EWTN: Live “Tridentine” Mass on 14 September

I am lead to wonder if the new Bishop of Birmingham is making his upcoming presence known.

Surely this will cause some folks to completely freak out.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY

EWTN to Televise Live Tridentine Mass Celebrated by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter

DENTON, Nebraska – AUGUST 17, 2007 – For the first time in its 26 year history, Mother Angelica’s Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) will be broadcasting a live Solemn High Mass at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama on September 14, 2007 at 8:00AM EST.  EWTN has asked for the assistance of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, an international Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right, to help celebrate this "extraordinary" form.

This past July 7th, Pope Benedict XVI affirmed the beauty and importance of the Tridentine Mass by issuing Summorum Pontificum, a papal document encouraging and confirming the right of all Latin Rite priests to use this more ancient use of the Mass starting September 14th.  The Tridentine Mass was the normative liturgy experienced by Latin Rite Catholics prior to the Second Vatican Council.

"Most Catholics have not seen this heavenly celebration in over 40 years," said Father Calvin Goodwin, a professor at the Society’s international English-speaking seminary located in Denton, Nebraska.  "We are very excited to help EWTN and to support the Holy Father’s call for a wider presence of this form of the Mass.  This is a cause for great joy."

Priests and seminarians from Denton, Nebraska will travel to Alabama and provide the celebrant, deacon, subdeacon, preacher, master of ceremonies and altar servers.

About the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter

Established in 1988 by Pope John Paul II, the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter is an international society of Catholic priests entrusted with the preservation and administration of the Catholic Church’s ancient Latin liturgical traditions.  Over 120 seminarians are preparing for the priesthood in the Fraternity’s two seminaries in Bavaria, Germany and Denton, Nebraska.

About EWTN

Founded by Mother Angelica, a Poor Clare nun, the Eternal Word Television Network has become the largest religious media network in the world, transmitting programming 24 hours a day to more than 123 million homes in 140 countries and  territories on more than 4,800 cable systems, wireless cable, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), low power TV and individual satellite users.

Contact

Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary

7880 West Denton Road

Denton, NE 68339   U.S.A.

(402) 797-7700

seminary@fsspolgs.org

 

 

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
This entry was posted in SESSIUNCULA. Bookmark the permalink.

55 Comments

  1. Ave Maria says:

    Deo Gratias!!!

  2. Janet says:

    Oooh!!! I will definitely make plans to drive the 40 miles and be there for mass that morning! Sept.14, 8am edt. Trad. Latin Mass! (marking calendar). Thank God for Pope Benedict XVI!

  3. ray from mn says:

    “Most Catholics have not seen this heavenly celebration in over 40 years,”

    I would say that few Catholics (except for parishioners in a Cathedral) have EVER seen a Solemn High Mass with “deacon, subdeacon, preacher, master of ceremonies and altar servers.”

  4. Boko says:

    This is great. EWTN has changed a bit over the years. I think Mother Angelica is more supportive of the classical use than some oth the networks current stars are. I hope EWTN offers some catechetical programs on the old use. Anything other than the creepy, embarrassingly bad kids programming that seems to be on whenever I surf by on my way by to Comedy Central, ESPN, and the Food Network.

  5. Prof. Basto says:

    encouraging and confirming…

    Very Good!

  6. Fr. D says:

    That’s quite an opening statement by Bishop Baker. Gotta love it.

  7. Henricus says:

    I think Mother Angelica is more supportive of the classical use than some oth the networks current stars are.

    I recall the general skepticism expressed about a year ago when I informed the resident conspiracy theorists at one of the more squirrelly traditionalist blogs that EWTN management was most anxious to televise the Tridentine Mass at their absolute earliest opportunity.

  8. Jon says:

    Let there be sung Te Deum and Non Nobis!…again!

    (anyone have any Veuve left?)

  9. Berolinensis says:

    Well, Raymond Arroyo has Bishop Baker on “The World Over” tonight at 8 pm eastern time (http://ewtn.com/worldover/index.asp), so I suppose we will find out, Father.

