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Will EWTN be broadcasting Mass with the 1962 Missal?
Yes… apparently.
A kind reader sent me a copy on an e-mail received from EWTN’s Gordon Siobley responsding to a question about future broadcasts of the older form of Mass.
This would be a wonderful service in aid of Pope Benedict’s "Marshall Plan" for the Church.EWTN plans to occasionally air the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, while continuing to regularly air the Ordinary Form, in order “to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place” (Pope Benedict XVI, “Letter to Bishops presenting the Motu Proprio”).
In the Joy of Christ,Gordon
Wow
Comment by Jeremy — 27 September 2007 @ 2:26 pmThank you, EWTN.
I believe that the FSSP —which through its workshops is preparing a good many U.S. diocesan priests to celebrate the TLM —is also providing such preparation to some of the resident EWTN priests. I assume (and hope) that we’ll be seeing them celebrating the older form of Mass occasionally on TV, in addition to the big special TLM’s like the solemn high Mass on September 14.
Comment by Henry Edwards — 27 September 2007 @ 2:37 pmWhy only “occasionally”.
Comment by danphunter1 — 27 September 2007 @ 2:48 pmIf they broadcast the Novus Ordo at least twice a day,every day, why not broadcast the far superior Tridentine mass at least once a day.
As soon as the resident priests learn it, it can be done.
Then millions of people will be exposed to this awesome Mass on a regular basis.
Just think of the immense good this will do for the Church and therefore the world.
dan: Why only “occasionally”.
I suggest being happy about this is the best approach.
Comment by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf — 27 September 2007 @ 2:57 pmSo if they’re going to broadcast the TLM, will they also be selling the
missalettes in their religious catalouge? Or perhaps they already do,
they didn’t the last time I checked….
Where can one find a smaller pocket sized version?
Comment by Sanctus Belle — 27 September 2007 @ 2:58 pmI think this was a form letter, because I got the exact same response from the exact same guy. The NLM asked people to send in emails thanking EWTN for broadcasting the Mass, and I think this must be the email that all those people received. But I’m with you, Father, I think we should all be really happy about this development with EWTN. Furthermore, the more we watch and encourage EWTN in regards to the Old Mass, the more they’ll be interested in broadcasting it daily. I think we all just need to continue letting EWTN know how much we love the Old Mass.
Comment by Johnny Domer — 27 September 2007 @ 3:10 pmWhy only “occasionallyâ€.
I suspect most of us will be happy with what EWTN does in due course to further that “interior reconciliation within the Church which the Holy Father has both called for and made possible with his motu proprio which restores the traditional liturgical rites to a central place at the heart of the Church’s life” (as Fr. Calvin Goodwin, FSSP put it in his extraordinary sermon on Sept. 14).
In that initial solemn high Mass broadcast the FSSP set a virtually “picture perfect” standard for the celebration of the TLM, one which it will be difficult for any newly prepared TLM celebrant to come even reasonably close to. So, even if one or more EWTN priests have already completed their initial preparation, a period of continued further practice may well be necessary before they are ready for global Catholic television “prime time”. And surely we would not want to see the more ancient form telecast with any less attention to proper detail than their broadcasts of the newer form of Mass.
So it seems to me we ought not too impatient, having waited so long for the restoration that’s just now beginning, and which may supported decisively by even the occasional appearance of the extraordinary form on EWTN.
Comment by Henry Edwards — 27 September 2007 @ 4:46 pmI suggest being happy about this is the best approach.
Yes! I am so tired of people seeing the glass as half empty. Let us not look the gift horse in the mouth.
Comment by techno_aesthete — 27 September 2007 @ 6:01 pmI would hope that EWTN will occasionally broadcast the Extraordinary Use “Low Mass.”
We will be inundated with Pontifical and Solemn High Masses. But in the average parish, that will not be the case.
People need to see the Low Mass because that is what most of them will be attending. It will be much more quiet and your missal will become much more important.
Comment by ray from mn — 27 September 2007 @ 6:19 pmBy “inundated”, I intended to say “indundated with broadcasts of Pontifical and Solemn High Masses.”
