Saturday, August 23, 2008

Todelo WA Dominican Rite Low Mass

As I mentioned in an announcement some time ago, Fr. Anthony-M. Patalano, O.P., Pastor of Holy Rosary, Portland, celebrated Dominican Rite Low Mass at St. Francis Xavier Mission in Toledo, Washington, on August 18th. Attendance was about 90 at the small rural mission. Fr. Anthony gave a short presentation on the distinctive characteristics of the Dominican Rite Low Mass and how it differs from the Extraordinary Use in the Roman Rite. The 18th in our 1961 calendar would have been a ferial of the 12th Sunday after the Octave of Trinity with the Memorial of St. Agapitus, but as you can see by the vestments, Fr. Anthony celebrated a Votive Mass, I believe of Our Lady.

The three servers had already had experience with the Extraordinary Use of the Roman Rite and did not need much time time to learn the rudiments of serving Dominican Mass. While in some ways very similar to the Roman Rite, it is easy for servers familiar with that rite to "trip up," as, for example, at the Offertory (we prepare the chalice before Mass and do not respond to the Orate Fratres) and in the movements (servers do not genuflect except on entering and leaving an altar where the Sacrament is reserved, making instead a deep bow when passing before the altar), and so on. Considering the short training period, I am told that the servers present did very well.

Here is a picture that was sent to me of the church:


Through the kindness of one in attendance, here are some photographs of the Mass. In the first photo you can see Fr. Anthony with his amice-covered capuce uncovering the chalice at the center of the altar. The two servers are at the left getting the wine and water. They will bring it to him and he will prepare the chalice and recover it. Then he will uncover his head and say the prayer Actiones Nostras quietly before descending for the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar. There is an "extra" server kneeling before the altar. Although it was not a normal practice for us to have "extra" servers at the altar (sanctuary boys are another matter), it was a common Roman Practice and I served as one myself on occasion in the 1960s in my diocesan parish in New York.

Here we see Fr. Anthony preaching.

We now jump ahead to the Sanctus. You will notice that the senior server has gone behind the altar to light the Sanctus Candles. A more common positioning of these candles ( and easier to light if the altar is attached to the wall) would be at the ends of the altar. And it is legitimate for the junior server to light that on his own side. But this practice is certainly legitimate. At private Mass there is normally only one Sanctus Candle (and one server) but at a Mass celebrated for the people, like the use of two servers, use of two candles is common.

The Consecration of the Host. Note the two lighted candles. You will notice that we do not bow over the altar during the consecration, but make a head bow, like that prescribed for the Ordinary Use of the Roman Rite.

Sorry about the quality of the next photo. We are now at the Last Gospel, as you can see the servers have returned to their places after the dialogue. I notice that they are not following the old Dominican custom of snuffing the altar candles during the Last Gospel. This was the practice in the Western Province, but not in the Eastern Province. I am sure practice varied around the world. Some lay people found it "disrespectful," so it was often dropped. There was considerable resistance when we were forced to adopt the Roman practice of the Last Gospel in the 1600s. Before that priests returned to the sacristy reciting from memory the Canticle Benedicite Omnia Opera Domini (Dan. 3: 57-88), which may still be done. Recitation of John's Prologue after Mass began as a similar devotional recitation on the way to the sacristry. The canticle was common in some places, the prologue in others. The Tridentine Reform happened to canonize the Prologue. I have previously posted on Dominicans and the Last Gospel.

Finally, a photograph showing the recitation of the Leonine Prayers after Mass. As readers know these were added by Pope Leo XIII (and St. Pius X) and are not part of Mass. They are a kind of "oratio imperata" (a mandated prayer) to follow the Mass. And, of course, there is nothing particularly Dominican about them. Nonetheless, they are very commonly recited at Dominican Rite Low Masses I have attended.

In addition: I have also received news that Blessed Sacrament Dominican Parish in Seattle WA, the site of a very successful Centennial Solemn Mass will be including the Dominican Rite as a regular part of their schedule. I will let you know the frequency and time as soon as I hear.

