On April 24, 2010, the fifth anniversary of
the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI as
Supreme Pontiff, a Pontifical Solemn High Mass
in the Extraordinary Form was celebrated in the
Great Upper Church of the Basilica of the
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Also known as the Tridentine or Traditional Latin
Mass, it was the first such Mass celebrated
according to the 1962 Missal at the High Altar of
the National Shrine in decades.
Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was
the celebrant and homilist of the Mass, which,
with the exception of the homily, was offered
entirely in Latin.
More than 2500 of the faithful attended the
Mass, some who remembered the Traditional
Latin Mass which had been celebrated regularly
before 1970, and others for whom it was their
very first experience.
The Opening Prayer, known as The Collect,
expressed the intention of the Mass for the Holy
Father (as translated from Latin): “O God, the
Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people,
mercifully look upon Thy servant, Benedict,
whom Thou hast chosen as the chief Shepherd to
reside over Thy Church; grant him, we beseech
Thee, so to edify, both by word and example,
those over whom he hath charge, that he may
attain unto everlasting life, together with the flock
committed unto him.”
Sponsored by The Paulus Institute, whose mission
is to propagate the Sacred Liturgy of the Roman
Catholic Church, the Mass was broadcast live
worldwide by the Eternal Word Television
Network (EWTN).
DVD copies of the Pontifical Solemn High
Mass are available for purchase at the Basilica
in the National Shrine Shops or online at
www.nationalshrineshops.com.