Comment by ray from mn — 27 September 2007 @ 6:22 pmI would suggest keep sending EWTN letters of thanks and also asking for more traditional programs. EWTN is an extremly powerful tool and has the ability to change many peoples outlook on the TLM.
Last time I checked they can reach 130,000,000 homes worlwide not including the internet which broadcasts EWTN for free.
Thanks to Ray for forwarding the info (if that was you)
I hope by this time next year the TLM will be celebrated at the high altar at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul MN. Pray so that it may come true.
Comment by Marc — 27 September 2007 @ 6:25 pmI think I agree with Dan. If there is anything that we ought to be demanding more of then it is prayer and the Holy Sacrifice of the mass. The bishops have been told that the people are clamoring for the old mass – so let’s clamor away.
Are we not restless until we rest in Him?
m
Comment by mike — 27 September 2007 @ 8:31 pmI would guess that televising the usus antiquior will present somewhat more of a challenge than the usus recentior. I doubt they could muster the resources for a daily solemn Mass even if they wanted to. I’m not a fan of Archbishop Marini’s spectacles designed for televised papal Masses, but a low Mass is a lot of silence for TV or radio. It will probably take some time to settle into a manner of celebration and televising that works for them and their viewers. I suppose they could also choose to broadcast a daily Mass already being celebrated elsewhere. But I think they got off to a great start with the solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Comment by Greg Smisek — 28 September 2007 @ 1:13 amI just received the following e-mail message from EWTN in response to my congratulatory note (emphasis added):
You should be able to watch the Mass again if you have Real Video on your computer. You do need Real Player to be able to watch it.
Full Video of the Solemn High Mass
Extraordinary Form Of The Roman Rite (2hrs) Real Video
Entire celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass from the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama on September 14, 2007.
God Bless
EWTN Viewer Response
Comment by Greg Smisek — 28 September 2007 @ 3:39 amGreg Smisek,
Comment by danphunter1 — 28 September 2007 @ 9:02 amThe number one consideration with EWTN televised Tridentine Mass’s is the fact that it is the best act of worship that we can give to God Almighty in the best manner possible that the Latin Rite Church has.
That should be considered far over and above the percieved sensitivity’s of the viewers who have to deal with as you say long periods of silence. Since when has silence been wrong?
If it works for Christ than it does not matter if,”it works for its viewers”.
The Holy Sacrifice is primarily for God and it should be broadcast often to give glory to Him amongst the nations.
God bless you.
EWTN has also posted some beautiful still photos of the September 14 Mass:
http://www.ewtn.com/art/latin_mass/photo.htm
Hmm … does this URL constitute an endorsement of the simple name “Latin Mass” for the extraordinary form? Let me also mention the URL
http://download.rbn.com/ewtn/download/latin830.mp3
for the audio of the historic sermon that Fr. Calvin Goodwin, FSSP preached on that historic occasion about (as he put it) the “interior reconciliation within the Church which the Holy Father has both called for and made possible with his motu proprio which restores the traditional liturgical rites to a central place at the heart of the Church’s lifeâ€. My wife and I have listened to this sermon at least a half dozen times, and continue to be be stunned by Fr. Goodwin’s vision of the liturgy in the life and history of the Church.
Comment by Henry Edwards — 28 September 2007 @ 9:06 amIt seemed to me that EWTN’s televising of the extraordinary form was pretty camera-intensive—they had all sorts of angles going so that people
would understand the process. If I’m not mistaken,
they even had one actual cameraman in the sanctuary. (He stood very still and was in a far corner, so was hard to notice.)
So it may be that, at this point in the educational process, they’ve decided that this sort of big Mass is a good thing to put lots of network effort into. Later on, it won’t require quite so much camera-power. (And of course a more normal Mass wouldn’t have a zillion priests there, either!)
Comment by Maureen — 28 September 2007 @ 11:44 amThe next Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite/Traditional Latin Mass from the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Hanceville, Alabama will be aired on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time.
