inundado por um mistério de luz que é Deus e N´Ele vi e ouvi -A ponta da lança como chama que se desprende, toca o eixo da terra, – Ela estremece: montanhas, cidades, vilas e aldeias com os seus moradores são sepultados. - O mar, os rios e as nuvens saem dos seus limites, transbordam, inundam e arrastam consigo num redemoinho, moradias e gente em número que não se pode contar , é a purificação do mundo pelo pecado em que se mergulha. - O ódio, a ambição provocam a guerra destruidora! - Depois senti no palpitar acelerado do coração e no meu espírito o eco duma voz suave que dizia: – No tempo, uma só Fé, um só Batismo, uma só Igreja, Santa, Católica, Apostólica: - Na eternidade, o Céu! 
Cardeal Ratzinger sobre a Liturgia:"Sempre que haja aplauso pelos aspectos humanos na Liturgia, é sinal de que a sua natureza se perdeu inteiramente"
A dança nunca fez parte da Liturgia
A dança não é uma forma de expressão cristã. Já no século II, os círculos gnósticos-docéticos tentaram introduzi-la na Liturgia. Eles consideravam a crucificação apenas como uma aparência: segundo eles, Cristo nunca abandonou o corpo, porque nunca chegou a encarnar antes de Sua paixão; consequentemente, a dança podia ocupar o lugar da Liturgia da Cruz, tendo a cruz sido apenas uma aparência.
As danças cultuais das diversas religiões são orientadas de maneiras variadas: invocação, magia analógica, êxtase místico; porém, nenhuma dessas formas corresponde à orientação interior da Liturgia do "sacrifício da Palavra". É totalmente absurdo, na tentativa de tornar a Liturgia "mais atraente", recorrer a espetáculos de pantominas de dança, possivelmente com grupos profissionais que, muitas vezes, terminam em aplauso.
Sempre que haja aplauso pelos aspectos humanos da Liturgia, é sinal de que a sua natureza se perdeu inteiramente, tendo sido substituída por diversão de gênero religioso.
Joseph Ratzinger, Introdução ao Espírito da Liturgia
“A liturgia não vive de surpresas “simpáticas”, de intervenções “cativantes”, mas de repetições solenes (…) Também por isso ela deve ser “predeterminada”, “imperturbável”, porque através do rito se manifesta a santidade de Deus. Ao contrário, a revolta contra aquilo que foi chamado “a velha rigidez rubricista”, (…) arrastou a liturgia ao vórtice do “faça-você-mesmo”, banalizando-a, porque reduzindo-a à nossa medíocre medida” (Cardeal Ratzinger, A Fé em crise; 1985).
“Cesse a prática reprovável de que sacerdotes, ou diáconos, ou mesmo os fiéis leigos, modificam e variem, à seu próprio arbítrio, aqui ou ali, os textos da sagrada Liturgia que eles pronunciam. Quando fazem isto, trazem instabilidade à celebração da sagrada Liturgia e não raramente adulteram o sentido autêntico da Liturgia” (cf. Redemptionis Sacramentum, nº. 59).
Retirado do livro ”Quer agrade quer desagrade”, Padre Fernando Arêas Rifan
É totalmente absurdo, na tentativa de tornar a Liturgia “mais atraente”, recorrer a espetáculos de pantominas de dança, possivelmente com grupos profissionais, que muitas vezes, terminam em aplauso. Sempre que haja aplauso pelos aspectos humanos na Liturgia, é sinal de que a sua natureza se perdeu inteiramente, tendo sido substituída por diversão de gênero religioso.” (RATZINGER, Joseph. Introdução ao Espírito da Liturgia. Paulinas: Prior Velho (Portugal), 2006, p.147)
DIFUSÃO DA MISSA GREGORIANA NO MUNDO
First Usus Antiquior Mass Offered by Spanish Bishop
This 15th of January H.E. The Most Rev. Manuel Ureña Pastor, Archbishop of Saragossa, celebrated a solemn requiem in the usus antiquior in the parish church of Epila in his diocese. This is the first time a Spanish bishop has offered the holy sacrifice of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form in Spain since the promulgation of Summorum Pontificum. The Mass, which was also concluding the restauration works which had been carried out in the church, was attended by 1,200 faihtful, including various government representatives. The Misa de Réquiem by Mariano Rodríguez de Ledesma was sung. Msgr. Ureña had celebrated a burial according to the usus antiquior books in the same church last year, cf. NLM article here.
First Usus Antiquior Mass Offered at Thomas More College
Late in August we made mention here of the fact that Thomas More College in New Hampshire was introducing the usus antiquior into the campus liturgical life. This was to be inaugurated on October 7th, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
In follow-up to that announcement, we are pleased to present some photos from that Mass.
In follow-up to that announcement, we are pleased to present some photos from that Mass.
Usus Antiquior Conference at Thomas Aquinas College
On September 10th, Una Voce Ventura hosted a conference at Thomas Aquinas College, "Applying the Fruits of the Extraordinary Rite to Family Life."
