Pontifical Requiem for Pope Benedict This Saturday in Rome

This coming Saturday, January 7th, Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, the FSSP church in Rome, will have a Pontifical Requiem Mass for His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, to be celebrated by Archbishop Guido Pozzo, the former secretary of the Ecclesia Dei Commission. The church is located in the pizza of the same name, close to the Ponte Sisto and the Piazza Farnese; the Mass will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Pontifical Requiem Mass at Farnborough Abbey

The Parisian church of St Eugène, home of the Schola Sainte-Cécile, is dedicated to a 7th century bishop of the Spanish city of Toledo, called ‘Eugenius’ in English and Latin; this dedication was also made in honor of the Empress Eugénie, the Spanish wife of the last French Emperor, Napoleon III, during whose reign the church was built. Following the overthrow of the French monarchy in September of 1870, the imperial family lived in exile in England. Napoleon III died in early 1873; his heir, Louis-Napoléon, the couple’s only child, was killed in South Africa in 1879 while serving with the British Army during the Anglo-Zulu war. Two years later, Eugénie founded the abbey of Farnborough, partly to serve as a mausoleum for her husband and son; she herself was buried there as well when she died in 1920, at the age of 94. The crypt where their mortal remains repose is similar in design to the royal crypt of the abbey of St Denis just outside Paris, where Napoleon III had intended to be buried.

During the Schola’s pilgrimage to England last month, we visited Farnborough, and the Schola sang a Requiem Mass for the members of the imperial family and founders of their home parish. The Mass was celebrated by Abbot Cuthbert Brogan, in the Pontifical Rite proper to abbots, i.e., from the sedilia, rather than a faldstool. Here are some pictures of the Mass, courtesy of the Schola, as well as a video of the Introit and Kyrie. This post will be followed by another of some of my own photos of the church, which is very beautiful.

The Introit and Kyrie of the Requiem Mass for the Bishops of Langres by Nicholas-Mammès Couturier, canon and choir-master of Langres Cathedral (1840-1911).

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Liturgies for Sacred Music Retreat in Cincinnati This Weekend

A Sacred Music Retreat for the Extraordinary Form takes place this week in Cincinnati, culminating in the following public liturgies at churches administered by the Oratorian Community of Cincinnati.

•  Matins and Lauds of the Dead (Pontifical) – Old St. Mary’s in Over the Rhine on Saturday, 8/11 at 9:30 a.m.
•  Requiem Mass (Pontifical) – Old St. Mary’s immediately following the Matins and Lauds above (starting approximately 10:15 a.m.)
•  Sunday Mass (Pontifical) – Sacred Heart in Camp Washington on Sunday, 8/12 at 11:00 a.m.
•  Sunday Vespers (Solemn) – Sacred Heart at 2:30 p.m.

All are welcome to attend these liturgies, which will be sung by retreatants from around the country, and which will be directed by Nick Lemme (Lincoln, Nebraska) and Kevin Allen (Chicago, Illinois). The music will include Gregorian chant, and polyphony by Morales, Victoria, Palestrina, Lotti, Ravanello, and contemporary composer and retreat presenter Kevin Allen. Information regarding the liturgies and parking for both churches can be found at the Sacred Heart website: https://www.sacredheartchurchcincinnati.com/.

Pictures of a Pontifical Requiem in Nebraska

Thanks to Mr Jacob Bauer for providing these photos and description of a Pontifical Requiem celebrated last month at the Univ. Nebraska-Lincoln Newman Center.

On April 17 in Lincoln, Nebraska, His Excellency Bishop Robert Finn celebrated a Pontifical Requiem Mass at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Newman Center, for the university’s Venerable Sheen Society, a group of young adult followers of the traditional Latin Mass. Fr. Josef Bisig, founder and first superior general of the Fraternity of St Peter, served as the Assistant Priest. Eight students from UNL learned how to serve Pontifical Mass, while the Knights of the Holy Eucharist, founded by Mother Angelica and originally from Alabama, served as torch-bearers.

The catafalque was built by two UNL students; the stain and trim were specifically manufactured to match the interior of the chapel.

For the liturgical music, the schola from the FSSP’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary teamed up with a small group of UNL students for the Mass chants and polyphony. Speaking on behalf of many that were present, the Requiem chants were sung in a particularly beautiful way by the FSSP seminarians; no surprise, given their recent Requiem album, which was released in May 2017, and rode the top of the classical charts for 13 straight weeks.

