A Solemn Ambrosian Mass in the Basilica of St Ambrose in Milan

This past Sunday, a solemn Mass was celebrated in the traditional Ambrosian Rite in the basilica of St Ambrose, one of the most ancient and important churches in the city of Milan, as a special occasion for the Jubilee year, by kind permission of the mitred abbot of the basilica, Mons. Carlo Faccendini. The Mass was celebrated by Mons. Francesco Braschi, and our own Nicola de’ Grandi, who has worked tirelessly for many years to preserve the Ambrosian liturgical tradition, served as the MC. Our friend Don Elvir Tabaković, a former professional photographer from Croatia who is now in religious life, was also there, and we are grateful to him for sharing these beautiful pictures with us. Ad multos annos!

The entrance procession comes from the sacristy. The Ambrosian Advent begins two week before the Roman, so this past Sunday was the fifth, rather than the third of Advent; there is no Gaudete Sunday, so the vestments are violet.

The Mass was also attended by several members of the Confraternity of the Most Blessed Sacrament from the town of Vanzaghello, about 25 miles outside Milan. 

The basilica’s 9th century apsidal mosaic was badly damaged by a bomb during World War II, but expertly reconstructed. Christ is shown with the Archangels Michael and Gabriel and the martyrs Gervasius and Protasius to either side of His throne; below are portraits of St Ambrose’s siblings, St Marcellina and Satyrus, and St Candida.

The prayers at the foot of the altar.

The first incensation of the altar. An Ambrosian thurible has no cover, so it is swung in wide arcs to keep the contents inside by centrifugal force.

The“default” position, as it were, of the deacon and subdeacon when they are not doing something is to stand on either side of the altar, rather than to line up behind the celebrant as in the Roman Rite.

After being blessed by the celebrant, the deacon, carrying the Gospel book, joins the other ministers for the procession...

to the church’s magnificent ambo.

The celebrant, Mons. Francesco Braschi, who is an honorary canon of the basilica, preaches the sermon.

The baldachin of the high altar dates to the later 9th century.

The subdeacon brings the chalice over to the altar under the veil. The Ambrosians still have apparels on their albs.

Incensation at the Offertory.

In the Ambrosian Mass, the Creed is said after the Offertory rite; here we see the celebrant genuflecting at Et incarnatus est.

The preface dialog. Notice that the subdeacon does not stand behind the celebrant with the paten under the veil as in the Roman Rite.

At the Unde et memores, the celebrant stretches out his arms in the form of the Cross. This gesture was common to most medieval uses of the Roman Rite, such as that of the Dominicans, and was widely believed in the Middle Ages to have originated with the Ambrosian Mass.

The Peace.

Canons do a second Lavabo after Communion more episcopali.

The deacons sings Procedamus in pace at the end of the Mass. The Ambrosian Rite does not have the Ite, missa est, but uses the older formula Benedicamus Domino for all Masses, which is sung by the priest.

The servers lined up before the altar at the priest’s final blessing.

A splendid picture of the church’s forecourt!