FIDELIS MILES MILITIS: Dominican Rite Solemn Mass of the Ember Wednesday of Advent

THE FAITHFUL KNIGHT

I am a convert to the One, True Faith. I am also what is called a Traditional Roman Catholic (or prior to 1965, just a regular, every day Catholic). But contrary to what you may have been taught, I, like most Traditionalists, am not a sedevacantist. I am loyal to the Magisterium and to the Holy Father; I believe that the Second Vatican Council was a true Church council and that the Novus Ordo Missae (Mass of Paul VI) can confect a true Eucharist when the rubrics are followed by a properly ordained Catholic priest. However, I believe that the massive destruction over the past fifty-one years has NOT been due to a misinterpretation of the Council’s documents, but is due to the documents themselves. I also believe that the Novus Ordo is grossly inferior to the Traditional Latin Mass (the True Mass, "the most beautiful thing this side of Heaven"), is Protestant in its orientation, and is grievously harmful to the Faith.

I support all Traditional Latin Mass orders (non-Sedevacantists), to include the SSPX, FSSP, ICKSP, and all diocesan priests who struggle to celebrate the True Mass under often terrible conditions.

Lastly, I hope all Roman Catholics who believe, as Holy Mother Church has taught these past 2,000 years, that there is Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus, take up the Cross & the Sword, and claim the title of “Faithful Knight.”

--I believe that Christ founded One Church, and that there is NO salvation outside Her.

--I believe that Irish monks saved Western civilization.

--I believe that the Crusades were a good thing.

--I believe that Islam is still the greatest threat to Western civilization.

--I will never apologize for the Catholic Church and Her mandate by Christ to spread the Gospel.

--I believe that at the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), Luther won.

--I believe that homosexuality has devastated the Catholic priesthood.

--I believe that many Novus Ordo bishops are direct successors to only one Apostle, Judas Iscariot.

--I believe that Dante was correct: The floor of Hell is littered with the skulls of bishops.

--I believe the "Reform of the Reform" is a toothless dog.

--I believe that Communion in the hand, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, removal of the altar rails, and removal of our tabernacles from the altar of sacrifice, has destroyed Catholic belief in the Real Presence.

--I believe that Traditional Catholics are at war with Roman-Protestants for the very soul of Holy Mother Church....and We will win!

--I believe that Russia has not been consecrated to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart by any Pope, and that parts of the Third Secret are still hidden by Rome.

--I believe that Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre will be raised to the altar as a Saint.

--I believe that if it were not for the Society of St. Pius X, Tradition would have died long ago.

--I believe that the Society of St. Pius X is the Marine Corps of Catholicism.

--I believe that the term "in full communion" is a sham. After all, per Rome, heretics like Cardinal Mahony and sodomites like Archbishop Weakland are "in full communion."

--I believe that the Republican Party is no different from the Democrat Party...and that they deserve each other.

--I believe that the U.S. Military produces the finest young men and women on the face of the earth.

--I believe that America has done more good for others around the world than any nation in history.

--I believe that our current Commander in Chief is a Marxist.

--I believe in the 2nd Amendment, just as the Fathers of our Nation did.

--I believe that the Death Penalty is a good thing.

--I believe in restoring all things in Christ.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Dominican Rite Solemn Mass of the Ember Wednesday of Advent

by Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P.

Thanks to the kindness of the Traditional Latin Mass Society of San Francisco, I can now present some photos for the Solemn High Dominican Rite Mass celebrated at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in San Francisco CA on December 18, 2013. I have selected some of the photos from the Society's photo gallery because they show distinctive Dominican features of Solemn Mass on penitential days and ferials.

The celebrant was Fr. Anselm Ramelow, O.P., of the Western Dominican Province who was assisted, once again, by the Province's student brothers from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology (Berkeley, CA). Since it is not the Dominican custom to celebrate a devotional "Rorate" Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin in Advent, this Mass was that proper to the Ember Day, which does, happily, have the Officium (Introit) "Rorate."

As it was expected that the Mass would be by candle light as is the common Roman custom, the church was in darkness except for the large numbers of candles.

Here are some photos from the Mass:

The Priest with his hands in the Dominican Orans Position

Here you can see the Dominican position of the hands at the Collects, with palms facing forward rather than toward each other as in the Roman Rite.

Ministers at the Sedilla

In this photo you can see the Dominican order of seating for the ministers (here during the sermon). The higher ranking the minister, the closer to the altar, thus the priest (preaching and so not present) is closest, followed by the deacon, subdeacon, senior acolyte, etc. You can also see over the major minsters' laps the violet "mappula" or "mappa," which is analogous to the Roman gremial.

Ministers reciting the Offertory Verse

In this unusual photo, you can see the order of the ministers to the Gospel side of the altar during the reading of the Offertory Verse. In our Rite this position is taken so that at least the deacon can recite the verse with the priest. In the middle ages, of course, all the ministers would have had the propers memorized from frequent use and so all would join the priest in the recitation. (The acolytes would not normally carry candles at this point, but it was so dark in the church that they carried them so that the ministers would not trip on the steps.)

The Elevation of the Host

There is, of course, no thurifer since incense is not used on penitential days and ferials.

Here are the ministers in the sacristy after the Mass: Brother Christopher Wetzel, O.P. (in cappa, assisting), Bro. Thomas Aquinas Pickett, O.P. (senior acolyte), Rev. Bro. Peter Junipero Hannah, O.P. (deacon), Rev. Fr. Anselm Ramelow, O.P. (priest), Bro. Gabriel Mosher, O.P. (subdeacon), and Bro. Bradley Elliott, O.P. (junior acolyte). The Dominican practice that the deacon and subdeacon do not wear dalmatics on penitential and ferial days is clearly evident in this photo.

A video of the entire Mass: