Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

Take a close look at the craftsmanship here. This is the center altar card of St. Ivo alla Sapienza.

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

The coolest thing are the gloves. The "moral touch!" I understand that in the postconciliar Pontificale gloves are still mentioned as optional.

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

The idea was to see the Baroque in toto: in music, architecture, vestments, appurtanences, etc.

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

After a Pontifical Mass, especially in Italy, it's always nice to take a close look at the lavabo and cruet sets - craftsmanship!

Rome Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

Here we see the bugia that was used along with an extra one...

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

Here's the best photo I have of the Pontifical Mass (courtesy of my good Italoamerican friend, M.B.).

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

Last Thursday, November 22, Darío Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos sang Pontifical High Mass in the Tridentine rite at the Roman church of S. Ivo alla Sapienza. The music was fabulous and the church was packed with an overflowing crowd.

This Mass was the beginning event of the Roma Festival Barocco which is being held in Rome until December 1. The festival aims to bring Baroque music into its original setting of Baroque churches and palaces (www.romafestivalbarocco.it).

At the behest of the festival organizers the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter was invited to assist at the Mass.

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

Here we see the arrival of His Eminance at the entrace to St. Ivo alla Sapienza.

This is the musical programma that was sung:

G.P. da Palestrina (1525-1594)
Missa Regina Coeli (4 voices)

Proprio della festività
Sanctae Caeciliae Virginis et Martyris

Schola Gregoriana

Ensemble Festina Lente

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

It's not quite the same without the cappa magna, but lets hope we get it back in Rome again soon...

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

The altar for Pontifical Mass...

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

This is the faldstool that was used...

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

With nonchalance we were all there, but it was an enviable privilege and we all do feel blessed.

Here I am with my roommate just before the arrival of His Eminence. Who would have thought that the Holy Ghost would take two guys - us - from the Midwest and bring us to Rome to serve as Christ's page at the altar for a Solemn Pontifical High Mass sung in the Tridentine rite?! This is lay involvement in the liturgical context...

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

One enviable habit is that which the Norbertines wear - which includes a white biretta!

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

"Habit watching" is always fun while in Rome. Even when we were kids with the sandlot baseball games everybody had a uniform...

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

In Rome you always have to have an Oratorian in the mix otherwise it just wouldn't be Rome...

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

His Eminence arrived in the sacristy to vest. One of the nicest little traditions of the Roman rite, in my opinion, is when the prelate vests at the altar or in the sacristy with all the many vesting prayers, etc.

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

The aura of holiness was most impressive. Here one can get an idea of the size of the overflowing crowd of faithful Catholics from all over the world. Also in attendance was the famous Senatore a Vita, Giulio Andreotti.

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

Much better photos were taken by others. Namely, by the Polish photographer for Inside the Vatican Magazine (http://www.insidethevatican.com/). Also, the SSPX Rome chaplain took some nice pics and so they might post them as well.

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

This photo is great as we see here the harmony of the "tonsure." During the 1960s ruction this nice (and important) practice turned into a waning tradition, but it sure is nice to see again!

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

It's always a boost when there's a canon from the Cathedral of Milan in the mix! Il monsignore acted as the "archpriest" of the Mass.

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

It was a delight to chat with His Eminence in the sacristy after the Mass.

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

After the Mass the faithful were eager to greet His Eminence. Here we see him as he greets an altar server from Iraq. I am so humbled and proud with how international our Catholic Faith is...

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

Favorable attention from the press is always a plus. After the Mass the media were there to interview His Eminence. Here we see Rome Reports getting the scoop and so see it all on EWTN...

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

This is me and my dear German friend. He's my neighbor. It is stirring that we have a German Pope and that now there is a whole new wave of German students studying in Rome during this historical pontificate.

Roma Festival Barocco: Sung Pontifical Mass...

This was the congratulatory moment just before His Eminence drove away. Such an orbis catholicus in Rome...

From left to right: a Canadian, an Englishman, an American, a Columbian (His Eminence), a German and a Spaniard.

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

The celebrant was Monsignor Camille Perl from the Vatican. He has worked for nineteen years at the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (since it was founded by Pope John Paul II in 1988).

I guess he forgot his monsignorial biretta...and his choir cassock...

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

The celebrant was from Germany, the deacon was from France and the subdeacon was from Japan. Now that's an "orbis catholicus" is all I had to say...

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

It was a moving experience to worship according to the Missal of Pope St. Pius V in front of his very tomb!

The fiery chant schola of seminarians from the Institute of Christ the King did a great job. In their starched linen collars they sang the Gregorian melodies of Mother Church in the Patriarchal Basilica.

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

Everyone was overawed at the beauty of the rites. I liked the chasuble. On the top of the embroidered coat-of-arms was the motto: NON EXCIDET (my translation: "It will not fail.").

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

Legendary to see the tonsure. After the ceremony everyone had a chance to chat. All agreed that the whole conference was a big success.

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

The highlight for most conference participants was the Sung Mass that was celebrated here in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (in the Sistine Chapel) on Saturday morning.

Alojzije Cardinal Stepinac (1898-1960) celebrated his first Mass here on this very altar after he was ordained a priest in Rome.

