.

Note: I would not consider not wearing lace by itself some sort of egotism.

I think your choice of words – “put on a Mass” – is very telling. A stage play is “put on;” a Mass is celebrated or offered. I do not find all that “frippery” ( great word) inspiring or devotional. I do not believe in “more lace, more grace.” To my way of thinking, the Cappa magna, buskins and all are far more about the celebrant than about Jesus or the Sacrifice of the Mass. When the focus and “ooohs and ahhhs” are all about the trappings, then what’s going on is truly a performance that is “put on,” and not about worship and “doing this in remembrance of Me.”

I would contend that crazy 70s Masses, on the other end of the spectrum, are just as much of a show, indeed probably a thousand times more so since they have absolutely not a lick of support from tradition or the Magisterium or liturgical books, than any cappa magna’d Mass by Cardinal Burke. Actually, they aren’t even part of the legitimate spectrum for that matter.

Now, I am not implying that you said this. I am just saying that tradition and the liturgical books are quite friendly towards all these things presented in the photo set.

Awful liturgical celebration and abuses can be admonished from a juridic and traditional point of view. This sort of Mass by Cardinal Burke can never be admonished from either point of view.

Please, I am not implying that we are enemies. I am just saying that it is very refreshing to see this from my local perspective of liturgical “creativity” and, at best, mediocrity and and complacency. =D

 

[cspb56]

And yes, for the record, he wore a cappa magna, and buskins, and pontifical sandals, and gloves. Oh and a pontifical dalmatic, but these are becoming so increasingly common that it’s kind of pointless to mention it.

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If the cardinal wore the vestments proper to the EF while celebrating the OF, he has gone against the rubrics for vesture worn at an OF mass. See GIRM 335-347 on what is the appropriate vesture for the mass.

 

[arkwright]

I think your choice of words – “put on a Mass” – is very telling. A stage play is “put on;” a Mass is celebrated or offered. I do not find all that “frippery” ( great word) inspiring or devotional. I do not believe in “more lace, more grace.” To my way of thinking, the Cappa magna, buskins and all are far more about the celebrant than about Jesus or the Sacrifice of the Mass. When the focus and “ooohs and ahhhs” are all about the trappings, then what’s going on is truly a performance that is “put on,” and not about worship and “doing this in remembrance of Me.”

Spot on !

The Mass is about worshipping in spirit and in truth , not about clerics in fancy dress .

 

[cspb56]

Agree!

 

[YoungTradCath]

.

If the cardinal wore the vestments proper to the EF while celebrating the OF, he has gone against the rubrics for vesture worn at an OF mass. See GIRM 335-347 on what is the appropriate vesture for the mass.

It is fully acceptable to wear a cappa, dalmatic and gloves in the Ordinary Form. The full vestments proper to a bishop or Cardinal are not contained in the Missal, but in other liturgical books, and as I said, these things are expressly permitted in the OF. These are not proper to the EF but are fully proper to both Forms.

About the buskins and sandals: these are not mentioned in the OF books. However, a bishop–any prelate–must of course wear shoes and logically also socks. The prescribed choice for a thousand years or more was buskins and sandals. While these are no longer required, and as human safety requires shoes, and since there is precisely zero requirements or, for that matter, prohibitions in what shoes and socks may be worn by bishops (or any cleric) in the Ordinary Form, and since tradition consistently and uninterruptedly supplies buskins and sandals, then there is nothing wrong with wearing buskins and sandals anymore than there would be with wearing random dress shoes and black socks. In fact we might say buskins and sandals are even better seeing as they do have the force of tradition.

 

[CatholicLife]

That’s a very interesting way of putting it. Very accurate indeed.

The sad thing is, things like all the lace, the cappa magna, the buskins, the pontifical sandals, and the gloves, etc. come across as almost being silly. To the point of detracting from all that was beautiful about that Mass.

I think you should tell that our Orthodox brethren, who wear vestments that are more elaborate than our Latin vestments.





youtube.com/watch?v=rD-psnmrMuY

 

[TimothyH]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Patriarch_Kirill_Pascha_2011_2.jpeg

What’s the deal with the neon lights? I’m just curious and truly ask out of ignorance.

