Toronto Solemn Masses - Feasts of All Saints + All Souls

Upcoming Solemn Masses October to December and AGM

Friends,

Now that we've gotten Our Lady of the Rosary behind us, we can concentrate on getting posters and promotion out for the following:

Christ the King - Sunday, October 27,  3:15PM Newman Centre

In addition to the usual Sunday Masses at St. Lawrence the Martyr, St. Vincent de Paul, Holy Family in Toronto and St. Patrick's in Schomberg, an additional Mass for the Feast of Christ the King in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite has been scheduled for 3:15 P.M. at the Newman Centre organised by the St. Patrick's Gregorian Choir. This is a beautiful chapel which one hopes could one day be properly reconfigured for the Mass. 

The Toronto Traditional Mass Society - UNA VOCE TORONTO is assisting with the following:

All Saints - Friday, November 1, 7:00PM - St. Lawrence the Martyr, Scarborough

All Souls - Saturday, November 2, 11:00 - St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church, Pickering
                                                                                     St. Joseph Catholic Church,  Mississauga

Una Voce Toronto AGM, Saturday, November 30. 
St. Mary Immaculate Richmond Hill
Sung Holy Mass at 8:30 for the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle
Breakfast
AGM
Joseph DeCaria, The Organ and Beauty in the Liturgy
Organ Recital

Rorate Mass - Saturday, December 7, 6:00AM St. Joseph's Mississauga 
Father Paul Nicholson, Celebrant and Homilist

Immaculate Conception - Monday, December 9 - 7:00PM St. Joseph's Mississauga

Advent Ember Saturday - Saturday, December 21, To be confirmed

Solemn Traditional Latin Mass for Our Lady of the Rosary and her victory at Lepanto

Please join the Knights of Columbus of Blessed John XXIII Council 4976 and their guests from the  Knights of Malta and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; and the Toronto Traditional Mass Society-UNA VOCE TORONTO, as we gather to honour Our Lady and her victory at the Battle of Lepanto. The Mass will be held at St. Cecelia's Catholic Church at 161 Annette Street, just east of Keele Street in Toronto. A public recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin at 6:30 P.M and the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) will be available with the Solemn Mass according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite following at 7:00 P.M. We are pleased to announce that the homilist is Father Raymond J. de Souza.

A collection will be taken to support the ongoing restoration at St. Cecelia's and this will be specifically granted to the church hall. Cheques may be made out to St. Cecelia's Catholic Church Building Fund.

Battle of Lepanto

On October 7, 1571, a great victory over the mighty Turkish fleet was won by Catholic naval forces primarily from Spain, Venice, and Genoa under the command of Don Juan of Austria. It was the last battle at sea between "oared" ships, which featured the most powerful navy in the world, a Moslem force with between 12,000 to 15,000 Christian slaves as rowers. The patchwork team of Catholic ships was powered by the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Knowing that the Christian forces were at a distinct material disadvantage, the holy pontiff, St. Pope Pius V called for all of Europe to pray the Rosary for victory. We know today that the victory was decisive, prevented the Islamic invasion of Europe, and evidenced the Hand of God working through Our Lady. At the hour of victory, St. Pope Pius V, who was hundreds of miles away at the Vatican, is said to have gotten up from a meeting, went over to a window, and exclaimed with supernatural radiance: "The Christian fleet is victorious!" and shed tears of thanksgiving to God.
What you may not know is that one of three admirals commanding the Catholic forces at Lepanto was Andrea Doria. He carried a small copy of Mexico's Our Lady of Guadalupe into battle. This image is now enshrined in the Church of San Stefano in Aveto, Italy. Not many know that at the Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Spain, one can view a huge warship lantern that was captured from the Moslems in the Battle of Lepanto. In Rome, look up to the ceiling of S. Maria in Aracoeli and behold decorations in gold taken from the Turkish galleys. In the Doges' Palace in Venice, Italy, one can witness a giant Islamic flag that is now a trophy from a vanquished Turkish ship from the Victory. At Saint Mary Major Basilica in Rome, close to the tomb of the great St. Pope Pius V, one was once able to view yet another Islamic flag from the Battle, until 1965, when it was returned to Istanbul in an intended friendly token of concord.

