D. Madison – Corpus Christi Pontifical Mass wrap up

On the evening of Thursday 4 June, the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Tridentine Mass Society of Madison (latinmassmadison.org) sponsored a Pontifical Mass at the Throne, in the Roman Rite’s Extraordinary Form (the way we prayed before and during the Second Vatican Council), at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison.  His Excellency Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, our bishop, was the celebrant.  Fr. Tait Schroeder acted as Assistant Priest, Fr. John DelPriore as Deacon, Fr. Alex Navaro as Subdeacon, Fr. Greg Ihm and Fr. John Sasse as the Deacons at the Throne.  After Mass there was a procession outside with the Blessed Sacrament. Benediction was given twice along the route and once again the chapel.  A beautiful Benediction altar was constructed by the faithful from St. Norbert’s in Roxbury.  Scores of people participated by praying and singing hymns.  The music, Gregorian Chant and the Mass for Three Voices by Antonio Lotti, with motets, was directed by Aristotle Eseguerra.

During his sermon, Bishop Morlino said that a concrete ways by which one of the Holy Spirit’s Seven Gifts, Fear of the Lord, can be expressed outwardly is reception of Holy Communion in a reverent manner.  The reverence with which we encounter Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is a litmus test for how open we are to the Holy Spirit’s gifts. Reverent reception, with humility, can be a witness to others about the true Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

The next Pontifical Mass with Bishop Morlino will be on 15 August, Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Here are some images:

His Excellency the Bishop gave the Benedictions from the balcony over the main doors and then again in the chapel.  The first Benediction was given by the Assistant Priest Fr. Schroeder.