  10. Berolinensis says:

    Well, Raymond Arroyo has Bishop Baker on “The World Over” tonight at 8 pm eastern time (http://ewtn.com/worldover/index.asp), so I suppose we will find out, Father. In any case, great news.

  11. Mike says:

    June 12, 1987: ‘Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!’

    November 9, 1989, the Wall’s gates are opened.

    July 7, 2007: Summorum Pontificum issued.

    . . .

    Hey, ‘a man’s reach must exceed his grasp . . .’ and ‘Grow old with me! The best is yet to be.’

  12. Other Paul says:

    Is there an echo in here?

  13. Kelly says:

    Great news!! I live in the other diocese in Alabama, the Archdiocese of Mobile. We are waiting for a new archbishop. I am praying that we will get someone like Bishop Baker.

  14. I can hear the open-minded Modernists already:

    “They can not be permitted to show us, because nobody will want to watch. This must be stopped!”

  15. Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary says:

    A clarification…

    this Mass is not something that Bishop Baker started but grew out of something between EWTN and the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. EWTN has been making plans for various aspects of this Mass which, likely, included informing the new bishop of this telecast.

    Mr. Robert Overkamp
    Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary

  16. Jacob says:

    Now if only ‘The World Over’ was closed captioned…

  17. Thomas says:

    That’s quite an opening statement by Bishop Baker. Gotta love it.

    Exactly, Fr., and wasting no time either. If I remember correctly, Mother Angelica was shut down pretty quickly a while ago when EWTN was about to televise a (Novus Ordo) Mass celebrated ad orientem. Though Bishop Baker may not have initiated this (or did he?), surely EWTN sought his support for it.

  18. Janet says:

    Thomas,
    Bp. Baker won’t be in charge here in Birmingham until Oct. 2nd when he is installed. I guess technically Bp. Foley will remain as administrator of the diocese until then. Sounds like EWTN is taking smart advantage of the ‘gap’ between the two bishops, by televising this TLM from the Shrine.
    Or maybe some combination of Foley or Baker gave a verbal permission for them to televise it. Either way is fine with me, since, God-willing, I’ll be attending that Mass and won’t need the TV for it. :-)

  19. Timothy James says:

    I am very happy about this but not surprised. The Fathers at EWTN have been implementing latin into their Novus Ordo Mass over the years. They have always had the Verbum Dòmini, Deo gratias, after the readings. Also, more recently they began doing the concluding rite, the Dòminus vobìscum and the final blessing, in latin. Their mass is always very reverant and beautiful!

  20. Chris Garton-Zavesky says:

    Who is a member of the parish? [Sorry: I couldn’t resist.] Surely the television audience must be resident in the parish of the Shrine. Does a shrine even have parish boundaries?

  21. Bonaventure says:

    This is great news. I think it will be great for the FSSP as well since they will get more exposure. Hopefully many young men will see this and be moved to consider the FSSP.

  22. Nick says:

    YAHOOO! This is great news!
    I dont even mind having to get up a 4:45AM to see it because I live on the West Coast!

    Wait, is this going to be substituted for the daily mass that we usually see on EWTN? If so, then that means it will be replayed at least two more times that day (mid day and afternoon)!!

  23. DJR says:

    “Most Catholics have not seen this heavenly celebration in over 40 years,”
    “I would say that few Catholics (except for parishioners in a Cathedral) have EVER seen a Solemn High Mass with “deacon, subdeacon, preacher, master of ceremonies and altar servers.”

    When I see comments like the above, it makes me feel guilty. I take a lot for granted. We have Solemn High Mass every Sunday at Saint Francis de Sales parish (FSSP-run personal parish) in the Atlanta archdiocese. I suspect that, in the entire western hemisphere, there are just a handful of parishes that can make that claim.

  24. jmgarciaiii says:

    Uh oh. Seems like the toothpaste is going to come flying out of the tube now.

    I like Bp. Baker already, even if he hasn’t done anything yet in Birmingham!

    -J.

  25. Bonaventure wrote:

    “This is great news. I think it will be great for the FSSP as well since they will get more exposure. Hopefully many young men will see this and be moved to consider the FSSP.”

