On February 2, the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, commonly called Candlemas, a Dominican Rite Solemn Mass with the blessing and procession of candles was celebrated at St Albert the Great Priory in Oakland, California, the house of studies of the
Western Dominican Province. Our new prior provincial, the Most Reverend Christopher Fadok, O.P., assisted and received the friars’ candle-offering. Some of the sixty or so faithful who attended came from as far away as Fresno and Fullerton!
The celebrant was Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P., professor of history at the
Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley CA; deacon was Fr. Christopher Wetzel, O.P., parochial vicar of St Dominic’s Church in San Francisco; subdeacon was Bro. Joseph Selinger, O.P.; first acolyte, Bro. Nathaniel Maria Mayne, O.P.; second acolyte, Bro. Matthew Heynen, O.P.; thurifer and holy water carrier, Bro. John Peter Anderson; crucifer and pax-bearer, Bro. Paul Maria M
üllner, O.P. The music from the Dominican Gradual was lead by the cantors, Bro. Patrick Rooney, O.P. and Bro. Elias Guadalupe Ford, O.P.
Highlights of the Mass follow.
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| Blessing of the candles. |
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| The Provincial receives his candle. |
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| The laity receive their candles. |
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| The procession enters the cloister garden, led by the holy water carrier. |
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| Statue of our holy father Dominic in the cloister garden. |
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| Some of the laity following the procession. |
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| The station altar for the procession. |
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| The mappula is placed on the ministers’ laps as they sit for the Kyrie. |
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| Intoning the Gloria |
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| The subdeacon arrives at the altar during the procession with the chalice, while the Gloria is sung. |
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| The singing of the Collect |
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| The subdeacon sings the reading from Malachi. |
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| Preparation of the chalice during the Responsorium (Gradual). |
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| The deacon sings the Gospel (seen from north passageway). |
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| Singing of the Creed. |
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| Et incarnatus est. |
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| The Prior-Provincial receives the friars’ candle-offering after the Offertory. |
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| Incensing of the altar after the Offertory and candle-offering. |
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| Bowing for the Gratias agamus. |
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| Incensing of the minsters during the Preface. |
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| The Elevation of the Host |
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| The Elevation of the Chalice |
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| The ministers kiss the Pax-instrument. |
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| The first cantor kisses the Pax. |
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| Ecce Agnus Dei |
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| Communion of the friars. |
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| Communion of the congregation. |
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| Ablutions |
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| The deacon and subdeacon put the corporal and chalice in order. |
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| Moving for the Postcommunion. |
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| The Blessing |
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| Moving for the Last Gospel. |
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| Et verbum caro factum est |
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| Recessional Procession |
I thank Bro. Joshua Gatus, O.P., for these photographs.
