D.C. Blognic underway!

We are at The Dubliner. BIGGEST EVER.

Everyone is talking about Bp Slattery’s incredible sermon! UPDATE : With the famous Fr. Trigilio!

It think somewhere around 100 people came.

Thus endeth the D.C. blognic. I hope everyone had a good time.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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48 Comments

  1. It was a great Sermon!!

    Wish that more of us could be there with you all! Looks like a lot of fun!

  2. DdC says:

    Father,

    If David Alexander is there tell him to chk his txt msgs. I want him to buy me one of your magnets and buttons w/ Papa Benedetto’s pic on it. He’s got the cash, make him cough it up!!

    AlwaysCatholic

    Ps. Make him buy you ur dinner also!!

    Slattery’s sermon ROCKED!!

  3. I was so moved by his sermon, I filled out a card for “A Spiritual Bouquet” of Masses at the Assumption Grotto shrine and dropped it in the mail. I then went to this page at the Diocese of Tulsa and expressed myself there. I think it’s better than using the generic email address. Make it public. It’s moderated, but responses will eventually be published.

    http://www.dioceseoftulsa.org/article.asp?nID=1450

    Bishop Slattery was stuck in Rome, as well, due to the volcanic ash thing. He got back just in time!

    If there are bishops and priests reading, I would like to ask you to please, please, please – teach these truths of the faith as Bishop Slattery did. That was a thirst-quenching homily which was as refreshing as finding an oasis in the desert. It put things in perspective and I found it spiritually strengthening in these troubling times. If our bishops and priests won’t teach us the kind of truths we heard in that homily, who will?

    I can’t wait for the text to be released because I want to reflect on it some more.

    Here’s the homepage for the Diocese of Tulsa: http://www.dioceseoftulsa.org/index.asp

    Watch for a newer article, as well, or the text of the homily where comments may be welcome.

  4. Vincenzo says:

    “With the famous Fr. Trigilio!”

    Great pic!

  5. gloriainexcelsis says:

    I was glued to the television as Bishop Slattery spoke. There need to be many more Bishop Slatterys.

  6. Mike says:

    Just got back from the Mass. Wow. The whole shrine was packed; the liturgy was incredible. Save the liturgy, save the world. Indeed.

    Awesome!

  7. AnAmericanMother says:

    Magnificent, brilliant, beautiful from start to finish (even for those of us trying to watch on line during a thunderstorm). It was wonderful to be able to watch via carefully placed cameras, a view we laity would otherwise never see.

    The homily was a home run. It is not every man who can deliver exalted truths in plain language. God bless Bishop Slattery and may he long be spared to us.

    I did notice that Father Z got in his favorite adjective — “ineffable”. :-D

    Did anybody else think of John 21:18 while watching the vesting ceremony?

  8. robtbrown says:

    The homily was a home run.
    Comment by AnAmericanMother

    Good choice of words because there is a plaque in the crypt to Babe Ruth.

  9. JohnMa says:

    Did I miss the discussion of the article in the Tulsa paper today? Bishop Slattery initially declined the invitation to celebrate the Mass this week but Archbishop Wuerl talked to him and convinced him to do it. To say I was shocked by that news would be an understatement.

  10. markomalley says:

    ’twas a wonderful Mass and it was great meeting folks at the blognic afterwards!!!

  11. Antiquarian says:

    JohnMa, Archbishop Wuerl comes in for some very justified criticism on some points, but he has a pastoral attitude than is too often unacknowledged in cases like this. While he himself appears to have no interest in celebrating the EF (much less a Pontifical mass of this quality), he has expressed support before for those who do. It is no surprise at all to hear that he intervened to help make this happen.

  12. Cathomommy says:

    We watched it on EWTN, myself and my 5 little boys. They were so amazed and curious…”What’s that thing he’s wearing?” “Why are they doing that?” “WOW, that’s so many priests!” “Is that the POPE????” and my favorite question, “Why can’t we ever go to a Mass like that, Mommy?” Hmmmmm. Why, indeed!