Thanks to Mr. Scott Powell for these photos. It is my understanding that Dominican Rite Mass will be celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Mission with some regularity in the future. Watch their website for announcements.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Holy Rosary Church Solemn Mass of St. Dominic (8/10/08)

As I had promised, we now have stills of the Dominican Rite Solemn High Mass celebrated at Holy Rosary Church in Portland OR on Sunday, August 10, to whichday the Solemnity was transferred, as is the practice in your province. You may observe that the vestments for this Mass are the same set used for the Solemn Mass in Seattle two days before. This set was commissioned for the Centennial of Holy Rosary Parish in 1996. In this series I have tried to include parts of the Mass not shown in the posting on the Seattle celebration.

The music for this Mass included the Missa de Angelis and the Propers from the Dominican Gradual, sung by the small schola of Cantores in Ecclesia under the direction of Mr. Dean Applegate. The short version of the Sequence In Caelesti Hierarchia was used as this was strictly speaking a votive Mass. This choir sings for the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass each week at Holy Rosary. As this Ordinary is rather short, the ministers remained at the altar for the Kyrie, Gloria, and Credo, instead of going to the sedilla as is usual with longer polyphonic Masses as earlier in Seattle.

In this first image you can see the ministers have arrived at the altar and are bowed for the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar. You can see the results of the renovations done in 1995-95: the new tabernacle, the new altar (originally from the old St. Dominic's Church in San Francisco, destroyed in the Earthquake), and the new stained glass windows showing St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The celebrant for this was was Fr. Anthony-M. Patalano, O.P., pastor of Holy Rosary; the deacon, Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P., professor at the University of Virginia; and the subdeacon, Bro. John Marie Bingham, O.P., a student of the Western Dominican Province House of Studies, St. Albert the Great in Oakland. The four servers were all young men of the parish--and spent many hours in preparation for this event.

In this image you see that the subdeacon, Bro. John Marie, is singing the Epistle. In this case, the option of dispensing with the lectern has been taken and the acolyte is holding the lectionary. At the altar the deacon is having his hands washed in preparation for unfolding the corporal. You can also see the communion cloth hanging behind the rail--it is in regular use at Holy Rosary.

This next image shows that the acolytes and crucifer have arrived for the Gospel Procession. The thurifer is at the sedilla having the incense blessed. You can see the "mappa" covering the subdeacon's lap. This, our form of the gremial, is used by all three ministers to protect their vestments while they are seated.

Here you can see the deacon chanting the Gospel, facing the north side of the church. The book is held by the subdeacon flanked by the acolytes with the crucifer facing the deacon. The thurifer is behind him forming a cross formation. The priest is, of course, at the altar. In the congregation you will also see members of the Dominican Laity (formally called the Third Order of Penance) wearing their scapulars, as is the common practice on Dominican feasts.

I include this photo so that you can see the mappa being used. It is here being placed over the laps of the deacon and subdeacon in preparation for the sermon. The preacher was the celebrant, Fr. Patalano.

The sermon over, the Credo was sung. Here is the genuflection at the Incarnatus Est. You will see that the ministers are in the triangle formation, with the crucifer holding the cross so that the people can see Our Lord's image as we proclaim our faith in his Incarnation. In this photo, to the left you, can see the new baptismal font with the frescoes of the baptism of St. Dominic, another embellishment done at the time of the parish centennial.

In this photo you can see one of the most characteristic rituals in the Dominican Mass: the incensing of the ministers during the singing of the Preface. The priest was incensed, with three puffs, at the Offertory. The thurifer is about to give the deacon his two puffs of incense, then he will give two to the subdeacon, and finally one to each of the acolytes. On this feast, he also incensed the image of St. Dominic. Finally he incensed the congregation--a practice not in the rubrics but traditionally observed in parishes of our province.

The Elevation of the Host. Acolytes hold their processional candles as elevation torches, the deacon incenses and holds up the priest's chasuble. The subdeacon holds the paten covered with the veil. The thurifer kneels in the middle to form the triangle, waiting to receive back the censer.

