Traditional Latin Mass filmed on Easter Sunday in 1941 at Our Lady of Sorrows church in Chicago. The film presents the ceremonies of the Missa Solemnis or Solemn High Mass in full detail with narration by then-Mgr. Fulton J. Sheen. Celebrated by Rev. J. R. Keane of the Order of Servites (hence the white habits and cowls), the ceremonies are accompanied by a full polyphonic choir, orchestra, and fifty Gregorian Chanters.
The attention to detail in the ceremonies is impressive. Notice, for example, how the servers and ministers always take great care to move in order. Notice too that the servers are all almost identical in height. The Ordinary of the Mass, composed by Rev. Edwin V. Hoover, while pleasant in places, is very much a reflection of its time. The Proper on the other hand is timeless and sung admirably by a healthy throng of Seminarians from Mundelein, Illinois.
Unfortunately due to size restrictions at Youtube around 20 mins have been cut from the original. However, I hope to upload a full version at Google soon or perhaps here when Youtube improves its director accounts. In addition to the cuts I have added new captions and edited the opening credits. The credits had deteriorated quite badly in the original. I retyped what I could see of them and faded them in at the beginning and at the end. Other than this the film remains largely unchanged.
Very cool!
I watched part of the mass. I wonder why someone might think it important that the servers were the same height. I liked the commentary along with the mass. He states that the sign of the cross recalls the trinity and Jesus' death on a cross. It's probably a heresy in some traditionalists' view, but in today's world we add that it recalls our baptism--our entrance into the Mystical Body of Christ.
ReplyDeleteWhat did you think of the mass?
Milk of Magnesia (MOM)
I guess what I like about it is that the focus is totally on giving God glory with little concern in regards to the wants of the participants. Its very vertical and not really horizontal in focus. There is something appealing about that.
ReplyDeleteThanks mom for your dedicated readership of my blog. You can always depend on mom. :)