Catholics enter the evening into a holy time of prayer and supplication. No, I'm not referring to trick or treaters and goblins at the door (my house will be dark, thank you) but it is All Hallows Eve; that is the evening before the Feast of All Saints. This is the celebration of the Church Triumphant, those who have gone before us into glory in heaven as they behold the beatific vision of God. November 2 is the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls)--the Church Suffering; the Feast of the Dead--the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Here on this side of eternity, we are the Church Militant.
The Toronto Oratory will celebrate a Sung Latin Mass in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 10:00 AM. This marks the 30th annivesary of the official foundation of the Toronto Oratory. The Oratory at Holy Family Church is located on King Street one block east of Jameson Avenue.
In the calendar for the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the Novus Ordo or 1970 Missal, when falling on a Sunday as is the case this year, the Feast of All Souls is celebrated on the Sunday. However, in the traditional calendar used up to 1970 and still applicable for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the Feast is transferred to Monday, November 3, it does not supplant a Sunday liturgy.
Under the former indult for the Traditional Latin Mass and now under Summorum Pontificum there have been a few funerals in the usus antiquior or ancient use; and these have been sung with full Gregorian chant. I've sung one and attended two others, all at The Oratory.
On Monday, November 3, there will be a Low Mass for the Day at The Toronto Oratory Church of the Holy Family.
However For the first time in over 40 years, this Monday, November 3, 2008 at 7:30PM a Sung Requiem Mass in the Tridentine or Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite will be celebrated in Toronto for All Souls Day. The Celebrant will be Father Howard Venette, FSSP of the Priestly Fraterity of St. Peter. Father Venette will also celebrate two "Low" Masses as is the custom in the usus antiquior on All Souls Day.
The FSSP was established by Pope John Paul II in 1988 following the illicit epsicopal consecrations of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre of the Society of St. Pius X. Archbishop Thomas Collins has invited the Fraternity to establish and apostolate here in Toronto. Currently, Mass is celebrated Monday to Saturday at Holy Cross Church and Sunday at 1:00 at St. Theresa Shrine Catholic Church in Toronto. For now, these Masses are "Low" or quiet Masses--they are not sung. At some point soon, the Sunday Mass will be a High Mass (Missa Cantata) Altar Boys are being trained and the Schola is being developed by your writer.
The Mass will take place at Holy Cross Catholic Church at the corner of Donlands Road and Cosburn Avenue. Parking can be found on the street and the school yard and the church can be accessed via the Bloor/Danforth subway at the Donlands stop with a short bus ride north.
Vox will be ably assisted in the Schola by three fine gentlemen as we will present the full Gregorian Ordinary, Propers including the Dies Irae and The Absolutions for the Requiem Mass.
A corporal work of mercy.
Click on photo for this corporal work of mercy!
2 comments:
I was at Holy Cross on Monday night and I thought the schola was wonderful. Thank you for your hard work.
*K*
Thank you "K".
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