The Cornell Society for a Good Time: CIEL 2006 Oxford: Pontifical High Mass

On special assignment in Oxford, reporting for the Cornell Society for a Good Time, Catharina Oxoniensis and Iosephus dropped in on the last event of the 11th International Colloquium for the Centre International d'Etudes Liturgiques (CIEL), held this year at Merton College.

This event was a pontifical High Mass not, unfortunately, graced by the presence of His Eminence, Cardinal Hoyos, but by the Right Reverend David McGough, Bishop of Cunavia, who is an auxiliary in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

The good bishop was, so to speak, not overly familiar with the Mass of All Times and Places - as my friend, Iacobus, would designate it: there were several instances in which the movements at the altar were less than coordinated. However this was, if I heard correctly, the first old rite Mass which Bishop McGough had ever done. Quite a way to jump into the game! that is, with a Pontifical High Mass. I do applaud him for this intrepidity.

Bishop McGough's homily was tasteful, not overly sappy in that Novus Ordo way, as one might have feared, and he spoke principally upon the joy which we ought to have in the unity of the Church, bound as we all are to the See of the Peter. He developed this theme from some correspondence between St. Cyprian, Primate of all Africa, and St. Cornelius, the Pope of Rome, both martyrs, whose Mass it was our privilege to assist at today. He also made allusion to the pain which the Pope Benedict must now be feeling on account of having wounded the pious sensibilities of so many Muslims around the world. We were asked to pray especially for the Holy Father.

I must leave any commentary about the transactions of the conference to Shawn Tribe, who will undoubtedly will have much to say on his blog after he returns across the ocean. I also saw Brian Mershon in attendance at this Mass; I look forward to hearing what he has to say about the conference, as I assume he was there for the whole of it. Dr. Mary Berry was naturally in attendance; Catharina Oxoniensis was privileged to assist at a Mass earlier this year (at St. Gregory and St. Augustine, Oxford) at which Dr. Berry led the schola.

Other than recognizing a few fellow laymen from the Oxford Oratory, in my ignorance, I wasn't able to identify the other luminaries in attendance (beyond Fr. Uwe Michael Lang of the London Oratory). I am happy to say, though, that I saw a number of English faces, fond to recall, from our pilgrimage to Chartres. There appeared to be a couple brothers from the Canons of the New Jerusalem serving as acolytes, one of whom I had met in Detroit. I was also happy to see another face familiar to all Latin Mass goers in Detroit, who very often serves as MC at St. Josaphat's. In addition to all these, there was an abbot and, I believe, a bishop in choir - I hope that some kind reader will identify them for me.

Now this Pontifical High Mass was offered in the chapel of Merton College, one of Oxford's famous and venerable colleges - the college itself dates to the 13th century. Its chapel is most distinguished, and its bell tower is well known to all who have spent any time in Oxford. It is also rather larger than most other college chapels in Oxford. The organist - whoever he was, I thank him sincerely - more than did justice to chapel's organ. I enjoyed particularly the piece he played at the Offertory. There was a fine schola of four for the propers, but I think that the organist alone was better, good as they were, than the lot.

At the recessional, which was proceeded by a Te Deum, with prayers, sung in the Simple Tone. This was quite fun for me - I know that Iacobus would have enjoyed it as well - since, I think, it was the first chance I had to sing a Te Deum of thanksgiving in a liturgical setting.

Now would someone please identify for me this fellow, with awesome maniple? I would imagine that I've not used the correct term - someone help me out.