The Rosary

At Lepanto, the Victory over the Moslems was won by the faithful praying the Rosary. Even though they had superior numbers, the Turks really were overmatched. Blessed Padre Pio, the Spiritual Father of the Blue Army, said: "The Rosary is the weapon," and how right he was!
The Battle of Lepanto was at first celebrated liturgically as "Our Lady of Victory." Later, the feast of October 7th was renamed "Our Lady of the Rosary" and extended throughout the Universal Church by Pope Clement XI in 1716 (who canonized Pope Pius V in 1712).
And with that we are back to Fatima, Portugal where Our Lady, when asked her name, said: "I am the Lady of the Rosary." At Fatima, Our Lady taught us to pray the Rosary every day. Heaven presented its peace plan at Fatima and truly gave us hope for the world. Conversions were promised at Fatima: the conversion of sinners; the conversion of Russia; and what also appears to be the conversion of Islam. Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!

Taken from:
Soul Magazine
© 2001 The Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, U.S.A., Inc.
September - October 2001, page 6
For subscription information:
The Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, U.S.A., Inc.
PO Box 976
Washington, NJ 07882-0976
Website: http://www.bluearmy.com
E-mail: service@bluearmy.com
or Phone Toll Free: 866-513-1917

Why We Should Stop Saying "Radical Traditionalist" and "Rad Trad"

Because it is a direct slap-in-the-face to our beloved Benedict XVI!

Do you get it yet; aside from dividing the fabric of Christ, insulting your Catholic brothers and sisters?

Kevin M. Tierney nails it!

"A few weeks ago, Catholic Answers live did a show on “radical traditionalism” that drew the ire of traditionalists across the board, “radical” and otherwise.  The two senior apologists hosting the show took to the Catholic Answers blog to defend their show from the “Radical Traditionalists” and “mad-trad” point of view.  They have also promised that on August 12, they would devote another show to the issue, in the hopes of clarifying any misunderstandings.  If they really want to help with these misunderstandings, the first thing they must do is the thing they will be least inclined to do:  drop the moniker “radical traditionalist” and “radtrad” entirely.  At best the phrase is a relic of a time that is no longer relevant.  At worst, the term is creating animosity and perpetuating a growing sense of tribalism within Catholicism, especially in America."

( ... )

A final reason to drop the moniker is that we tell Pope Benedict XVI his efforts weren’t wasted.  He worked harder than anyone else in his life to reconcile the SSPX and other groups to full communion with the Church, removing every possible barrier, as long as doing so didn’t contradict defined Church teaching.   

Read it all here.

Windsor, Ontario; Episcopal erection of a Latin Mass Community

While planned for a while, it is now official that the Windsor Tridentine Mass Association has now been given the status of a "community" putting the community on a firmer foundation towards full parish status. For more information, please visit the Latin Mass London Ontario blogsite for the full report courtesy of Musings of a Pertinacious Papist.

May God bless Bishop Ronald Fabbro and congratulations to our friends in Windsor.

Traditional Latin Mass in London, Ontario - the anniversary of Summorum Pontificum

Sunday, July 7, 2013 is the sixth anniversary of Summorum Pontificum, the motu proprio of our beloved Benedict XVI which declared once and for all, that the traditional Latin Mass was never abrogated and can be celebrated by any priest in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church. How providential then that on this Sunday which in 2013 is the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost the Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite begins in London, Ontario.

After an absence of nearly a year from its small existence in London, the Mass returns with the combined community and resources previously at St. Patrick's Kinkora where the former Pastor, Father Paul Nicholson began celebrating the Usus Antiquior, four years ago. Exercising his most appreciated pastoral care of the people in the area of the City of London and its environs, Bishop Ronald Fabbro, CSB, of the Diocese of London has been instrumental and consistent in his desire to provide for the people who wish to worship God in this venerable Rite.