Fr Justin Wylie, originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, preached at the Mass; his sermon can be found here. “Indeed, what more efficacious thing can one do for one’s loved ones—and indeed, even for one’s enemies—than to than to lay down one’s life; in this case, the same life-offering of our Savior, Jesus Christ? For that is was is offered to the Father at such a Mass—the irresistible offering, perfect atonement, sufficient satisfaction for any and all the world’s sins. You can do no greater thing for anyone, anywhere, ever, than this.”

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Photos of Pontifical Requiem with Bishop Morlino

Our recent photoposts for All Saints and All Souls were prepared in a bit of a rush while I was getting ready for a trip, and I overlooked these pictures of a Pontifical Requiem celebrated by His Excellency Robert Morlino, Bishop of Madison, Wisconsin. They are reproduced here from Fr Z’s blog, with our thanks; our thanks also to Bishop Morlino, who has strongly encouraged the traditional Rite both by word and his personal example.

The Mass was celebrated especially for the deceased priests and bishops of the diocese, hence the episcopal and priestly birettas set on the bier.

Tradition is for the young!

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EF Pontifical Requiem in Leeds, England, Nov. 11

On Saturday, November 11th, His Lordship Marcus Stock, the Bishop of Leeds, England, will offer a Solemn Pontifical Mass of Requiem in the traditional rite in St Ann’s Cathedral in Leeds. The Mass will begin at 3 pm; the church is located on Cookridge Street.

Pontifical Requiem at the Throne in Madison, Wisconsin for All Souls

On November 2, 2015 at 7:00pm, Bishop Robert C Morlino will celebrate a Pontifical Requiem Mass at the throne for the Commemoration of All Souls. Victoria’s Requiem á4 will be sung. The Mass will be offered for the deceased priests of the Diocese of Madison, and will be celebrated at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison, WI.

A Pontifical Requiem Mass in Portland, Oregon

The 18th Annual Byrd Festival at St. Stephen Parish in Portland, Oregon began on Friday, August 7th with a Solemn Pontifical Mass at the Faldstool, celebrated in memory of David Trendell by His Grace, the Most Reverend Basil Meeking, Bishop Emeritus of of Christchurch, New Zealand. The Victoria Requiem (1605) was sung by Cantores in Ecclesia, directed by Blake Applegate. Mr Trendell was preparing the Victoria Requiem with the Choir of King’s College, London, when he died suddenly a week before All Souls’ Day last year. “It is fitting that this piece should open the festival which this year is dedicated to his memory.” (program notes - our thanks to Fr Eric Andersen for sending in these photos).

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Pontifical Requiem at the Throne - Madison, WI

This past Monday evening, Bishop Robert C. Morlino celebrated a Pontifical Requiem Mass at the Throne for the deceased priests and bishops of the Diocese of Madison, WI. A local group of singers sang Victoria's Requiem for 4 voices.

Prayers at the foot of the altar

Elevation

The schola cantorum

Communion

Homily, just before the absolution at the catafalque

Pontifical Requiem in Rome Celebrated by Archbishop Guido Pozzo

For the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed on November 3rd, His Grace Archbishop Guido Pozzo, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”, celebrated a Pontifical High Mass at the Fraternity of St Peter’s Roman parish, Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini.

All Souls at St John Cantius

As November 2 falls on the Sunday this year, Saint John Cantius Church in Chicago will offer Masses on two different days to remember the faithful departed. On Sunday Latin Mass will be offered in the Ordinary Form and on Monday Pontifical Latin High Mass will be offered in the Extraordinary Form with Mozart's setting of the Requiem. Each year, the annual Mozart Requiem draws Catholics and non-Catholics alike to experience the rich heritage of the Catholic church's liturgical ceremonies and sacred music. Indeed this year, the Archdiocese of Chicago's Young Adult Ministry website has made the Pontifical High Mass a featured event for young adults. Their website says: Nothing could more aptly be called 'epic'.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (Ordinary Form)

11:00 am — Latin High Mass in the Ordinary Form
Celebrant and Homilist - Rev. C. Frank Phillips, C.R.

Requiem, Op.9, Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)

Ensemble Cor et Vox
Rev. Scott A. Haynes, SJC, Director


MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3
All Soul's Day (Extraordinary Form)

7:30 pm - Pontifical Latin High Mass
Celebrant and Homilist - Bishop Joseph N. Perry

Requiem, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
Beati Mortui, Felix Mendelssohn-Barthody (1809 – 1847)
Ave Verum Corpus, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)

St. Cecilia Choir and Orchestra
Daniel V. Robinson, Director

Here are some photos from previous years: