First Mass in Krak des Chevaliers in 745 years

This is amazing.  I received a note…

First Mass in Krak des Chevaliers in 745 years, since 1271, celebrated by Fr Aubry of the Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrer.

The fortress has been damaged and the town has all but been wiped out.

Learn more HERE.

Play

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12 Comments

  1. Venerator Sti Lot says:

    For those of us who avoid Facebook: did they use a portable altar?

  2. Tamquam says:

    Krak des Chevaliers, literally The Knight’s Crag, was the only Crusader fortress that was never taken in battle. When the Christians in the surrounding area had been killed or driven out the Knight’s position became untenable. They marched out in the midst of their enemies who feared them unmolested, with all their banners and wealth. They set up shop on the island of Rhodes, and later Malta. It was these Knights, the Knights Hospitaller, whose stubborn defense of those two islands set up the Battle of Lepanto. By the time the Christian fleet had been gathered under the direction of don Juan of Austria only 80 knights were fit for battle, and only 20 survived it. The Order is still extant, the Order of St. John.

    Talk about reclaiming surrendered ground! Jesus Christ is King. Christus, vincit! Chrisuts regant! Christus Imperat! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZck6Axhpaw

  3. Grateful to be Catholic says:

    The Mass was offered ad orientem and apparently, judging from the altar cards, it was usus antiquior. How appropriate and moving in that ancient citadel for the defense of the Faith.

  4. JARay says:

    This shows that there are young French men and women who attend Holy Mass in Latin and have their Masses ad orientem. It is very pleasing see. Clearly they took everything with them to the Krak des Chevaliers.

  5. Augustine Thompson O.P. says:

    To “Grateful to be Catholic,”

    As the priest was a member of the Fraternité Saint-Vincent-Ferrier, the Mass was in the traditional Dominican Rite. With permission of the Holy See they use that rite exclusively, although they are not affiliated with the Dominican Order.

  6. Grateful to be Catholic says:

    To Augustine Thompson, O.P.:
    Thank you for that information. I have seen the Dominican Rite a few times in California, but it is pretty rare in the States, as far as I know. One of the priests celebrating it was from Germany and I think has now returned there.

  7. Venerator Sti Lot says:

    Augustine Thompson O.P.,

    Allow me to second Grateful to be Catholic’s thanks! Happily, the Dominican Rite seems to be suddenly in the air around here, since Father’s 29 July post, “VIDEO: Ordinary Form Mass very much in the Roman style”! I have never attended any Dominican service (dum spiro, spero!) but now see there are various ones filmed on YouTube (should have thought of looking for that, ages ago, having enjoyed Sarum Use that way!) – do you happen to have any personal recommendations in that line?

    I also noticed a 1941 Office Book for Dominican Sisters scanned in the Internet Archive which looks well worth getting acquainted with – again, do you – or does Fr. Z (or anyone else) – happen to have recommendations for online reading?

  8. Augustine Thompson O.P. says:

    A brief follow up for those asking about Dominican Rite Masses. The Sung Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 4 pm in the cathedral of Anchorage AK, which we of the Western Province staff. It is now also celebrated every Sunday at 11 am in our church in Portland OR, Holy Rosary, although the parish site has not been updated. There are also, I believe, regular celebrations at Kensington Carmel in Berkeley CA. Check their webpage. During the school year, it is also celebrated monthly at DSPT in Berkeley and St. Albert’s Priory in Oakland CA, as well as occasional celebrations at other of our churches. Watch for announcements at my “Dominican Liturgy” blog.

  9. robtbrown says:

    Augustine Thompson O.P. says:

    As the priest was a member of the Fraternité Saint-Vincent-Ferrier, the Mass was in the traditional Dominican Rite. With permission of the Holy See they use that rite exclusively, although they are not affiliated with the Dominican Order.

    I was told that Pere Duroux tried to get the Dominicans to accept the community of Fr St Vincent Ferrer, with no success.

    We now have a situation where those who are not juridically Dominican are using the Dominican Rite, while those who are seldom use it.

    O tempora! O mores!

  10. Augustine Thompson O.P. says:

    Robert, they wanted to be “part of the Dominican Family” but not subject to the Master in discipline or liturgy. Such a position is canonically impossible.

  11. Mike says:

    There will be a Solemn High Mass in the Dominican Rite (with no canonical impediments!) at St. Dominic’s Church in Youngstown, Ohio, on Friday evening, August 19.

    I was blessed to be present there at a Dominican Rite Mass last month that was well attended. The parishioners seem to be receptive to their liturgical heritage, and the energetic young Dominican priests stationed there seem eager to help them reclaim it.

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