For July and August, the Mass will be in the chapel at John Paul II Catholic Secondary School at 1300 Oxford Street East in the City of London. Once reconstruction on the site is concluded at the end of the summer, the community will move to its permanent home at Regina Mundi College at 5250 Wellington Road South. Regina Mundi College was originally built as a minor seminary; it has as splendid chapel of noble simplicity seating 200 and a pipe organ which will be enthusiastically used along with the fine St. Edmund Campion Hymnal. The Mass will be at 2:00 P.M. and will continue to be a Missa Cantata and now has the potential of some Sundays being celebrated as  a Missa Solemnis. While one might cringe at the time of day, it is necessary because the Mass will be celebrated on a rotation by six, Diocese of London priests who will need to finish their pastoral work in their parishes. Two o'clock is a small price to pay for the embracing of this by the Bishop and these six priests and possibly more in the future. The use, through permitting of these school facilities eliminates any conflict with other Mass schedules and provides for other space for the after Mass luncheons and recreation.

Icon writer and Woodstock, Ontario resident Wojciech Strahl, has crafted a magnificent Icon of St. Michael the Archangel through the munificence or a resident of Kinkora. In tribute to the family's Irish heritage, the shamrock is woven through the scroll work in the frame. This icon will be erected weekly to invoke the Archangels' protection. A reredos is being constructed for the Altar which will have as its feature a magnificent painting our Our Lady receiving the news of the Annunciation of the Lord by the Archangel Gabriel. Hence, we are pleased to announce that Annunciation of Our Lord is the name by which the Latin Mass Community of London will be known.

The Toronto Traditional Mass Society-UNA VOCE TORONTO, is honoured to be working closely with our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of London on this most worthy and necessary endeavour; to bring the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite from its beginnings in Kinkora to the City of London, the Seat of the Diocese. We ask for the gracious blessings of God and the protection of Our Lady and St. Michael the Archangel on His Excellency, Bishop Ronald Fabbro, CSB for his pastoral love and care of those desiring the Usus Antiquior and for facilitating everything associated with the Usus Antiquior in London, Ontario. May God also richly bless and keep Father Paul Nicholson for his dedication and service at St. Patrick's Kinkora and for his work as Coordinator for the Latin Mass in London and for all that he has done for the souls in his care.

A Facebook Page for the Annunciation of Our Lord Latin Mass Community of London, Ontario can be found here and there is a blog which can be found at by visiting www.latinmasslondonontario.blogspot.com until a web page can be built. Those of you in the Diocese of London unfamiliar with the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, you are joyously welcomed to attend this Holy Mass. If you are in the Archdioceses of Toronto or Detroit or the Dioceses of Hamilton or St. Catharines, you are welcomed to come for a visit. If you are a Catholic who has drifted away from the Church, you will be welcomed home by a kind and joyful Catholic community. God bless you all.

New FSSP priest hails from Archdiocese of Toronto

What joy it must be for two of our Society's members, the parents of newly ordained, Father Juan Tomas of Markham, Ontario in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Father Tomas was ordained to the Holy Priesthood of Our Lord Jesus Christ for the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.

On behalf of the Board and the Members of the Toronto Traditional Mass Society-UNA VOCE TORONTO, let us give thanks to the Lord of heaven and earth for this vocation and let us pray for this new priest. May the Lord protect him always and may Our Lady keep him always close.

From the New Liturgical Movement

SATURDAY, JULY 06, 2013

A First Mass and a "New" Salve Regina

BY GREGORY DIPIPPO

This past Wednesday, Fr. Juan Tomás, a newly ordained priest of the Fraternity of St. Peter. celebrated his first solemn Mass in the Borghese Chapel of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Palestrina's Mass Tu es Petrus was sung for the Ordinary; the final piece, however, was a setting of the Salve Regina written by the very first master of the Borghese Chapel, Ugolino, in the first decades of the 17th century. The piece has never been transcribed before, and so I believe this is the first recording of it ever made. Hopefully, the choir which sang the Mass, the Concerto Romano, conducted by maestro Alessandro Quarta, will do a professional recording of it at some in the future; this is the second time I have been present for a Mass sung by them, and do not hesitate to say that they are probably one of the best choirs in the world. At their website, you can hear several short recordings of some of their performances.

