His Excellency Most Reverent Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, the Extraordinary Ordinary, regularly celebrates Holy Mass also in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
The next Solemn Pontifical Mass – a Requiem – will be offered by Bishop Morlino on the evening of Monday 1 August 2016 at 7:00 PM, at the chapel of Holy Name Heights (aka Bishop O’Connor Center).
The Mass is organized by the Tridentine Mass Society of the Diocese of Madison at Bp. Morlino’s request. This will be a “Month’s Mind” for the repose of the soul of the late Msgr. Delbert Schmelzer, PA, a beloved priest of the diocese.
The music will be the Missa Defunctorum for 4 Voices by Tomás Luis de Victoria as well as Gregorian Chant.
All at welcome. Clerics are warmly invited to participate in choir dress.
Visit the site of the Tridentine Mass Society of the Diocese of Madison.
That would be a magnificent Mass to attend, or even just see and hear on a quality webcast, were one available.
The Missa Defunctorum was the most elaborate and solemn liturgy performed with some frequency at even small parishes before 1965. At my parish, the parochial school’s seventh and eight grade students sang the chant, as best we could, or served at altar and graveside the Missa Defunctorum for departed members. It was considered an honor and great obligation. In retrospect, I’ve often hoped but wondered if we youngsters served passably, at the very least.
The photo reminds me of Cardinal Cushing at JFK’s funeral.
“The photo reminds me of Cardinal Cushing at JFK’s funeral.”
It is noteworthy, however, that the Mass for the State Funeral referred to above was a Low Mass, at Mrs. Kennedy’s request, apparently. At the time I thought (and I still think) that the Low Mass was profoundly inappropriate to the occasion.
At my own small parish, on the Monday of the State Funeral we had three celebrations of the Missa Defunctorum (one High Mass, two Low) for John Kennedy. I served at altar for all three. It was the saddest of times, but the Masses helped.