What kind of a Mass is this? Help please!

[Rand_Al_Thor]

Peace be with you!

At a church here in town they are having a “Solemn Procession and Pontifical High Mass” on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. A retired bishop will be saying Mass. What exactly is a Solemn Procession and Pontifical High Mass? Is a Pontifical High Mass a High Mass that is celebrated by a bishop? I think that’s what the priest said, but I don’t remember.

In Christ,
Rand

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I don’t remember the details, but there are several ways for a bishop to celebrate a mass. Pontificating is the most solemn. I think he sits in his chair, the symbol of his office, for much of the mass while other priests and deacons get things ready for him. He goes to the altar and says the Eucharistic Prayer and Consecrates.

It is much the same as the way the Pope says mass on solemn occasions.

As I said, my memory is fuzzy, but maybe that will give you an idea. Hopefully someone will give us a more detailed explanation.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Some definitions from Liturgical Literacy by Dennis Smolarski, S.J. may help:

“HIGH MASS … The common name for the form of Mass celebrated according to the Tridentine Missal, in which a priest celebrated without the assistance of a deacon or subdeacon, but in which all the prescribed parts of the Mass were sung by the priest and the people or choir. Sometimes it was called by its Latin name, Missa Cantata (sung Mass).”

“PONTIFICAL … The book that contains rites normally celebrated by a bishop, such as confirmation, ordination, and the dedication of churches. In the plural (pontificals), it refers to the distinctive accessories normally worn or used by a bishop, such as the pectoral cross, the ring, the miter, or the crosier.”

So I would expect a Mass with a bishop, celebrated using the Tridentine Missal. If the Mass were using the new missal then I would expect it to be called a “Stational Mass”, as in the Ceremonial of the Bishops.

 

[kleary]

Rand Al'Thor:

Peace be with you!

At a church here in town they are having a “Solemn Procession and Pontifical High Mass” on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. A retired bishop will be saying Mass. What exactly is a Solemn Procession and Pontifical High Mass? Is a Pontifical High Mass a High Mass that is celebrated by a bishop? I think that’s what the priest said, but I don’t remember.

In Christ,
Rand

In the Novus Ordo there is no such distinction between High and Low Mass. If the terms are correct, such as High Mass and also a Bishop who will be celebrating it then what is to be is a Tridentine Solemn Pontifical Mass celebrated by a Bishop. And if that is the case you are really in for a most solemn experience.

Ken

 

[kleary]

Joe Kelley:

I don’t remember the details, but there are several ways for a bishop to celebrate a mass. Pontificating is the most solemn. I think he sits in his chair, the symbol of his office, for much of the mass while other priests and deacons get things ready for him. He goes to the altar and says the Eucharistic Prayer and Consecrates.

It is much the same as the way the Pope says mass on solemn occasions.

As I said, my memory is fuzzy, but maybe that will give you an idea. Hopefully someone will give us a more detailed explanation.

Actually the Bishop does more than that. Then again are we talking about the Mass as done according to the 1962 Missal or most recent?

Ken