  13. Vincenzo says:

    “When I realized they really needed a bishop who was able to celebrate the traditional Mass, I said yes.” – Bishop Edward J. Slattery

  14. JonM says:

    I wish I could have made it up there. Ugh! I’m glad so many people came.

  15. AnAmericanMother says:

    robtbrown, that’s very interesting. I knew that Babe Ruth was Catholic, but I didn’t know he had any particular association with D.C. Baltimore, Boston & New York yes, but D.C.?

    Vincenzo, I wonder if Bp. Slattery’s initial reluctance to take on the tremendous responsibility of this Mass had anything to do with John 21:18 floating into my head.

  16. ipadre says:

    I caught snippets of the Mass. It was beautiful.

    The Blognic also looks like a great time. We need to have one in Providence!

  17. @ipadre: wait until you hear or read the homily.

    I’m still amazed at the clarity and simplicity with which he conveyed some real truths of our faith. It’s worth reading or listening to a few times. He conveys those hard truths like a Father – not condenscendingly, but warmly.

  18. Mike says:

    Diane–yes, warmly. He really made it seem like he was talking to each of personally.

    The accoustics were good. Not the usual: “At this wonderful…wonderful shrine…shrine….shrine…we give thanks…thanks….thanks…”

  19. Central Valley says:

    I pray for a sheperd like Bp. Slattery for Fresno, Ca., where we suffer greatly.

  20. When he started out with something to the effect of, “I want to have discussion with you…”

    That’s when I stopped what I was doing and sat down.

    I recorded it on my DVR and was planning to watch it tonight. I put it on thinking I would just kind of listen in the background as I worked around the house. It was impossible, from the beginning to the end. But, only during the homily did I sit down and really pay attention. I wanted to blog a few notes, but just couldn’t pull myself away, fearing I would miss something.

    I will listen to it again tonight. But, I want it on paper. Hopefully, it goes viral in the Catholic blogosphere tomorrow. It needs to be heard far and wide.

  21. Central Valley says:

    The first time the high altar has been used in 45 years. Shameful and amazing at the same time.

  22. teaguytom says:

    I was at the Shrine for mass, but we had to be back on the bus at 4 to go home so I missed the blognic. I will say I thoroughly enjoyed the entire mass. I really wish i could have took a pic of the cappa magna procession, though I got a close up of Slattery and the procession down in the crypt.

  23. Antiquarian says:

    Central Valley– for what it’s worth, it was only the first time the high altar had been used for a Mass in the Extraordinary Form in 45 years (give or take a year). The high altar has been used, even recently, but only for Masses in the Ordinary Form and not, as far as I know, for Mass ad orientem.

  24. TNCath says:

    Oh, how I wish I had been there!!!

    The Mass was magnificent. Great job on the commentary, Father Z!

    The homily was exquisite. Congratulations, Bishop Slattery!

    The chant and polyphony was very well done, and the organ never sounded better.

    The blognic looked like a lot of fun. I hope to be able to participate someday!

    Rest assured, this historic Mass is going to reverberate throughout the country. I don’t know when I have seen the Basilica as packed as it was today, which sends a very strong and clear message. Let’s hope and pray the days of the “Clown Mass” are finally over. Deo gratias et oremus pro Pontifice!

  25. Peggy R says:

    Today was one of the occasions on which I miss being in DC. I have been to pilgrimages and regular daily masses at the Shrine. I watched on EWTN. That beautiful mass, the clear and beautiful homily. I saw the two priests on either side of the bishop doff their berettas at the words, I think about Jesus’ sacrifice??. I don’t recall the precise words. Others are more likely to know.

    I had never heard Bp. Slattery before. God bless this shepherd. God’s Will always finds a way. I confess to missing being single at times and being able to trot off to events like blognics. Of course, God created babysitters and grandparents…!

  26. robtbrown says:

    Was Paul Danello there? I see he is on the board of the Paulus Institute.

  27. Mike says:

    One other comment: when being at a Liturgy like this, it does reinforce my Faith: God has come to this world of ours. He is here, with us.

    11:30 parish NO Mass is going to be a little tougher tomorrow, but I know the Lord of heaven and earth will be there, under the humble veil of the bread.