    With all due respect to the FSSP, it seems they are having not trouble attracting vocations. It is my hope, on the other hand, that many young men will see this and have a desire to become diocesan priests that they may offer it as a regular aspect of the liturgical life of their diocesan parishes.

  26. William says:

    Bonaventure wrote: “This is great news. I think it will be great for the FSSP as well since they will get more exposure. Hopefully many young men will see this and be moved to consider the FSSP.”

    Sacerdos in Aeternum wrote: “With all due respect to the FSSP, it seems they are having not trouble attracting vocations.”

    From what I have heard, the FSSP seminary in Denton has had to turn away many interested men due to lack of space. While I hope those men have gone on to other seminaries, I also wish it were possible for the FSSP to add another seminary.

    I also am looking forward to this broadcast – and I might try to make the trip to attend in person.

  27. Bryce says:

    Link? Source? I don’t find this on the EWTN website. Where is the original press release from? I guess I just can’t believe it, and want the SOURCE so I can print and give to my parish pastor, who will definitely want to announce this and put it in the bulletin and have us all watch it!

  28. Alex says:

    Mother Angelica is said to be a great devotee of the Traditional Roman Rite Mass.

    But she felt limited, I guess, by the restrictions on its use from the Vatican.

    She is a pious religious sister, and she always said the “Old Mass” would return.

  29. Legisperitus says:

    At least this happened in her lifetime. Perhaps in part through her prayers.

  30. Jason says:

    “Mother Angelica is said to be a great devotee of the Traditional Roman Rite Mass.”

    Last month, when EWTN were having their Family Day, I heard the following comment during a question and answer session:

    Question: What does Mother Angelica think about the Tridentine Mass approved by Pope Benedict?

    Mother Catherine (Vicar of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery): Well, the day she heard about it, she was really excited :::loud applause::: she was just… if she could have jumped she would have been jumping for joy you know. Mother, even before her stroke, I remember her commenting that she hoped that would come back because it’s more contemplative; it’s a beautiful Mass. The Mass we have now is beautiful, but, you know, I heard this exorcist priest telling me once that the devil hates Latin, and that’s why they always exorcise in Latin. And if the devil hates it, I think we need to go back to it. :::very loud applause:::

  31. Ole Doc Farmer says:

    This event of course raises the issue once again of the former bishop’s prohibition of televised ad orientem Masses. Does anyone have a sense of the meaning/message (if any) the Holy Father was sending when he immediately accepted Bishop Foley’s resignation, then permitted him to stay on as administrator?

    Before going to Birmingham, Bishop Foley was auxiliary here in little ole Richmond. I never got the sense he was hostile to the TLM; in fact, he seemed very encouraging and helped to reconcile a large breakaway parish…one that became the first exclusively 1962 Missal parish in the nation. I always wondered if his ban was the result of pressure from other bishops.

  32. Henry Edwards says:

    Farmer: I always wondered if his ban was the result of pressure from other bishops.

    Surely you’re not serious!

  33. Andrew says:

    This is great news. MP Sum. Pont. jam incipit conferre fructum.

  34. Somerset '76 says:

    Before going to Birmingham, Bishop Foley was auxiliary here in little ole Richmond. I never got the sense he was hostile to the TLM; in fact, he seemed very encouraging and helped to reconcile a large breakaway parish…one that became the first exclusively 1962 Missal parish in the nation.

    That would be St. Joseph’s, now located in Bon Air (Chesterfield Co.), Va., south of Richmond. This community began its existence in 1983 as an independent pro-SSPX chapel, when some of the laity had objected to the way another independent chapel across town was then being run. During this initial phase, its pastor was Fr. Ringrose, who came down weekly from the D.C. suburbs. It held its Masses first in the auditorium of a senior living complex [and that’s where I first encountered the traditional Mass in 1985], and then renting the space of a Protestant worship facility. It was in this latter place where Bishop Foley, then auxiliary in Richmond, paid a semi-official visit to this “outlaw” chapel in early 1988. No doubt, the seeds of what would happen later were planted here.