MIssa Solemnis - Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul at St. Joseph's Mississauga!

At the wonderful parish of St. Joseph located at 5440 Durie Street in Mississauga, where the Pastor, Father Marc-Andre Campbell and the Associate Pastor, Father Kim D'Souza are implementing a liturgical praxis in full keeping with the vision of Benedict XVI; a Missa Solemnis will be celebrated in honour of the Holy Trinity on this Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter & Paul. Without a doubt, under Ana Maria Nunes, the choir at St. Joseph's is the best and most liturgically formed in Mississauga. Twice, the Toronto Traditional Mass Society has provided active support to this parish on Holy Cross 2011 and Immaculate Conception 2012 and most recently in a consultative role on Corpus Christi last. It is more than marvelous to now see the parish take the lead on the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter & Paul with a Solemn Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

If you are in the Toronto to Hamilton, Kitchener, Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Brampton or Orangeville areas you are no more than a one-hour drive on a Saturday morning. Come to the Mass and fill the Church as we pray for our Holy Father Francis for whose intentions this Mass is being offered.

Solemn Nuptial Mass - St. Patrick's Kinkora

The glorious weather of Saturday, June 15, 2013 marked a rare liturgical event in the last half century in Canada; the Solemn Nuptial -  Missa pro sponso et sponsa. The Bride and Groom were respectively, Francoise deVries, Director and David Anthony Domet, President of the Toronto Traditional Mass Society-UNA VOCE TORONTO!

The magificent liturgy was held at the beautiful St. Patrick's Kinkora in the Diocese of London in Ontario where the Mass in the EF will be moving from to the City of London in July 2013. The Mass was celebrated by Father Paul Nicholson, Pastor and Priest for the Solemn Liturgy. Father Kim D'Souza, Associate Pastor at St. Joseph's Mississauga (Streetsville) was Deacon and Mr. Stephen Bruzzese, Seminarian from the Diocese of St. Catharine's Ontario was Subdeacon. Mr. Joseph DeCaria was Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Steven Eckert, MCII aided by five Clerks. The music was provided by Ensemble Sine Nomine of Kitchener under the direction of Mr. Stephen Strauss with Angela Straus, Organist

The music included St. Anthony's Chorale based on a Theme of Haydn's by Brahms during the liturgical procession. The congregation and choir then sang the Veni Creator Spiritus prior to the Nuptial Rite. Mass began with the Gregorian Introit and all the Gregorian Propers from the Liber Usualis. The Ordinary of the Mass -- Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei was the Mass for Five Voices by William Byrd. After the Offertory Antiphon was sung the sublime Ave Maria by Robert Parsons followed and Byrd's Ave Verum Corpus was sung after the Communion Antiphon and Psalm at Holy Communion. All sang the Salve Regina which was followed by the presentation of the Bride's bouquet at the Altar of Our Lady whilst the Ave Maria by the Rt. Rev. John Edward Ronan, founder of St. Michael's Choir School, Toronto was sung with choir and organ. The recessional was La Rejouissance from the Royal Fireworks by Handel.

A luncheon reception followed at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Mitchell, Ontario.

+ Deo gratias +

Photographic talent courtesy of Mr. George Opreff

TORONTO - Corpus Christi Mass and Procession

In addition to the regular scheduled Masses at St. Lawrence the Martyr at 11:00 A.M. and Holy Family at 11:30 A.M., we are pleased to announce two Holy Masses according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite for the great feast of Corpus Christi.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church

Mississauga, Ontario

5440 Durie Road

Thursday, May 30, 2013

7:30 P.M.

Solemn Mass and Procession

 

St. Patrick's Catholic Church

Kinkora, Ontario

42 Line at Road 145 Perth East

Sunday, June 2, 2013 (External Solemnity)

12:00 Noon

Missa Cantata and Solemn Procession with Benediction at Four Altars

Followed by Pot-luck Picnic

 

All are welcome

Solemn Toronto Liturgy - Ascension of the Lord

Find more details on the Facebook page.