This photo shows the preparation for Communion. The priest has just turned to expose the ciborium and the ministers have all bowed to say the Confiteor. This might be a point to mention that on major feasts it is the custom at Holy Rosary for the servers to wear a modified version the old prelatial garb of a Dominican bishop. I have previously put up a post on this which also shows such garb in use by an altar boy of 1890 at St. Dominic's in San Francisco.

This photograph shows the position of the minsters for the priest's singing of the Postcommunion. They have swept to the side and are now in order to the right of the priest in the "wing" position. They take the same position, among other times, for the Kyrie, Gloria, and Collect, as well as for the Credo and Offertory verse (but on the Gospel side).

Finally, see see the ministers leaving in procession after the Last Gospel. They have put up their capuces, which are covered by amices.


I thank Mr. William Straud, a parishioner of Holy Rosary, who not only helped train the servers but also provided these photos of the Mass.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Seattle Dominican Solemn Mass

As readers know, on August 8, 2008, the Dominican Parish of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Seattle, Washington, celebrated its Centennial Anniversary with a Solemn Mass in the traditional Dominican Rite. Through the kindness of readers we now have some images of this Mass as well as a video. The celebrant was Fr. Daniel Syverstad, O.P., Pastor of Blessed Sacrament, functioning as deacon was Fr. Anthony Patalano, O.P., Pastor of Most Holy Rosary, Portland OR, and as subdeacon Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P., S.T.M., Professor of Religious Studies and History at the University of Virginia. The Tudor Choir under the direction of Mr. Doug Fullington sang the Missa Gloriose Confessor Domini by Juan Esquivel, based on a motet by Francisco Guerrero between 1605 and 1609. The music was newly edited for this occasion. The Propers were sung from the
Dominican Gradual
.

Plans for this Mass had been going on for several months, and the response and attendance was far beyond anything that had been expected. Here follow some pictures.

Before I begin the Mass photos, here is one of the statue of Our Holy Father St. Dominic, decorated for his Feast.


The Church of the Blessed Sacrament, a neo-Gothic edifice begun in 1910 can be seen against the evening sky if the University District, which the parish serves. The spire on the tower is easily visible from Interstate Five.


Here is a view of the interior, showing the congregation. The church, which holds 700, began to fill over an hour before the Mass and there were at least another 200 standing in the aisles, transcepts, and vestibule.


Here we seen the major ministers in procession to the altar, just as they are about to pass through the communion rail into the sanctuary. They have their amice-covered capuces up, as is our practice. You can also see that the amices are decorated with an apparal to match the albs.


Here the ministers have arrived at the altar and just risen from genuflecting to the reserved Sacrament. In moment they will bow for the Confiteor and the acolytes will turn in, holding their candles.


The Confiteor finished, the ministers form a line with the acolytes flanking each other below. This is the "cross" formation, which is taken by the mnisters when they are about to swing to the side, which they will all soon do for the reading of the Officium (as we call the Introit) and Kyrie at the Epistle Side.


Below is a good view of the High Altar. The interior of the church, which was never completed, is in bare brick, but the sanctuary and side altars, and main altar are decorated with walnut wainscoting, the work of Fr. Christopher Moschini, O.P., pastor of the parish in the late 1960s. He was a skilled craftsman, and the carving and decoration are all his own work. He would have been in seventh heaven had he lived to attend this Mass. Fr. Moschini was deacon at the first Dominican Rite Solemn Mass I ever witnessed, at St. Albert the Great Priory, Oakland CA, in 1978. The six great candles, neo-Gothic to match . the church, were a donation by a parishioner in honor of the Centenary. In this view, the subdeacon can be seen completing a part of the preparation of the altar after his Procession with the Chalice during the Gloria.


