ROAMIN'
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ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
September 2005
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY, LITTLE ITALY
Something new is beginning in liturgical life in San Diego: Our Lady of the Rosary parish, on the corner of State and Date in Little Italy is hosting a Novus Ordo Mass sung in Latin at 4:00 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month. The first such Mass was offered on August 14th with approximately 110 persons in attendance. (Next month's Mass will be Sunday, September 11.)
Our Lady of the Rosary's interior displays some fine examples of Italian Baroque- and Rococo-style sacred art. No more suitable location could have been found for a Mass intended to fulfill the authentic goals of the liturgical reform called for by Vatican II, and to provide the best choral music of the Latin Catholic tradition.
The Mass offered was for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The organizers in consultation with Our Lady of the Rosary's pastor, Father Steven Grancini, decided it would be best to celebrate the Sunday liturgy rather than the Vigil of the Assumption so that people could fulfill their Sunday obligation at this Mass.
Father Steven Grancini celebrated. He was assisted by four acolytes, a lector, and a deacon candidate who helped distribute Communion. This Mass was free of altar girls, lectoresses, or female Eucharistic ministers. Mary Ann Wilson directed a ten-voice choir of five men and five women. On this day the choir sang the Missa De Angelis chant mass.
There was no procession to the altar, for a good reason: Father Grancini walked painfully with the help of a cane. So Father and the servers made a simple entrance from the sacristy while we sang the first verse of Praise to the Lord, the Almighty. A restored use of the proper Introit would be ideal in the future.
We recited the Confiteor together in Latin. Perhaps due to unfamiliarity with the Latin words and having to read them from the Adoremus Hymnal, a good number of us omitted the striking of the breast during the "mea culpas."
The choir sang the Kyrie in unison. Historical precedent would favor a responsorial or antiphonal rendition. They sang the Gloria in Excelsis antiphonally, dividing the lines between high and low voices.
The lector, wearing beige slacks, white dress shirt, and tie, read the lessons and responsorial psalm. All the readings were in English. The first reading, from Isaiah, prophesied the universality of Christ's Church, the "house of prayer for all nations." Verses from Psalm 67, which extols the universal mission of the Church, were read with the refrain, "O God, let all the nations praise you." Regrettably, the psalmody was not sung. Simple Gregorian chant settings for all the responsorial psalms are available and will perhaps be used in the future.
The second lesson, from Saint Paul to the Romans, set forth the apostle's teaching on the relation of Jews and Gentiles in God's plan of salvation. Then we sang the familiar Mode VI Alleluia and Father Grancini proclaimed the Gospel, Matthew 15: 21-28, in which Jesus demonstrated the universality of his mercy in the healing of a Canaanite woman's daughter, though he first tested the woman and declared, "Great is your faith!"
Father Grancini explained why a Latin Mass was being offered, quoting Pope Benedict XVI: "Latin, for centuries the vehicle and instrument of Christian culture, guarantees not only continuity with our roots, but remains as relevant as ever for strengthening the bonds of the unity of the faith in the communion of the Church."
Then Father added, "However, it really doesn't matter whether the Mass is in Latin, Italian, or English; what matters is what you put into it, praying from the heart."
In his reflection on the Gospel, he stated that Christ was not insulting the Canaanite woman by calling her a "dog," since the word is an affectionate term meaning "puppy." And when Christ said, "Woman, great is your faith," he used the same form of address as to his mother. Likewise the Lord will bless us if we pray as if all depended on him, and work as if all depended on us.
We recited the Creed together, reading the Latin words from the service book. This was disappointing since the De Angelis setting of the Credo is beautiful and not too difficult for congregational singing. I hope this will be sung in future Masses.
During the offertory the choir sang a polyphonic motet by Palestrina (1524-1596), Sicut Cervus based on Psalm 41 in the Vulgate, "As the hart longs for fountains of water/So my soul longs for you, God."
Father Grancini took the prefatory dialogue and proper preface in a spoken voice, as in a "Low Mass." Then the choir came in on the Sanctus. Father used the first Eucharistic Prayer, the traditional Roman Canon.
It was a joy to sing the Pater Noster to the ancient plainchant. No one was holding hands. The Rite of Peace was observed, but it was a bit awkward, since many do not like the common glad-handing routine. Some chose to do nothing, some shook hands, and others made a slight bow to their neighbors.
During Communion the choir sang Lambilotte's (1796-1855) Panis Angelicus, and the 16th century composer Arcadelt's Ave Maria, especially fitting as we received the fruit of Mary's womb.
After the Post-communion prayer Father praised the choir and the congregation erupted in applause. The sanctuary party recessed as we all joined our hearts and voices in the traditional Sicilian hymn O Sanctissima followed by the chant Salve Regina.