Paschal Triduum - Southern Ontario EF Schedule

The Board of the Toronto Traditional Mass Society--Una Voce Toronto, wishes you a holy and prayerful Triduum with the blessings of the Risen Christ as we commemorate His Paschal triumph on Easter.

We are are still not where we need to be with the regular celebration of the Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form on these Holy Days but it is getting better. In the Greater Toronto Area these are your options with the usual Sunday times applying at St. Lawrence, Holy Family, St. Vincent de Paul, Toronto, the Carmel in Zephyr, St. Patrick's Schomberg, St. Patrick's Kinkora, St. Ann's Kitchener and St. Aloysius Gonzaga at St. Catharines. 

Archdiocese of Toronto

Carmel of the Infant Jesus, Zephyr

Holy Thursday - 8:00PM

Good Friday 3:00PM

Holy Saturday Vigil 8:00PM

No music

Diocese of Hamilton
No Triduum Services attend see below.

Diocese of London

St. Vincent de Paul Church, Mitchell (twinned with St. Patrick's Kinkora)

Holy Thursday, 7:30PM Sung

Good Friday, 3:00PM Sung

Holy Saturday, 7:00PM Read (Solemn OF Latin/English at St. Patrick's Kinkora 8:00PM

Easter Sunday Solemn Mass at 12:00 - St. Patrick's Kinkora

Diocese of St. Catharines
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic Church (FSSP), Thorold

Holy Thursday, 7:00PM

Good Friday, 3:00PM

Holy Saturday Vigil 10:30PM

All Sung

Please send any updates to  unavocetoronto@rogers.com

Solemn Latin Mass on St. Joseph's Day

What better way to honour God and pray for our new Holy Father Francis on the day of his installation as Pope then to attend Mass. While we normally work and promote the Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form we do wish to bring this wonderful news to your attention.

TRIDUUM OF PRAYER IN HONOUR OF ST. JOSEPH,

PATRON OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH AND OF CANADA

AT ST. MARY IMMACULATE PARISH, RICHMOND HILL, ON - March 16, 17, 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Solemn Sung Latin Mass - Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite

Mass in G, Soli, for Choir, & Orchestra by Franz Schubert.

Conductor: Uwe Lieflander with the Schola  and Soli of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy and Sinfonia Sacra.

Reception to follow in the Parish Hall with the Blessing of St. Joseph’s Table.

Habemus Papam

The Toronto Traditional Mass Society-UNA VOCE TORONTO

gives praise and thanks to God

for our new Holy Father

Pope Francis

V. Let us pray for Francis, our Pope.

R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies (Ps 40:3)

PATER NOSTER, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.

AVE MARIA, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

GLORIA Patria, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen

O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Francis, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Thank you, Your Holiness

Dear Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI,

Know Holy Father how much you are loved for your ministry in the Church and for your faithfulness to Our Lord. Know also how grateful we are for Summorum Pontificum. You have given to the Church a gift that will endure and will lead to a restoration. 

May our dear Lord comfort you; may His Mother protect you. 

Thank you God for Papa Ratzinger.

God bless you Pope Benedict.

With love and prayers and tears,

Una Voce Toronto

Six Candlemas EF Liturgies in Southern Ontario!

Down with the rosemary, and so
Down with the bays and the mistletoe;

Down with the holly, ivy and all,

Wherewith ye dress'd the Christmas Hall

Robert Herrick (1591-1674)

"Ceremony upon Candlemas Eve"

This Saturday is the final feast of the great Christmastide, Candlemas; from the Anthem, Lumen..."A light unto the Gentiles."

In addition to the Solemn Mass in Richmond Hill at St. Mary's and the Sung Mass at St. Patrick's in Kinkora which UNA VOCE TORONTO is assisting at or organising, there are other Masses in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite in the Archdiocese of Toronto in addition to the Sung Mass at St. Patrick's Kinkora with the choir from St. Ann's Kitchener Latin Mass Community in the Diocese of London at 10:00AM. and St. Aloysius in the Diocese of St. Catharines at 9:00AM. 