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

On Saturday morning there was a Mass celebrated at this altar in the Tridentine rite at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (in the Cesi chapel).

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

Laymen made up the majority of the conference participants. Reminds me of a line that I heard from my roommate ten years ago: "Anything positive in the Church today is a lay initiative."

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

Conference participants were mostly French, but came from all across the globe. All had one common love: the Roman rite.

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

On Friday morning this Low Mass was celebrated in the Vatican Basilica by a French prelate according to the preconciliar Missale Romanum.

By my estimation, over two-hundred attended this Mass at the altar of Saint Joseph.

One participant remarked: "Wow, I don't think so many Tridentine rite Masses have been celebrated in one morning in Saint Peter's Basilica in over forty years!"

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

The conference began on Wednesday and ended on Sunday. On Friday morning I took this photo of a monk celebrating Holy Mass over the tomb of Pope St. Gregory the Great in the Vatican Basilica according to the usus antiquior.

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

Conference participants, some of whom were clergy, were eager to offer their morning Masses in the Vatican Basilica.

Here we see a monk, perhaps a Frenchman, praying his morning Mass in the forma extraordinaria over the tomb of Blessed John XXIII.

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

Conference participants prayed before the tomb of Pope St. Pius X located in the Vatican Basilica.

Pio X, prega per noi!

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

Many conference participants were eager to make a visit to the charming little F.S.S.P. Rome chapel of San Gregorio: http://www.fssp-roma.org/ .

CIEL Liturgy Conference in Rome...

The conference ended on Sunday morning with this Low Mass celebrated by V. Rev. Gilles Wach of the Institute of Christ the King Sov. Priest.

IL Motu Proprio e Cardinal Dante...

The past several months many, including myself, had made visits to the tomb of Enrico Cardinal Dante at St. Agatha of the Goths in Rome to pray for his intercession for the so-called "indult" that everyone was waiting for.

When I later returned to his tomb this autumn to offer a prayer of thanksgiving, I laughed as I noticed carved in the polished marble here the striking words: "...Summorum Pontificum..."

Dante: Magistri Caeremoniarum Apostolicarum...

He was the REX of liturgy. He loved the Roman rite and was the Papal Master of Ceremonies for many years.

He worked for the Congregazione dei Riti and the S. Congregazione Cerimoniale (both founded by Pope Sixtus V in 1588).

Then, in the 1960s, he witnessed the outbreak of the liturgical anarchy that we know today.

May he pray for the continued liturgical turnaround of today back to that which is of a Catholic ethos.

World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney...

It's about that time when the youth have to start buying their travel tickets for the next WYD which will be held this coming summer.

Juventutem is a great group of young, faithful Catholics. Its very existence is a sort of countermove against the often hysterical and "charismatic" groups that sometimes bring Catholic youth to this event.

The calling-up of young warriors for this event is important - it's just 6 months away. Please be diligent in getting your kids to this event - a little coaxing and they, too, can join the new Catholic buildup!

See: http://juventuteminternationalisfoederatio.blogspot.com

Huge Tridentine rite Mass to be sung in Rome..

The Italians are already saying it will be la madre ti tutto quanto (the mother of all) liturgies. You've asked for it and so here it is and hope you can all be there on the Feast of Saint Cecilia.

His Eminence Dario Castrillon Hoyos, Prefect of the Pontifical Commission Eccleisa Dei, will sing a Solemn Pontifical High Mass in the Tridentine rite this coming Thursday, November 22 at the Roman parish of St. Ivo alla Sapienza (Corso Rinascimento, 40) at 7:00 p.m.

This Mass is being organized by the Roma Festival Barocco (www.romadestivalbarocco.it) and the schola cantorum which will sing at the Mass will be the Schola Gregoriana - Ensemble Festina Lente.

Hope to see you all there (or watch for the photos)!

Rome: Summorum Pontificum celebration...

In honor of the Holy Father's July 7th Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum, last Saturday, November 10, two new bells were blessed for the belfry of the Roman parish San Salvatore in Lauro.

The packed parish church hosted His Excellency Archbishop Luigi De Magistris of the Vatican along with members of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. With much joy the rite was celebrated according to the preconciliar Roman Pontifical.

"Judah is a lion's whelp!" It was just glorious to see these bells blessed in Rome last Saturday. "Historical" and "memorable" is how the event was described by those present. For myself, it was an honor to have been there.

Rome: Summorum Pontificum celebration...

Everyone was so proud to see these bells. It was a historical moment and when they ring they will echo down the Tiber River.

Rome: Summorum Pontificum celebration...

The Archbishop is a very holy man. He's Sardo (from the Italian island of Sardinia) and he has worked in the Vatican for years.

Rome: Summorum Pontificum celebration...

The F.S.S.P. always do fine work. In short, they deliver. Here we see the F.S.S.P. deacon and F.S.S.P. master of ceremonies attending to the Archbishop.

Rome: Summorum Pontificum celebration...

This prelate is very beloved in the Vatican. He celebrates his morning Mass every day in the Vatican Basilica and is often seen crossing the Via della Conciliazione.

Rome: Summorum Pontificum celebration...

The bells were anointed with oil, blessed with holy water and then incensed.