  28. Lucas says:

    Centralvalley: Thats false. They’ve used the high altar a ton in the past. In fact the table that they use now only started in the 90s I believe. This is the first High Mass there in 45 years.

  29. nemo says:

    It was great to see our beloved FSSP Fathers Nolan(subdeacon) and Pendergraft (MC) and to hear the commentary of Fr. Goodwin, FSSP as well. I suppose that EWTN will have the DVD for sale for those who might like to purchase it. Check their website in a few days.

  30. JohnMa says:

    @Peggy: Any time the holy name, Jesus, is spoken they should take off their birettas. Also, I doubt you could see it on TV but both MCs turn around, bow towards the altar cross, and then turn back around at the mention of Jesus. It it one of the more difficult things to remember to do during a homily when you are paying attention to what the homilist is saying.

  31. MikeM says:

    Is the homily available online anywhere? I’d love to read it!

    I was hoping to go to the Mass but it ended up that I was helping out at a retreat this weekend… where, while the Mass was certainly not a Pontifical High Mass, we had a pretty good homily… it ended with:
    “Some people want the Pope to say that a man can marry another man. Some people want the Pope to say that contraception is good. Some people want the Pope to say that abortion is OK. But that’s not the Truth of the Gospel, and the Truth of the Gospel lasts forever.”

  32. patergary says:

    Whoa, I’m on Fr. Z’s photos (3rd from top – bald & oriental looking priest).

  33. Dan says:

    It was great meeting you after the Mass father! What an amazing liturgy and a very powerful sermon…it was like an infusion of grace to hear Bishop Slattery! I’m very glad he said the Mass…I don’t know if anyone else could have done better.

  34. With regards to what Peggy noticed with the Biretta’s being tipped, I think that it is good to point out these little details when the opportunity arises. During the homily the commentators couldn’t do it.

    The biretta tip comes during the Gloria, as well as in the Credo. Unfortunately, the camera panned away.

    These little signs of respect actually heighten my awareness of the sacred. Somewhere I have a nice shot of it happening in unison over several frames, but can’t find it. In this set from Holy Thursday 2009 at Assumption Grotto, I captured it in about 3-4 frames. Shortly after that in the slide show, is the solita oscula, or liturgical kiss that many wonder about when they see the EF Solemn High or Pontifical for the first time.

  35. Tina in Ashburn says:

    The Mass was, er, extraordinary. At home watching a recording, the music sounded nothing like the etherial, floating echo heard live in the Basilica.

    I felt like I was present at the ripping open of heaven as the Mass poured itself out upon us, full of grace, beauty, truth and mercy. Many of us have mourned so long the loss of such a Mass. Many expressed quiet tears of joy, including me. Thank you Bp Slattery [and Pope Benedict] and all who worked to bring this about.

    The stillness and reverence at Communion time was shocking!

    The blognic was wonderful, I met many ‘names’ from Father’s blog here.

    Father, WONDERFUL to finally meet you! And, hey, you look just like your pictures :-)

  36. NewmanSTL says:

    If someone comes across a text of the homily online, could you please post it?

  37. NewmanSTL says:

    A link to the text of the homily, I should say.

  38. New Sister says:

    When we finally get the homily in text, I’m going to count how many times His Excellency, Bishop Slattery, drummed the word, “OBEDIENCE” – I’m guessing 21 times; God bless him for it!

    Blog-nic was delightful!

  39. Hugh says:

    Great to watch from Down Under.

    One quibble with the camera work – not just with this Mass but those down here: too much focus on the altar & ministers. Shock! No, really: there need to be more lengthy shots of the congregation – individual studies – and the choirs (Eg. I’m a muso, so I like to see in detail what’s going on, for a bit of time, with singers and conductor, close up)and servers… plus the occasional pan of the commentators, too. The human dimension. The stories within the Story. Puts the viewer right there. Like in sports telecasts. It greatly helps to ground the thing, and makes one appreciate the sanctuary action even more when you get back to it. Just about every Ponty we’ve had down here, 99.9% of the photos are of the consecration !!(I exaggerate a tad). I can understand it’s from the highest of motives, and almost feel sinful making that point, but; some of the best, most evocative, shots are from the remaining 0.1% – of the congregation’s reactions.