TORONTO ORATORY at HOLY FAMILY, Parkdale

Read Mass at 8:30AM

ST. LAWRENCE THE MARTYR, Scarborough

Read Mass at 10:00AM

ST. MARY IMMACULATE, Richmond Hill

Solemn Mass at 10:30AM

ST. ISAAC JOGUES, PICKERING

Read Mass at 11:00AM

The Altar Server

This superbly beautiful video featuring a senior Altar Server at St. Theresa's in Sugarland, Texas is a must see. While done for the Ordinary Form this of course applies to the Extraordinary as well. From "head to toe" this young man explains what is really important, "grave and serious" is his disposition and his message should be distributed and listened to and pondered by all who Serve at the Altar. He speaks of how the externals must "impact the heart" and this is critical to our lives as Christians. If the impact of the heart is not taking place at the Altar and outside of it, if we are not being formed and reformed by our work in the Mass, why do we do it and what are we doing it for? If we continue on in our own ways are we committing an injustice to God?

Extraordinary Rubrical Musings - What's the difference?

In the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the ars celebrandi, if not the theology, has often been described as "horizontal." By this, it is generally meant that it is more focused on community than the Divine; for example, in his great work The Spirit of the Liturgy, Pope Benedict XVI calls Mass facing the people as a "community turned inwards on itself." When one attends an Mass in the new Rite, the music is generally banal and inappropriate and while the new GIRM clearly desires all of the Mass to be sung, it is still a mish-mass of this and that. Few realise that Gregorian chant is proper to the new liturgy as well. To a large degree, this is due to the 1967 document, Musicam Sacram, which; thankfully given paragraph 28 of Universae Ecclesiae, does not apply to the Roman Missal 1962. Let us observe carefully this paragraph; "Furthermore, by virtue of its character of special law, within its own area, the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum derogates from those provisions of law, connected with the sacred Rites, promulgated from 1962 onwards and incompatible with the rubrics of the liturgical books in effect in 1962." This is very important and in specific terms means, anything that came after which conflicts is not permitted. No Altar Girls, no communion in the hand, no communion standing (unless incapable to kneel), no Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, no lay Lectors and no Sunday Anticipated Masses on Saturday evenings. It is important to note that in connection with this, the Vigil Mass of Christmas, for example, is the Mass of December 24 (in violet and therefore, an Advent liturgy) and the same would apply to the other Vigil Masses such as the Vigil Mass of Pentecost in the 1962 Missal. These are not evening Masses anticipating the next day, they are the Mass of the day prior. In the OF Missal  the Vigil Masses are of a different nature and they can be celebrated after Vespers (4:00 PM) and be anticipated for the next day. In the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, there are clearer definitions and certainly fewer options. 

Some rubrics were modified during the legitimate liturgical movement of the first half of the 20th century. They were not so much a change in the liturgy but a change in the approach to the liturgy. For example in 1923, the first permission was given by Pope Pius XI for the "Dialogue Mass." Later, the desires of St. Pius X in Tra le sollecitudini and Pope Pius XI with the early Dialogue permissions and again recommended by Bl. Pius X in Mediator Dei and De musica sacra et sacra liturgia and again by Blessed John XXIII in Rubricarum instructum (English here) were implemented. Truly, those that came after 1958 are less well known. There was no internet after all and parishes and people did not rush out to buy new Missals or even consider reading the version then of the GIRM.

Some questions that have been asked of us and arise are the simple terms of the Mass in the old rite and connected with these there are some important rubrics. Let us look at a simple guideline based on all of the documents above as to the names and their general rubrics relating to music and the spoken word:

Solemn Mass 

A new priest's first Solemn Mass with an "Assistant Priest" present.

Known in Latin as a Missa Solemnis, this is the norm for the Mass with priest, deacon and subdeacon. All parts, Ordinary and Proper must be sung, incense is required. Propers should be sung in Gregorian melisma but can be sung in psalm-tone or recto-tono if necessary or they can be sung in polyphonic style or a drone could be used under the chant. A Pontifical Solemn Mass is when a bishop presides and while there are additional ceremonials, the musical requirements are the same.