    The cross-town chapel, Our Lady of Fatima, itself got a new pastor in 1988, the late Fr. Marks, with whom Fr. Ringrose was on good terms. Hence, the latter decided in the summer of 1990 to cease serving St. Joseph’s and bid his charges to go over to Fr. Marks. Some, including the two principal founders of the St. Joseph’s chapel, refused: old animosities between themselves and the lay trustees of Fatima remained. Hence, they decided to approach the diocese with their chapel’s assets and name, with hopes that they’d be permitted the use of the abandoned conventual church of St. Joseph’s Villa (a former orphanage) north of Richmond. In 1991, Bishop Sullivan granted their request, and thus, Fr. Adrian Harmening, OSB, was appointed to be the new St. Joseph’s chaplain.

    In 2002 it was found necessary for St. Joseph’s to relocate; the parish bought a former Protestant church at its present location, and with its relocation at that year’s end, it was erected as a Canon 518 parish. Fr. Adrian remains pastor to this day.

  35. Mike says:

    Bryce wrote:

    Link? Source? I don’t find this on the EWTN website.

    There’s a communique on the FSSP web site’s page FSSP News, where the first listing currently is ’17.VIII.2007 Communiqué: EWTN to Televise Live Tridentine Mass Celebrated by FSSP’. You have to have javascript enabled in your browser to open the item.

  36. Somerset '76 says:

    But back to the subject at hand … yes, I sense that this will be a greatly significant moment in U.S. Church history, a decided rallying point for those who have suffered from the neo-Modernists these last forty-odd years.

  37. Zach says:

    This is very good news, but, from inside sources, I know that this was planned far in advance of their new bishop being named.

  38. Bill says:

    Half my life was spent with the “Latin Rite”. With all the hellabaloo abou it recently I went to a Latin Rite out of curosity. No thanks! When the priest faces us, rqiss the bread and wine and uses Jesus’ words of consecreation I can see him! I CAN ADORE HIM!! The priest’s back is all right especially as he walks down the main aisle before the start of the mass.

  39. Ole Doc Farmer says:

    BilI didn’t really “dig” the TLM myself when I first started going. But it really grew on me…other people have expressed the same experience. I think it’s a lot like any contemplative prayer: it’s easier and more fulfilling the more you do it.

  40. Thomas says:

    Bill –

    Please consider that you do not have to now hear Mass in the extraordinary form. You can continue to go to the Novus Ordo Mass. But consider those who do love the extraordinary form: when the change was made to the Novus Ordo; very few had any choice at all about it. But now you can continue with the form you are attached to. The extraordinary rite is not being imposed on all the faithful, as was the Novus Ordo. So you really have no legitimate complaint, as far as I can see. You need not make any changes at all! Nobody can or will force you over to the extraordinary rite. So just be happy and don’t go to any more extraordinary rite masses. They are ALL Latin Rite, by the way.

  41. michigancatholic says:

    Bill,

    Thomas is correct. You don’t have to go to any extraordinary form masses if you don’t want to. Ever. But you also can’t tell other people what to do. They have as many rights as you do.

    Both the extraordinary and the ordinary forms of the Latin rite are fine, allowed and recommended to anyone who wants to attend one or the other of them. They are both legitimate forms of the same rite.

  42. Mark says:

    I think this televised Tridentine Mass is very good news. Apart from any other considerations, it will allow people to witness a Tridentine Mass without being worried about going to Church and feeling out of place, a concern that many Catholics may have. If it allows people to see a Tridentine Mass, it’s a good thing.

  43. cb says:

    I am quite surprised that there is no discussion whatsoever whether this mass according to the extraordinary form should be televised at all. The question should be posed for the NO as well… In the early times of Television there was quite a discussion about that. Should we show the holiest we have to an unknowing public? The old Church dismissed the Catechumens after the homily…
    And what should the camera show? Even the consecration? And from what angle? From the view of the general parishioner? (That really menas “the back”) Or should the camera kind of squeeze in and give a view that is not permitted for the faithful in the pews? Ithink there shoukld be much more thought on issues like that rather on who is going to celebrate etc.

  44. Pater Wymer says:

    Fr. Z.,

    I recently went online to purchase a 1962 Missal, so that the parish where I am the parochial vicar at can begin to offer the Mass in the extraordinary form. For those priests interested in purchasing a copy of this missal I suggest they look at the following website: http://www.booksforcatholics.com

    I purchases the ’62 Missal for $159.00, that includes shipping and it is %50 percent off the normal $310.00 price tag.