The video is beautiful.

-Tim-

 

[CatholicLife]

Spot on !

The Mass is about worshipping in spirit and in truth , not about clerics in fancy dress .

Like this?

youtube.com/watch?v=nZ5it20gKqw&feature=related

 

[CatholicLife]

What’s the deal with the neon lights? I’m just curious and truly ask out of ignorance.

The video is beautiful.

-Tim-

I have no idea why those neon lights are there.

 

[TrueLight]

For those of you who believe dressing beautifully for mass is “frippery” and is all about the glory of the priests and servers, take a look at how detailed God was in explaining to Moses how Aaron and the priests were to dress.

What? You mean God cares about all this stuff?

Exodus 28.
The Priestly Garments

1“Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. 2Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor. 3Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. 4These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. 5Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.

The Ephod

6“Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of a skilled craftsman. 7It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. 8Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.

9“Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel 10in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. 11Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings 12and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord. 13Make gold filigree settings 14and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings.

The Breastpiece

15“Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of a skilled craftsman. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. 16It is to be square—a spana long and a span wide—and folded double. 17Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz and a beryl; 18in the second row a turquoise, a sapphireb and an emerald; 19in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; 20in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper.c Mount them in gold filigree settings. 21There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

22“For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. 23Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece. 24Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, 25and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. 26Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. 27Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. 28The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod.

29“Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord. 30Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

Other Priestly Garments

31“Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, 32with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collard around this opening, so that it will not tear. 33Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. 34The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. 35Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out, so that he will not die.

36“Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: holy to the Lord. 37Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. 38It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the Lord.

39“Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer. 40Make tunics, sashes and headbands for Aaron’s sons, to give them dignity and honor. 41After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.

42“Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. 43Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die.

“This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants.

In fact, if you have the time, you should read starting from chapter 25.

 

[ProVobis]

For those of you who believe dressing beautifully for mass is “frippery” and is all about the glory of the priests and servers, take a look at how detailed God was in explaining to Moses how Aaron and the priests were to dress.

What? You mean God cares about all this stuff?

In fact, if you have the time, you should read starting from chapter 25.

TL, good research.

 

[arkwright]

For those of you who believe dressing beautifully for mass is “frippery” and is all about the glory of the priests and servers, take a look at how detailed God was in explaining to Moses how Aaron and the priests were to dress.
.

Aaron and the priests were not celebrating Mass .

God’s words to Moses have nothing whatsoever to do with what Jesus did at the Last Supper , and what we continue to do in His memory .

 

[Diana_Catherine]

For those of you who believe dressing beautifully for mass is “frippery” and is all about the glory of the priests and servers, take a look at how detailed God was in explaining to Moses how Aaron and the priests were to dress.

What? You mean God cares about all this stuff?

In fact, if you have the time, you should read starting from chapter 25.

True. Very good TrueLight.

 

[Diana_Catherine]

The Cardinal and Oratorians put on a Mass that I would very likely give up two EFs per month to go to:

newliturgicalmovement.org/2012/05/cardinal-burke-at-london-oratory_30.html

It was the Feast–at Oratories, actually a Solemnity–of St. Philip Neri.

And yes, for the record, he wore a cappa magna, and buskins, and pontifical sandals, and gloves. Oh and a pontifical dalmatic, but these are becoming so increasingly common that it’s kind of pointless to mention it.

The Kyrie and Gloria were from Haydn’s Theresienmesse, the Credo was III, and the Sanctus and Agnus Dei–I’m not sure which–were from the Liber Usualis. The Sanctus and Agnus Dei would have been the polyphonic settings, but since you can’t “layer” the singing “over” the ritual, the Mass would have been rather prolonged. The Ordinary Form is an extreme impediment to singing longer polyphonic settings for this reason. Nevertheless, it was magnificent I’m sure.



Pics are too large for this forum, but go have a look.

PS: So much for the 1970s… this is surely the 1670s!

I like this. I’m sure it was very magnificent. I think people forget when we see all the beauty and the way they are dressed that we are to feel as though heaven has come down to us or we have gone up to heaven and that we are worshipping a King.