Semi- Solemn Mass

Unbeknownst to many, in 1963 a universal permission was granted for a Semi-Solemn Mass without a Subdeacon. The Deacon sings the Epistle and assumes many of the function of the Subdeacon except for the holding of the paten in the humeral veil. The Church was clearly interested in breaking out of the Low Mass Sunday manner of celebration so prevalent. Most parishes had at least two priests and one could have served as a Deacon for the principal Sunday celebration.

Sung Mass

Sung Mass

The Missa Cantata is an exception. As referred to above, the Solemn Mass is the norm. The Missa Cantata was and remains a substitute as a Solemn Mass is not always possible and a Read Mass is not the ideal for the LORD's Day. The Sung Mass is without a deacon or subdeacon and the same musical rubrics apply as the Solemn Mass. Until 1962, incense was only used at a Solemn Mass but now is optional in a Sung Mass and often depends on the number of Servers. If there are sufficient, then even Torchbearers can be used during the Canon. In a Missa Cantata, all parts must be sung, Proper, Ordinary, Lesson, Epistle, Gospel and Responses.

Read Mass  

Read Mass with one Server

Often referred to by the unfortunate term "Low Mass," generally speaking, no music is permitted in a Read Mass and no incense is used except at the prescribed part of a Requiem and one Server is all that is required. As confirmed in Universae Ecclesiae 26, the Lessons, Epistle and Gospel may be read aloud in the vernacular without first reading them in Latin, but only, in a Read Mass. In a Sung or Solemn Mass, Latin is required and they must be sung.

Read Mass with Music

In 1958, the Sacred Congregation of Rites allowed applied certain norms and discipline to the rubrics in response to varied styles of providing music from parish to parish. No Propers (Introit, Gradual, Alleluia, Tract, Sequence, Offertory or Communion) may be sung, the Gloria and Credo may not be sung. The Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei may be sung, if short. A hymn in Latin may be sung at the Entrance but must end before the Introit is recited. A motet or hymn may be sung at the Offertory and at Communion in Latin or in the vernacular, provided it has something to do with the liturgical action of each; gifts, offering and at Communion, the Eucharist or thanksgiving. A recessional hymn may be sung or the organ may be played at these parts. This is not to be confused with a Sung Mass or Missa Cantata as above and the Propers must be proclaimed audibly and must never be covered with music. The organ may be played at any parts but may not cover the said Propers.

Dialogue Mass

Solemn Requiem held during Lent

In 1923, 1947, 1958 and reaffirmed in 1962, the Holy See encouraged the Dialogue Mass and in the latter two years, applied four levels. These range from simple responses of "et cum spiritu tuo" to the Ordinary and all the responses of the Server, specifically the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar to even, believe it or not, the reciting of the Proper Antiphons with the priest; the latter being reserved from those communities and individual capable of doing so.

Requiem Mass

No organ is to be used at any Requiem Mass except to support the singing, if absolutely necessary. No prelude, no postlude, period!  A Requiem Mass' organ rules are the same as Lent and Advent, no organ solos. The Mass may be Read, Sung or Solemn in which case the norms above apply.

Rubrics are important. They keep us all on the same page and ensure that dignity and that we follow the Holy See's desires for Her liturgy. To quote from Universae Ecclesiae 24; "The liturgical books of the forma extraordinaria are to used as they are. All those who wish to celebrate according to the forma extraordinaria of the Roman Rite must know the pertinent rubrics and are obliged to follow them correctly." We must humble ourselves to the rubrics and not go our own way. Mixing the rubrics is not anticipated by the Church. Holy Mother Church gives us the guide, it is our duty to follow.

Let us all be educated in these important matters to serve loyally and faithfully. Let us not make the mistakes either out of ignorance or intent as so often found in the Ordinary Form; "I did it, my way." Let us also respect though, the established norms of existing communities of faithful and the customs to which they or their priests have maintained. The dialogue. for example, should not be forced on any individual, where it is not the custom; on the other hand, neither should anyone be chastised for engaging in it.

The Toronto Traditional Mass Society--UNA VOCE TORONTO will enthusiastically assist any priest or server or individual with gaining a greater understanding of the ars celebrandi of this venerable Rite. You may write us at unavocetoronto@rogers.com.