The ten assisting Dominican friars were seated as in choir on the extension of the sanctuary added in the early 1970s. Here you can see the five on the Gospel Side. In the back, in a special stall in the sanctuary is Fr. Michael Sweeney, O.P., President of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley CA, which serves the Western Dominican Province House of Studies in Oakland. He was the guest preacher. In front from the left are Bro. John Marie Bingham, Bro. Augustine Marie Reisenauer, Fr. Albert Paretsky, and Fr. Thomas Kraft. They have their hoods raised as is traditional when listening to the chanting of the Epistle.


Here we see the two acolytes, the crucifer, and the turifer in formation to begin the Gospel Procession (photo previously posted). In a moment the major minsters will join them.


Here we see the deacon, Fr. Anthony Patalano, chanting the Gospel, facing liturgical north--the direction of darkness--and thus spreading the light of the Gospel. behind him is the subdeacon,while the acolytes hold candles and the crucifer the processional cross. The carrying of the cross at the Gospel is part of the Dominican Rite and reminds those present of the mystery of the Crucified Savior that the Scriptures proclaim.


Here we see Fr. Sweeney preaching. His sermon paralleled the Church of the baptized as the agency for accomplishing the unfinished Salvation of the World with the task of the Dominican Order to preach the Gospel to people who have yet to hear it, and both with the challenge to parishioners presented by the still unfinished church of the Blessed Sacrament. He charged us as baptized Catholics, Friars Preachers, and parishioners, to take responsibility for Christ's mission, each according to our state of life.


Here is another one of Fr. Michael preaching, which gives a good view fo the altar. Notice the covered chalice resting on the humeral veil. It was brought in procession to the altar by the subdeacon during the singing of the Gloria.

Here the celebrant, Fr. Daniel Syverstad, O.P., has turned to greet the congregation with the Dominus Vobiscum that introduces the Offertory. The ministers are in the "cross formation" and you can just see the deacon, Fr. Anthony-M. Patalano, O.P., lifting the front of Fr. Daniel's chasuble, something done whenever the priest raises his hands at a greeting facing the people.


Here we see the ministers in the "triangle" formation, just before the Elevation. The deacon is holding in his right hand the censer, with which he will incense during the elevation, while he holds up the back of the chasuble with his left hand. The acolytles hold their processional candles (our form of elevation torches) and the thurifer kneels between them to complete the "triangle." The subdeacon, of course, kneels quietly, holding the paten under his humeral veil.


Here we see the celebrant kissing the Pax Instrument. He has just dropped the particle in the chalice and kissed it. The deacon will then take the Pax to the subdeacon.


Here is a closer view of one of the two new Pax Instruments presented to Blessed Sacrament Parish in honor of the Anniversary. They were a gift from Fr. Anthony-M. Patalano, O.P., and Holy Rosary Parish in Portland. The instruments duplicate of those made in honor of Holy Rosary's Centennial in 1995. It shows, as you can see, the Man of Sorrows. This instrument was that used, after the Fraction to communicate the Christ's Peace from the altar to the friars. You can see this rite beginning at about 40 seconds into the next item. There the deacon presents the Pax to the subdeacon to kiss, who then presents it to the ministers. Finally, the crucifer can be seen taking it to the friars in choir.


Here the ministers have taken the flanking position for the Communion Preparation. They are just bowing over for the Confiteor. In front you can see several of the 10 friars who assisted in choir. They are postrating in the venia for the Confiteor and Ecce Agnus Dei (an addition from the Roman Rite added to our liturgy in 1959).


During the Agnus Dei we were fortunate to have a parishioner taking a video . In it you can hear the Tudor Choir chanting the Agnus Dei by Esquivel while the ministers perform their functions from the Fraction to the Communion Preparation Rite.



To give again some idea of the crowed church, here is Fr. Thomas Kraft, O.P., parochial vicar at Blessed Sacrament distributing Communion at the rail.


Here we see the deacon and subdeacon holding the water and wine cruets for the Ablutions. When the priest has consumed the these, the deacon will fold the corporal and put it in the burse, and the subdeacon will dry and remake the chalice. Then he will take it all to the sacristy.



