The Pontifical Mass

[Thomas_B_1]

As everyone knows, the norm of the extraordinary form should be the Solemn High Mass; sadly, most parishes/chapels don’t have the resources, thus the propensity of low masses. Those with the resources but lacking in deacons, subdeacons, and/or additional priests have the missa cantata; the High Mass in almost every way.

Those three masses when celebrated by a bishop are called pontifical masses. Outside even of ordinations, I’m curious. I know that there’s going to be one in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, April 24, of this year naturally, nearby where I live. A friend sent me a link pontificalmass.org/ about it.

I’ve been to several extraordinary form masses, but none celebrated by someone in the episcopate, have any of you?

 

[corsair]

Every year for the past several, Bishop Basil Meeking, New Zealand, has come to Portland, Oregon during the month of August to celebrate a Pontifical Solemn High Mass, 1962 Rite and a Pontifical Solemn Mass, Novus Ordo, for the William Byrd Festival. I’ve been able to attend most of them.

They are, without a doubt, magnificent. I prefer the 1962 Rite as it is more beautiful than the NO, but to each his own.

Of course it helps when you have a World Class Schola such as **Cantores in Ecclesia **to support the Mass. With the music of William Byrd and Cantores, His Excellency does a tremendous Mass.

 

[Thomas_B_1]

Wow, it’s so amazing to hear that down-under such treasures of Church tradition are still celebrated. And kudos on William Byrd. Are the only differences in the ordinary form (pun intended) with a bishop the greeting of ‘Peace be with you’ and that the bishop removes his zucchetto directly following the vernacular of the Orate fratres prayers?

I bet though that Cardinal Hoyos will have more to celebrate in DC on April 24th…

 

[corsair]

There are a lot of differences between the OF and the EF. Mostly in the prayers. As has been said in many of these forums; the EF is God centered and the OF is people centered. There is a site that compares the EF and OF side by side so that you can visually see the differences but I can’t seem to find it. If anyone else has that link please post it.

God Bless

 

[Lance_O]

There are a lot of differences between the OF and the EF. Mostly in the prayers. As has been said in many of these forums; the EF is God centered and the OF is people centered.

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you on this one. Both forms are Christ-o-centric, in that they both are centered around Jesus. It it fair to say that the OF was developed so that the laity would have a more active particpation in the liturgy. Read #14 in section two of Sacrosanctum Concilium.

It is also fair to say that people have taken upon themselves to defile the OF by their ‘creative’ changes that was never laid out in either Sancrosanctum Concilium or the USCCB GIRM. I am very exciting for the new revised version of the USCCB General Instruction to take effect.