D. of Cloyne: Bp John Magee to celebrate TLM in Cobh

I got this via e-mail:

St. Colman’s Society for Catholic Liturgy is pleased to annoiunce that by letter dated 21 February 2008, Bishop John Magee of Cloyne, has CONFIRMED that he will celebrate the Holy Mass in the extraordinary form – according to the Roman Missal published by the Blessed John XXIII – in St. Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland, on Easter Tuesday, 25 March 2008 at 12 noon.   The Bsihop has also informed the Society that he will celebrate the low Mass, to the direction of the Cathedral’s Master of Ceremonies with music provided by the Cathedral Choir.

St. Colman’s Society for Catholic Liturgy is most pleased with this development which will be the first time the TLM has been publicly celebrated in St. Colman’s Cathedral in almost 40 years.  The Society is also very encouraged by  Bishop Magee’s openess to the very first request made in the diocese of Cloyne for the TLM and wishes to encoourgae as many as possible of its members and of the faithful in general actively, fully and consciously to participate in this important celebration of the Holy Mass

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12 Comments

  1. jaykay says:

    Well that IS a positive development, after all the controversy about the proposed work to the sanctuary in the cathedral (no, I won’t use the “W” word) and what was reported to be the Bishop’s negative attitude to the EF. I don’t wish to sound in any way uncharitable but if it IS true that Bp. Magee was not positive towards the EF and now is taking this extraordinary (heh!) step well, that can only be immensely positive for the widening of the provision of the EF throughout Ireland.

    And I also just heard today that there will be a Mass in the EF in Cloghogue Church in Newry, Co. Down, on 1st March, although I’m wondering whether this isn’t unconnected to the fact that there’s been an SSPX Mass in the town for some time? Anyway, it’s all good news because the progress in Ireland since July has been pretty slow, if not glacial.

    I have this vision of the EF being celebrated again in my local church, where I have clear memories of my late uncle, home from the missions, celebrating at the beautiful Our Lady altar. That would have been about 1964.

  2. John says:

    St. Colman’s is a beautiful gothic church which was slated for a “wreckovation” some years ago. There was a society formed to preserve the place. I am curious as to what happened.

  3. jaykay says:

    John… basically, they won! Via the local authority and the planning appeals board, I think. Sad that it had to go to that level, but it did and so the marvellous interior is intact. Well, except for the usual picnic table thingie :)

  4. Thomasso says:

    Great news.

    And today it was announced that a new bishop (age 57) has been appointed to Down and Connor. I’m told from people who’ve been at meetings with him that he’s a “shirt-and-tie bureaucrat currently serving the Church in the EU”. What that augurs, who knows. I suspect some may judge the book by its cover, but that may be unfair.

    Also annouced today is a new Nuncio for Ireland. It’s all moving on the Irish front.

  5. A sign of hope at last in that part of Ireland! Every time I have been to visit relatives in County Cork, to see the state of the church there is truly depressing. As has been said this cathedral only escaped liturgical vandalism by the skin of its teeth.

  6. Alex says:

    It appears that Bishop Magee has experienced a conversion about the TLM in the past few months. Up to recently, there would not have been the slightest possibility of a TLM in Cobh Cathedral. Initial reports had it that Bishop Magee was going to celebrate the full Pontifical High Mass but he is not in good health so the ceremonies had to be curtailed especially in the wake of Easter. However, this is positive news and hopefully the beginning of something beautiful for God.

  7. Matt Q says:

    Thomasso wrote:

    “Great news.

    And today it was announced that a new bishop (age 57) has been appointed to Down and Connor. I’m told from people who’ve been at meetings with him that he’s a “shirt-and-tie bureaucrat currently serving the Church in the EU”. What that augurs, who knows. I suspect some may judge the book by its cover, but that may be unfair.

    ()

    No, can’t judge a book by it’s cover but at the time, yes, it’s a big indicator. Would it be any different if you were introduced to a man or woman who was a transvestite? One may not “judge” the heart or soul of the person but, oh it does speak of their mindset and how incompatible it may be to the commonality of things, especially the Church.

    We’ll give this man a chance, but it’s still a dubious prospect, and this further indicates to me Rome is not fully aware of the clergy it appoints as bishops. Our Holy Roman Catholic Church is not beyond rubber-stamping. Surely no one finds this shocking.

    ============

    The Expectation of Our Lady wrote:

    “A sign of hope at last in that part of Ireland! Every time I have been to visit relatives in County Cork, to see the state of the church there is truly depressing. As has been said this cathedral only escaped liturgical vandalism by the skin of its teeth.”

    ()

    Yes, a great grace. We had been following that here in America and were very anxious about it. Glad it’s resolved… for now.

    ============

    Alex wrote:

    “It appears that Bishop Magee has experienced a conversion about the TLM in the past few months. Up to recently, there would not have been the slightest possibility of a TLM in Cobh Cathedral. Initial reports had it that Bishop Magee was going to celebrate the full Pontifical High Mass but he is not in good health so the ceremonies had to be curtailed especially in the wake of Easter. However, this is positive news and hopefully the beginning of something beautiful for God.”

    ()

    It’s one thing for a priest to say the Tridentine Mass but a bishop, it elevates things to a higher level. I was very dubious of this Magee, however, if his health is fragile I would tend to believe he’s had a conversion of heart. Perhaps he has been able to see what’s really going on around him and he’s come around. God bless him.

  8. danphunter1 says:

    Saint Padraig is proud.

  9. Peter says:

    Don’t you mean “with” the skin of its teeth?! (Job 19:20)

  10. Mary says:

    Bishop Magee really has been very ill. He was off duty for most of last year and had an operation on his knee. Although the operation went well, he has hardly been seen here in Cobh since Christmas. In fact, he rarely celebrates any of the masses in the cathedral anymore. I believe that his suffering has brought about the conversion. By all accounts he is very enthusiastic to celebrate the old mass. We are all praying that it goes well for him. He is trying his best. Please, do not criticise him.

  11. Bogdan says:

    Starnge that Magee, a former Master of Papal Ceremonies, is sayng a low Mass on a day of the Easter octave – all of which are Solemnities of the Lord and rank over all other liturgical feasts in the Roman Calendar.

  12. Pam says:

    And now March 2009 he seems to be being persecuted. i recently listened to a CD where HE John Magee related his personal experience of three Popes. It was absoltely charming and inspiring. He seems such a humble and lovely person. Could HE also be on the Enemies List of the English heirarchy’s magic circle, along with Fr. Finnigan ?

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