Univ of Notre Dame “Traditional Latin Mass” update

Over at the Shrine there is a really interesting update about the older form of Mass at the University of Notre Dame.

Here is their post:

Notre Dame Motu Proprio Update


I was sent, by my good friend the Sober Sophomore, a copy of this advertisement that was placed prominently in the Notre Dame Observer, the school paper, which publicizes the eagerly-awaited catechesis on the Motu Proprio that will kick off weekly Tridentine Masses at one of the school’s most beautiful chapels, St. Charles Borromeo Chapel in Alumni Residence Hall.

Campus Ministry has responded to Pope Benedict’s instructions with more dispatch (not to mention cheerfulness) than the majority of most dioceses, in fact. Incidentally, the Coleman-Morse Center, where the talks will be held, is smack dab in the middle of campus, and it looks like the lectures will be no hole-and-corner affair. Despite some off-campus nay-sayers, nearly everyone at Notre Dame involved in this project–students and Campus Ministry both–appear to be very excitedabout the Extraordinary Form and its return to campus. I imagine that as interest grows among the student body for the Extraordinary Form, we’ll hear more and more about its celebration on campus. In the mean time–fellow Domers! Procedamus in pace and get thee to Alumni Hall!

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16 Comments

  1. Richard says:

    The picture on the poster is great. The most characteristic aspect of the picture is that the priest has his “back to the people”. But envision the poster with the priest with his arms in the same position and “facing the people”, and how flipping hokey the picture would look then.

  2. Dustin says:

    I’m particularly amused by the central location on the poster of the phrase, “Pizza and soft drinks will be available.” Change that last bit to “beer” and then you’ll guarantee a crowd!

  3. Sid Cundiff says:

    Mathew Mattingly, I’d go with you a step further in the opposite direction and ask, is it youth who are the most interested in the MEF? Colleges and Universities have lots of them. The MEF last Friday at Wake Forest U was on a college campus also, and a fair number of youth attended. Gen X and Gen Y are a different cup of tea than Boomers and the so-called “silent Gen” (too young for World War II and too old for Vietnam) who gave us the mess in the first place.

  4. David says:

    Sid, actually this is entirely the work of the students, who, before classes even began, collected over 200 signatures. Alumni Hall Chapel holds only about 250 people. I’m predicting standing room only, everyone under the age of 30, God willing.

  5. catholiclady says:

    Maybe this will help their football team next year (g,d,r)

  6. Sid Cundiff says:

    David: Give us a report afterwards.

  7. TJM says:

    As a Notre Dame alum this makes me very proud and pleased. Since Notre Dame is considered very mainstream Catholicism in the US this is huge. How can your liturgically progressive pastor protest when it is being done at Notre Dame? Tom

  8. Franklin Jennings says:

    You can tell it’s the Extraordinary Form by just looking at his hands.

  9. Cosmos says:

    Thank you Father Z for your excellent website.

    I am a traditionalist at ND. I do see many orthodox Catholics striving to become better Catholics. I do not see many people interested in a traditionalist approach. I am not sure if the availability of the Tridentine Mass will change this. The main reason is that if good Catholics are looking to liturgy for an experience that brings them closer to God, it is not clear that they are going to find it in the old mass. The old mass is so different, and is very difficult to follow for a novice. I know that I was not particularly attracted to the form (beyond the orthodoxy of those associated with it) until I read an English translation side by side with an English translation of the new mass. The inferiority of the newer form shocked me and started me thinking. Some people will like it, but it is not like going to a Byzantine Liturgy in English, where a joyful active participation are met with beautiful ancient prayers, proper reverence, and clear biblical imagery.

    In fact, I do not think that traditionalism as a movement in the Church will gain any significant momentum until a number of questions are addressed clearly and publicly for those Catholics who cannot read theology 24/7. Some examples:

    1) Why should we trust you rather than JPII, Pell, Dulles, Schoenborn, and so many other good men? (implicit- why are you all so confident that you know better than so many brilliant men?)
    2) Regardless of their actions, these are still great men, why would they have missed this scathing and giant criticism?
    3) How is it appropriate to be so distrustful and publicly critical of your superiors?
    4) If the Church is what we believe it to be, and the Holy Spirit guides it, especially through councils, how can VII have been so misguided?
    5) If the Church is what we believe it to be, and the mass is what you say it is, how could the Church do what it did? 5
    6) Why aim so much energy at those we share so much in common with, when there are so many bigger problems to deal with?