The conference included a Solemn Mass offered in TAC's beautiful chapel, offered by Fr. Paul Raftery, OP, the chaplain to Thomas Aquinas College, with Fr. James Fryar, FSSP acting as deacon and Fr. Gregory Heidenblut, OSA, as subdeacon. Seven students of TAC acted as servers, and the schola was also provided by TAC, under the direction of Dr. John Nieto.
A full photo album has been made available here. Here is a selection.
The conference included a Solemn Mass offered in TAC's beautiful chapel, offered by Fr. Paul Raftery, OP, the chaplain to Thomas Aquinas College, with Fr. James Fryar, FSSP acting as deacon and Fr. Gregory Heidenblut, OSA, as subdeacon. Seven students of TAC acted as servers, and the schola was also provided by TAC, under the direction of Dr. John Nieto.
A full photo album has been made available here. Here is a selection.
In addition, for those of you interested in the talks presented at the conference, the following are free to listen to and download online:
The Place of the Holy Mass in Our Daily Lives - Father James Fryar, FSSP
Instilling a Sense of the Sacred - Doctor Thomas Kaiser
On Sacraments and Sacramentals - Father James Fryar, FSSP
As well, the music from the Mass has been made available here.
Usus Antiquior in Dutch Cathedral of Groningen
From the blog In Caelo et in Terra, the blog of Mark de Vries in the Netherlands, comes the story of the First EF Mass in Groningen Cathedral:
With an estimated 80 people attending, Fr. Gero P. Weishaupt offered the first Mass in the extraordinary form at the cathedral of St. Joseph of Groningen last night. Estimated attendance was initially some 20 to 30 people and, accordingly, the smaller altar of St. Joseph was prepared for use for this Mass. But yesterday afternoon the decision was made to move to the high altar.
Two seminarians from St. John’s in Den Bosch served as acolytes, and two other acolytes, among them a good friend of mine, from the cathedral parish did this for the first time. A small scola was also set up, led by diocesan hermit Brother Hugo. The congregation consisted of people of all ages and several nationalities. I noticed people who attend both the regular Sunday Masses as well as the English-language Mass on Saturday evening. A number of seminarians from our and other dioceses had travelled up from the Tiltenberg seminary to join the congregation.
The Catholic life in the parish of St. Martin and, due to it taking place in the cathedral, the Diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden, is enriched by having this form of the Mass as well as the ordinary form.
Usus Antiquior in Casablanca
The following photos come from Una Voce Casablanca -- not, I should clarify, the 'Casablanca' of the famed Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman film, which is instead Casablanca, Morocco, but rather Casablanca, Chile.
Usus Antiquior in India
The website of Messainlatino.it have some interesting photos up of the usus antiquior celebrated in India. The first, coming from another blog, Te Igitur, shows the weekly Sunday Mass which takes place in the chapel of Saint Anthony School in Chennai, India. (Formerly Madras.)
From the same sources, here are two images of a Mass in what used to be referred to as Bombay, and now Mumbai.
Usus Antiquior Celebrated for Students of Oratory Prep School, Summit, New Jersey
By way of a reader tip and in turn by way of NJ.com is the following story of a Mass celebrated in the usus antiquior for the students at the Oratory Prep School in Summit, New Jersey.
The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Michael Barone of the archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. Attentive readers may recall that Fr. Barone has been mentioned on NLM before, most recently within the context of the Catholic Artist's Society gathering this past autumn.
The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Michael Barone of the archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. Attentive readers may recall that Fr. Barone has been mentioned on NLM before, most recently within the context of the Catholic Artist's Society gathering this past autumn.
Traditional Latin Mass at Oratory Prep enlightens
SUMMIT — When students at the Oratory Prep School entered the gymnasium recently for a special Mass, guest celebrant Reverend Michael Barone told them why Latin was used historically in Mass. “This is what distinguished the Catholics from the Protestants in years past. The use of Latin today heightens our sense of mystery and awe for that which is sacred.” The entire Mass was conducted in Latin by the guest celebrant and had an audience of students who are studying Latin.
Solemn Mass in the Usus Antiquior at Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans
A seminarian from the archdiocese of New Orleans sends in some photographs of a Solemn Mass in the usus antiquior offered in the beautiful chapel of Notre Dame Seminary on the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross this past September 14th.
Our seminarian reports that the Mass was celebrated by Fr. Stanley Klores, pastor of St. Patrick’s parish and an adjunct professor at the seminary. His Excellency, Alfred Hughes, Archbishop Emeritus of New Orleans (who is in residence at the seminary) attended in choro.
It is reported that this was the seminary’s third usus antiquior Mass since the motu proprio was issued in 2007, but the first Solemn High Mass in 45 years in the seminary chapel.
Our seminarian reports that the Mass was celebrated by Fr. Stanley Klores, pastor of St. Patrick’s parish and an adjunct professor at the seminary. His Excellency, Alfred Hughes, Archbishop Emeritus of New Orleans (who is in residence at the seminary) attended in choro.
It is reported that this was the seminary’s third usus antiquior Mass since the motu proprio was issued in 2007, but the first Solemn High Mass in 45 years in the seminary chapel.
Prayers at the Foot of the Altar
Gloria
Gospel
Canon Missae
The Consecration
Photographs taken by Doug Vu