Latin Mass Society

Chairman's Blog

29/03/2018 - 15:33

Update on LMS Latin Course, 30th July to 3rd August 2018

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Dates: 30th July to 3rd August 2018

The Latin Mass Society’s Residential Latin Course for adults is an intensive course, taught by two experienced tutors, focusing on the Latin of the liturgy.

It is ideal for priests and seminarians wishing to improve their Latin, and all clerics and seminarians (and those about to enter seminary) enjoy a 50% discount on the course fees, which are extremely low anyway.

They are joined by lay men and women who wish to engage more closely with the ancient Latin liturgy, or do studies involving Latin.

This year's course will differ not in content but in other ways from recents years;
New Venue: since Pantasaph Retreat Centre closed, the Latin Course will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre at Boars Hill outside Oxford.
Duration and price: it will be Monday to Friday, not Monday to Saturday. We are passing on a significant saving to students.
New tutor: Fr Hunwicke, of the Ordinariate, will lead it as before, but as Fr Richard Bailey can't make it we will be joined by a layman, Jean van der Stegen, who teaches at the London Lycee and has a remarkable number of linguistic interests - see his personal website.
For more details, and booking, see the LMS website here.
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28/03/2018 - 13:18

New tutor for the Chant Weekend, 6-8th April

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The Gregorian Chant Network's annual Chant Training Weekend will take place in the Oratory School, near Reading, 6-8th April.

There is a change of tutors to announce: sadly Fr Guy Nichols, who was one of the two tutors last year, can't make it. Instead we will be joined by Matthew Ward, who is Director of Music at Mayfield School.

Full details of the course, and booking, is here.

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24/03/2018 - 22:58

Online radio from the Friars at Gosport

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High Mass at St Mary's, Gosport

Cross-psted from Rorate Caeli.

See radioimmaculata.org : explained below.

“Ierusalem, Ierusalem, covertere ad Dominum, Deum tuum”
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, be converted unto the Lord, thy God.”
This is the gut-wrenching cry we hear at the Office of Tenebrae during the Paschal Triduum at the end of the Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah. Jerusalem - the Holy City of God; where the faithful of the Lord are supposed to dwell are called to turn back and face the Lord once again. The Lamentations of Jeremiah are rather disquieting as one hears the miseries of a people who have abandoned the Lord, of Jerusalem whose destruction is close at hand.
 We could almost lament like the prophet Jeremiah about the situation of the Church in our times. We live in a time where the Church, “that Jerusalem which is above” (CCC 757) has in many of her members turned away from the Lord. Robert Cardinal Sarah during a visit to Belgium in early February even descried how high-ranking prelates in the Church are guilty of a “new betrayal” and have “abandoned” God. Cardinal Sarah has spoken on many occasions about a return the traditional practice of receiving Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament kneeling and on the tongue. The forgetting of our rich Tradition in the Church has led to a crisis in faith – particularly in the Blessed Sacrament. Modern society has been enslaved by the ‘chief vice’ which is pride; this pride is what causes man to stop kneeling before his God, to say that he no longer needs God for his Father nor Mary for his Mother, the same pride which caused Lucifer to be cast out of heaven.
 For our times, it is key that we hear the cry to turn back to the Lord, our God. To do this will require humility; for us to truly be man and stop vying for the place of God. This is surely why we have seen a growth in religious orders, institutes and confraternities who faithfully offer the Tridentine Mass. The Mass of the Ages which expresses in a greater way the True Presence of Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. We must turn back to belief in the True Presence. We must turn back to True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
 To that end the Marian Franciscans of Gosport have within the month launched an all new Radio App for Radio Immaculata – the 24/7 radio station run by the Friars. It has been encouraging news to hear that this year the pre-Pius XII Holy Week will be in use again around the country, and during the Paschal Triduum this liturgy will be broadcast LIVE out of St. Mary’s in Gosport on Radio Immaculata (radioimmaculata.org). The Friars wish this radio station to ‘Bring Forth Christ through Mary’, with the aim of assisting Catholics to turn back faithfully to the Lord in these times of trial for the Church and our world by devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
 Do download the Radio Immaculata App, available on both Android and Apple devices and encourage others to do so too. Let us do all we can in these times to heed to those unsettling words we will hear ringing through our ears during the Triduum – Jerusalem, Jerusalem, be converted unto the Lord, thy God!  The programme for Holy Week will be as follows:

Maundy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper, 29th March 16:00

  • Good Friday Solemn Liturgy, 30th March 17:00
  • Holy Saturday Paschal Vigil, 31st March 14:00
  • Easter Sunday Holy Mass, 01st April 17:00


AVE MARIA!