We close with a shot of the procession leaving the sanctuary.


Thanks to Major Autem His Est Caritas, Mr. Jesson Mata, music director of Blessed Sacrament, and Mr. Pat Bucy, as parishioner there, for these photos and the video; and thanks to our reader, Mr. Lawrence Lam, who was the thurifer for the Mass, for the photo of the Pax.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Dominican Rite on the West Coast

In a few days I hope to have reports on the Dominican Rite Solemn Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church in Seattle WA. That Mass was celebrated yesterday as part of the festivities of the Centennial Anniversary of the parish. The attendance was a great surprise and delight to all. There were nearly 900 people in attendance in a church that can hold just under 700. The pews had began to fill an hour before the service. The polyphony and Dominican chant by the Tudor Choir was spectacular and the sermon by Fr. Michael Sweeney, O.P., President of the Western Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, serving our House of Studies, was not only theologically profound but witty and challenging. This Mass was not only the first time that the pastor, Fr. Daniel Syverstad, O.P., had celebrated the Dominican Solemn Mass, it was also his first public celebration in Latin--he had been preparing for over two months. I have reason to believe will not be his last.

Since I am still waiting for pictures from the photographers at Seattle, I thought I would take the opportunity to share two images from the first Dominican Rite Mass in nearly 40 years at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Angels, home of the Dominican cloistered nuns in Hollywood, Los Angeles. This Low Mass was celebrated for the sisters on Saturday, August 2, by Fr. Anthony-M. Patalano, O.P., pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Portland. He was served by Fr. LaSalle Sean Hallissey, O.P., prior of St. Dominic's Priory in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, who wears an "Old English" surplice that was a special gift to him. In the image to the above left, you can see Fr. LaSalle ministering the water and wine at the preparation of the chalice, which in our Low Mass comes before the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar. As you can see, Fr. Anthony still has his amice-covered capuce raised. He will lower it just before the prayers. Through the nun's choir screen in Art Deco style (the monastery was built in the 1930s) you can see three of the nuns. The wooden screen panels can be seen to the left: they have been opened for the celebration of Mass as has always been the custom. Our Domincian Nuns practice Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and you can see the shade covering the monstrance in the center above the opening to the choir. The cover is removed outside of Mass times.

In the second photo to the right you can see Fr. Anthony elevating the Host, with Fr. LaSalle ringing the bell and lifting his chasuble. The top of the nun's screen is visible behind the altar. That monastery altar has always been free-standing, with the nuns behind it and a small nave for lay people before it.

I would like to thank those who attended the Seattle Mass who have, over the last twenty-four hours, sent me numerous emails or posted comments expressing appreciation of the liturgy and the music.

Tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. here at Holy Rosary Church in Portland I will serve as deacon for the second Dominican Rite Solemn Mass this week. Celebrant will be Fr. Patalano, and serving in the role of subdeacon will be Bro. John-Marie Bingham, O.P., a student from our House of Studies. If any readers are present, please introduce yourselves!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Dominican Rite in the Northwest


Those readers in the Northwest way be interested to know that there will be two Dominican Rite Solemn Masses this week.

At Blessed Sacrament Church in Seattle WA (photo to the right) on Friday, August 8, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. in the church Mass will be sung in to celebrate of the Centennial of the Parish. The music, to be sung by the Tudor Choir, will be: for the ordinary, Missa Gloriose Confessor Domini by Juan Esquivel, with the propers from the Dominican Gradual. The celebrant will be Fr. Daniel Syverstad, O.P, past Prior Provincial and current pastor.


Then at Most Holy Rosary Church in Portland OR (photo to right), on Sunday, August 10, at 11:oo a.m. in the church, Cantores in Ecclesia, under the direction of Mr. Dean Applegate will sing the Mass of St. Dominic in plainchant, according to the Dominican Gradual. The celebrant will be Fr. Anthony-M. Patalano, O.P., pastor.

If any of our readers are present at either Mass, please feel free to introduce yourselves. I will be present at both Masses.