    I am not saying that this list is anywhere near comprehensive, and I am not asking for answers (these are not my questions). What I am saying is that traditionalism at this point is perceived as close-minded, rebellious, and question-begging? That is the challenge as I see it.

  10. TJM says:

    Cosmos, If you read the actual
    documents of Vatican II, for example, Sacrosanctum
    Concilium, you will know in a flash, it was largely
    disregarded. The problem is not Vatican II, it’s
    the way it was implemented. That was and remains the
    problem. Also, I wouldn’t go to far with the “not obeying your
    superior line” because liturgical progressives, not
    traditionalists, have been flagrantly defying their
    superiors for 4 decades. Tom

  11. KHS says:

    There’s still a little feminist goofy-ism at ND.

    I was there for the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre Sunday (10-07-07). The choir was excellent. The refrain of the responsorial psalm was: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Thus was printed the program.

    The cantor intoned “If today you hear GOD”S voice, etc.” Most sang the amended version. I saw a few eyes roll.

    Not a big deal? Just a sign that incluivity and feminism protect the innocent from hideous sexist language.

    I long for the day when the traditional mass offered by Father Sorin will be allowed in his church.

  12. Emily says:

    KHS,
    I totally agree that that was an eye-rolling moment. On the other hand, as an alumna of the choir in question, I’d like to point out that, given the discrepency between the program and the cantor, it seems that this was actually a result of an oversight, rather than an intentional neutering of the text. There are probably a couple of different versions of the score for that Psalm floating around, to match the various Lectionary revisions, etc, and the cantor just ended up with the wrong one. The directors work pretty hard to make sure liturgical texts are in line with the official versions. They actually had us cross out neutered versions and insert the appropriate pronouns a few times during my time there.

  13. Cody says:

    I’m glad to see what ND is doing. Here at Boston College, I think most students, many of whom probably get their Catholic news from the Boston Globe or The View, are oblivious of Summorum Pontificum. Of course, we all know what the BC Jewish-Christian Relations Center said. I’m sure the St. Thomas More Society is trying to get something done, but I haven’t heard of anything yet. But there are TLM’s in other churches.

    Holy Trinity in the South End was where Cardinal Law allowed the indult. But Cardinal O’Malley moved it to Mary Immaculate of Lourdes this past April. Thanks the the MP, Holy Trinity has resumed the TLM. My parish, St. Columbkille’s in Brighton (which is about a 20-30 minute walk from BC), is also offering the TLM on the First Friday’s of the month at 7pm. My wife and I went last Friday. The crowd was small, but it was about the same as what you’d see on a Sunday (I hope this will encourage the pastor to have the TLM every week). There were people of all ages present. I’m sure many students from BC will attend once the news is spread around.

  14. Patrick says:

    I see the poster as a bit of a caricature of the Extraordinary Form. It isn’t that the Priest has his back to the people, it’s that he is facing the same direction as the people — toward the East.

    That said, I am glad to see the Extraordinary Form at ND> I hope CUA will follow suit!

  15. David M.O'Rourke says:

    Well, today was Oct. 8. I am anxious to hear how things went as well as how the follow-up goes. Perhaps it will cause the Universtiy of St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto to sit up and take notice. So far they seem rather hostile.

  16. Gianna says:

    A quick update on last night’s lecture:
    It was very well attended – there were probably 50+ people there, including many new/unexpected faces. Those of us who thought we knew all the “likely suspects” were glad to see that there was a broader interested audience than just us, and we’re also thinking that we’re going to need to show up pretty early to get seats on Sunday. Dr. Fagerberg focused especially on the hermaneutic of continuity, and how we should not fall into the trap of seeing one usage as good and the other as inferior. Tonight’s lecture should be exceptionally good as well, and will hopefully be as well attended (the free food does help :P).

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