    Just a heads up. And keep up the good work, your blog and website is a breath of fresh air!

    In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus,

    Fr. Wymer

  45. Pater W: You mean this edition of the Missale?

  46. Te Deum Laudamus. I hope this televised Mass disproves the slanderous lies leveled against the network by some conspiracy minded radicals on the very far right. These are the Fantasy Island natives who promote that horrible book “EWTN: A Network Gone Wrong” They are also closet sede vacantists who secretly believe there has not been a valid pope since Pius XII. I put them in the same neighborhood as the Flat Earth Society. Mother Angelica and EWTN along with Pope John Paul II led the groundwork so Pope Benedict XVI could issue the motu proprio. Everything at its proper time.

  47. SMJ says:

    Deae Father, what do you think of this edition of the Missale: http://www.cantius.org/webstore/1962-travel-missale-romanum.html

  48. SMJ says:

    Dear Father, what do you think of this edition of the Missale: http://www.cantius.org/webstore/1962-travel-missale-romanum.html

  49. CJ says:

    I already have confirmed reservations for September 13 in Hanceville, Alabama. I am so thrilled to be able to be a part of this!

  50. Michele says:

    I am so very happy that EWTN has invited the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter to say the exquisite Tridentine Mass.Maybe this will inspire other priests to want to learn this beautiful form of the Mass.What a wonderful and holy order of priests these FSSPs are indeed.Any diocese that has the extraordinary form of the Mass is truly blessed.There seems to be no interest in my Archdiocese for this Mass;the priests all have excuses..no time to study Latin, the Church isn’t configured for this Mass, the coreography is too difficult, etc.The priests haven’t spoken about Summorum Pontificum to the faithful for fear that a group may form who want it.We travel to Harriburg,PA. where good Bishop Rhoades has had this Mass for 2 yrs.

  51. Brian Mershon says:

    Father Trigilio, I believe your reply to “conspiracy-minded” radicals and against Christopher Ferrara in a public setting perhaps lacks the same Christian charity you detect or suspect you find in those “conspiracy-minded” radicals. Gree Whiz! Would this have happened on Sept. 14 at EWTN live without the Holy Father’s recent encyclical? Without Bishop Baker, trad friendly, being appointed to head up the diocese effective Oct. 2?

    What about the ban on televising ad orientem Masses on TV live, a clear violation of of Church custom? Is that lifted too?

  52. Brian Mershon says:

    “Mother Angelica and EWTN along with Pope John Paul II led the groundwork so Pope Benedict XVI could issue the motu proprio.”

    Excuse me Father Trigilio for being so bold, but this is quite self serving and delusional.

    Mother Angelica and Pope JPII laid the groundwork? Pope John Paul II called for “a wide and generous application” of the indult in 1988. If we have anyone to thank, it is certainly Archbishop Lefebvre.

    Everything in its time? What timeframe did Pope John Paul II indicate in his 1988 (nearly 20 years ago!!!) motu proprio? Are you Gnostic? Is EWTN gnostic?

  53. BK says:

    Comment by Brian Mershon: “Mother Angelica and Pope JPII laid the groundwork? Pope John Paul II called for “a wide and generous application” of the indult in 1988. If we have anyone to thank, it is certainly Archbishop Lefebvre.

    Everything in its time? What timeframe did Pope John Paul II indicate in his 1988 (nearly 20 years ago) motu proprio? Are you Gnostic? Is EWTN gnostic?”

    Up till his illicit consecrations in 1988, yes, we can thank Archbishop Lefebvre for defending traditional Catholicism.

    But by his illicit consecrations in 1988, he set back the restoration of traditional Catholicism by a generation, and since 1988, only true sons and daughters of the Church, in full communion with the Church, can be given credit for the present Motu Proprio.

    EWTN is no more “gnostic” than SSPX defenders who refuse to admit that Archbishop Lefebvre 1988 illicit acts set back the cause of the restoration by 20 years.

  54. Brian: Let’s dial down the rhetoric, please.

Comments are closed.