    The indirect approach. That’s my two cents.

    Great show, and great, great commentary Fr Z. Very sympatico, not obtrusive.

    Let us pray for our Pope. Long may he gloriously reign.

  40. Jerry says:

    “One quibble with the camera work – not just with this Mass but those down here: too much focus on the altar & ministers. Shock! No, really: there need to be more lengthy shots of the congregation – individual studies – and the choirs (Eg. I’m a muso, so I like to see in detail what’s going on, for a bit of time, with singers and conductor, close up)and servers… plus the occasional pan of the commentators, too. The human dimension. ”

    I disagree. Once the Mass starts, the focus is on God and the sacrifice we are offering him. The solemn Mass is designed to focus our concentration on the sacred rather than the participants. To focus on the human dimension during the Mass is a complete contradiction.

  41. New Sister says:

    I think I would agree with Hugh – someone else aptly pointed out that the biretta tips at the Holy Name of Jesus were not caught on camera – nor were the bows of the MC during the Gospel reading. (I don’t know if this was indeed the case, for I was blessed to be there in person!!)

    These reverential gestures by the priests in the choir and perhaps one or two laity outside the sanctuary (bowing their heads at His Name) could have important pedagogical impact on viewers not familiar with (or resentful of) the Traditional Mass

  42. Rob Cartusciello says:

    As I mentioned at the Blognic, when Bishop Slattery processed down the aisle wearing the cappa magna, “professional” liturgists throughout North America felt a disturbance in The Force.

    Marty Haugen, Dan Schutte, David Haas & the St. Louis Jesuits reportedly lost feeling in their left arms for several minutes.

  43. Hugh says:

    Jerry, I hear you and agree absolutely as to what the focus should be. My point, clumsily expressed, is about how to convey the same via a telecast.

    The indirect approach, via those in less essential roles, is, I submit, very effective. At the extreme: A telecast focused entirely on the Celebrant’s actions to the total exclusion of everything else going on would be very very difficult to watch – well, for me, anyway. There are all sorts of things going on, as New Sister points out well, that dramatically bring out the sublimity of the Action at the altar. Constantly at Mass, I’m led via contemplation of tiny things back to the ‘main game’. That’s the beauty of the traditional Rite: it does this on so many levels.

    In Rembrandt’s paintings, your awareness of the brightness of the light comes from its reflection off objects.

  44. Rob Cartusciello says:

    Correction. The cappa magna was worn by Cardinal Baum, not Bishop Slattery.

    I will also mention that the Church was filled to capacity, with many people standing. They came from all walks of life, economic classes, ethnicity & ages. Young families were prominent, as were various religious. The movement is self sustaining.

    There were also a fair number of infirm and disabled. I was struck by the fact that some of those attending would have likely been aborted in other families. They were “the least of these” who shall inherit the Kingdom of God.

  45. Jim of Bowie says:

    Rob: you had it right the first time.
    The cappa magna was worn by Bishop Slattery.

  46. bernadette says:

    Everything about the day was just awesome! We were seated around 11:30 AM and the Shrine was already rapidly filling up. People just kept coming until there were hundreds it seems, standing along the sides because there were no seat left. Everyone was prayerful and quiet before Mass unlike what you see in so many Catholic Churches today. I felt like the turnout spoke of strong support for the Holy Father and also said “we want the Mass of the Ages back!” I dare anyone to say now that there is no support for the EF of the Mass!
    I wish I could have attended the blognic but we had early reservations for dinner in another part of town so I had to pass. Wish I could have been there to meet everyone.

  47. irishgirl says:

    What cool pictures of the blognic-and of two priestly ‘giants’, Father Trigilio and Father Z!

    Oh, how I wish I could have been there!

    Father Z, you’ve got to come to Upstate NY and have a blognic at Auriesville Shrine! I could show you the grave of Cardinal Dulles in the Jesuit Cemetery there!

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