I think your choice of words – “put on a Mass” – is very telling. A stage play is “put on;” a Mass is celebrated or offered. I do not find all that “frippery” ( great word) inspiring or devotional. I do not believe in “more lace, more grace.” To my way of thinking, the Cappa magna, buskins and all are far more about the celebrant than about Jesus or the Sacrifice of the Mass. When the focus and “ooohs and ahhhs” are all about the trappings, then what’s going on is truly a performance that is “put on,” and not about worship and “doing this in remembrance of Me.”

I think that the OP when saying “put on a Mass” wasn’t meaning it was stage like and not every mass is going to be as that one but as I said above when we go to mass we are to feel as though we have entered heaven and remember we are worshipping a King. That is the purpose of the dress. It is not meant to be a performance or about the priests but about glorifying the King.

I, also heard Fr. Pacwa say once that the priests clothing at mass are to hide the man. We are not to see the man, we are to think of Jesus and isn’t that who the priest is acting in place of. A good lesson on communion I read once said when you look at a priest, don’t see the priest, see Jesus, so don’t we want to see him glorified.

 

[Laetus]

I think you should tell that our Orthodox brethren, who wear vestments that are more elaborate than our Latin vestments.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0TFyjOx66m4/TK4tEINWYRI/AAAAAAAAAm4/c_nWpjkrIQQ/s1600/Divine+Liturgy+1.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Patriarch_Kirill_Pascha_2011_2.jpeg

youtube.com/watch?v=rD-psnmrMuY

Why mention the Orthodox? Clerics of our Eastern Catholic churches wear the same garb. What does their garb (which I also find to be silly sometimes) have to do with this discussion?

 

[Laetus]

For those of you who believe dressing beautifully for mass is “frippery” and is all about the glory of the priests and servers, take a look at how detailed God was in explaining to Moses how Aaron and the priests were to dress.

What? You mean God cares about all this stuff?

In fact, if you have the time, you should read starting from chapter 25.

Your use of Exodus 28 is misplaced in this case – and it’s not followed by the Church (thank God) for the most part anyway. It’s a mosaic law, not a Catholic one. Rather than look to one OT book to derive what God wants Catholic priests to wear why not look to the NT to see how Jesus Christ himself was attired?

I don’t think God spends a great deal of time worrying about priestly vestments. In any event I don’t think He’s a great fan of cappa magnas, lace, buskins and papal slippers given the way He lived His own life here on Earth.

 

[arkwright]

I don’t think God spends a great deal of time worrying about priestly vestments. In any event I don’t think He’s a great fan of cappa magnas, lace, buskins and papal slippers given the way He lived His own life here on Earth.

You mean Jesus didn’t wear all this stuff at His Last Supper ?

 

[wasserfall]

Your use of Exodus 28 is misplaced in this case – and it’s not followed by the Church (thank God) for the most part anyway. It’s a mosaic law, not a Catholic one. Rather than look to one OT book to derive what God wants Catholic priests to wear why not look to the NT to see how Jesus Christ himself was attired?

The point is not to say that Catholic priests should wear garments conforming to the Mosaic Law, but rather to show that God obviously did care about what garments were worn and so to say “God doesn’t care” is manifestly false.

Now surely everyone can agree that what is in the heart is more important than what is on the body, but that doesn’t mean that what is on the body is completely unimportant.

 

[Laetus]

The point is not to say that Catholic priests should wear garments conforming to the Mosaic Law, but rather to show that God obviously did care about what garments were worn and so to say “God doesn’t care” is manifestly false.

Now surely everyone can agree that what is in the heart is more important than what is on the body, but that doesn’t mean that what is on the body is completely unimportant.

No, it is not excuse me, “manifestly false.” There are a huge number of mosaic laws which simply do not apply to Christians.

Personally I think what Burke and Company were wearing looked rather silly. It actually detracts from what I’m sure was a gorgeou Mass. At the same time I think it was also allowed garb and I don’t think God cared one way or the other.

 

[wasserfall]

No, it is not excuse me, “manifestly false.” There are a huge number of mosaic laws which simply do not apply to Christians.

No one is claiming that the mosaic law applies to Christians. What is being claimed is that to say that “God doesn’t care about dress” is provably false.