December 15 is just a 3rd class “Feria of Advent” on the traditional calendar, so this would not seem to be some sort of special occasion. Dare we hope that this announcement signals that, starting then, the regular Saturday Mass on EWTN will be in the Extraordinary Form?
Comment by Henry Edwards — 28 September 2007 @ 12:10 pm> (danphunter1)
Because EWTN serves the entire Catholic Church, and I have no doubt
that more than 95% of the Church’s members don’t WANT to see the
Extraordinary Form more often than “occasionally.”
Contrary to what some people mistakenly believe,
the pope did not name it the “Extraordinary Form” because it IS
“extraordinary” (i.e., superior), but because it is expected to
be used only in “extraordinary” circumstances.
Similarly, the pope did not name the 1962 Missal’s form the
Comment by Francis A. — 28 September 2007 @ 12:16 pm“Ordinary Form” because he considered it “merely ordinary” (i.e.,
ho-hum), but rather because he expects it to be used under
“ordinary” circumstances. The folks at EWTN understand
this fact and are acting accordingly. Everyone here at this blog
needs to understand it too.
The previous message was supposed to start with the following quotation,
which somehow was deleted by the blog’s software:
“Why only ‘occasionally?’” (danphunter1)
Comment by Francis A. — 28 September 2007 @ 12:20 pmHere’s another good question. When are the priests on EWTN going to face the right dierction when offering the Novus Ordo Mass/ ‘Ordinary Form’?
Comment by Michael — 28 September 2007 @ 12:35 pmFrancis,
Comment by danphunter1 — 28 September 2007 @ 1:05 pmTwo things.
Firstly, What those “95%” of people who do not want to see the Tridentine Mass feel is not as important as what is most pleasing to God Almighty. Between the two forms that have aired on the network, the Tridentine Mass is more pleasing to Him.I would also wager that the 95% figure you give of those people would not mind having a Tridentine mass aired once a day. The majority of people who watch EWTN are good God fearing men who realize the importance of t
the Sacred.
Secondly I am sure His Holiness did not refer to the Tridentine Mass as “Extraordinary ” because he expects it to be offered only in extraordinary circumstances{occasionally}.
He has made it clear that it can and should be offered with the same regularity as the Novus ordo mass. This is why it should be given equal air time with the Novus Ordo, on EWTN.
God bless you.
Francis A. writes
I have no doubt that more than 95% of the Church’s members don’t WANT to see the Extraordinary Form more often than “occasionally.â€
If one takes statistics on Mass attendance as a guide, some 75% of the Church’s members don’t want to see any form of the Mass more than occasionally. And I’m sure that a goodly percentage of those who do don’t want to see Mass in the manner that it is offered at EWTN.
Contrary to what some people mistakenly believe, the pope did not name it the “Extraordinary Form†because it IS “extraordinary†(i.e., superior), but because it is expected to be used only in “extraordinary†circumstances.
I think you are mistaken. If the Pope foresaw that the extraordinary form would be used only in extraordinary circumstances, it’s hard to see why he would have bothered to state that every priest has the right to celebrate it, and that any pastor has the right to arrange for its daily celebration in his parish. Rather, His Holiness could simply have issued yet another restrictive Indult.
Comment by dcs — 28 September 2007 @ 1:13 pmMichael asks:
When are the priests on EWTN going to face the right dierction when offering the Novus Ordo Mass/ ‘Ordinary Form’?
My guess is soon after Bp. Baker is installed in the diocese.
Comment by dcs — 28 September 2007 @ 1:19 pmMichael asks:
When are the priests on EWTN going to face the right dierction when offering the Novus Ordo Mass/ ‘Ordinary Form’?
DCS: My guess is soon after Bp. Baker is installed in the diocese.
I would not be surprised if it takes a little longer. Bishops don’t just show up and start pronouncing decisions. There is a transition period… This is not as simple as you think…
Comment by Wm. L. Osterhout — 28 September 2007 @ 1:31 pmI believe that the bishop there actually forbid them from facing “east”. I thought I read that in Mother