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22/03/2018 - 15:45

Introducing the Vademecum Peregrini

Buy it from the LMS online shop here
or from Lulu, the printer, here.

We created this booklet for pilgrims on the Walsingham Pilgrimage, but it was always intended to be of wider application, containing information, Mass propers, and special hymns and prayers for Latin Mass Society Pilgrimages to York, Oxford, and Holywell, as well as notes about many others.

After much expansion, revision, and correction, we can now offer this to the general public. If you get a copy and subsequently decide to come on the Walsingham Pilgrimage, you can bring it with you and save a few pounds on your fee.

It contains the Ordinary of the Mass, the same version as the LMS Ordinary Prayers booklet, a number of Mass Propers (prayers and readings) used in pilgrimages, and a great many prayers and devotions useful on pilgrimage and elsewhere: for Communion, for Confession, the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary (with traditional meditations on each Mystery), the Seven Penitential Psalms, and lots more.

In addition is has a huge amount of music in it. Not re-set Chant settings for Mass, but chants, hymns, and songs 'for the road': including the best of traditional Catholic, the most familiar non-Catholic hymns which have become part of our country's common musical and spiritual heritage, and great hymns from Ireland, the USA, Australia, and the Chartres Pilgrimage.

It is 270 pages, in a narrow 'pocketbook' format that - as its name suggests - fits into a pocket.

Where else will you find settings of the Hail Mary suitable for singing the Rosary, in English, Latin, and French?

The Litany of the Saints, of Loreto, of the Sacred Heart, and St Joseph, in Latin, with the music?

The Song of the English Zouaves, sung by the British defenders of the Pope in 1860, with a musical setting by our Patron, Colin Mawby?

Rousing songs to overcome the miles at the end of a long day's walking, such as Men of Harlech, the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and Rule Britania?

All with an Imprimatur from the Archdiocese of Westminster!

We've found it convenient to upload it to the print-on-demand service Lulu, which has printing facilities all over the world. If you are overseas, buy it from Lulu and it will print it locally to you, ovoiding overseas postage.

£9.99 + p&p:
from the LMS online shop here
or direct from Lulu, the printer, here.

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21/03/2018 - 08:52

Walsingham Pilgrimage: early bird offer till Easter!

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Get a 10% discount on the fees for the 2018 LMS Walking Piligrimage to Walsingham, until Easter: 1st April. Don't miss out!

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The dates are 23th to 26th August (the Bank Holiday weekend): meeting on the evening of the 23rd, and finishing in the afternoon of Sunday 26th.

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Walking the 58 miles from Ely to Walsingham with about 60 others, with the Traditional Mass, is an unforgettable experience. This year we will be accompanied by Fr Michael Rowe of Perth, Australia, and Fr James Mawdsley FSSP as our Chaplains.

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Our Pilgrim's Handbook - the Vademecum Peregrini - is corrected and revised with the best selection of chants and songs for the road, traditional devotions, and information about this and other pilgrimages.

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Book here.

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19/03/2018 - 09:08

Easter Triduum in London; Lassus Tenebrae

Cross posted from Rorate Caeli.

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The Holy Fire is lit outside the church's back door, from which it is a short procession
through the streets of the City of London to the church's front door.

This Holy Week in London, a rare opportunity to experience one of the oldest services in the Catholic Church along with a feast of sacred music rarely sung in its proper context.



Beginning on ‘Spy Wednesday’ with the ancient office of Tenebrae, The Latin Mass Society will be celebrating Holy Week with a wealth of traditional Latin liturgy at St. Mary Moorfields in the heart of the City of London.This year’s Triduum celebration will be directed by professional musician and classical pianist, Matthew Schellhorn with his group ‘Cantus Magnus.’
Matthew Schellhorn, the LMS Director of Music for London, said:



“It is once again a great pleasure to be making the musical preparations for the Latin Mass Society’s flagship celebration of the Sacred Triduum in the Archdiocese of Westminster.



“Music by Franco-Flemish renaissance Orlande de Lassus (1532–94) will enhance the Office of Tenebrae, which will be particularly special with not only the haunting four-part Responseries but also the great five-part Lamentations of Jeremiah. These glorious masterpieces, date from the 1580s.




“As in past years, I have included well known repertoire in order to draw upon the rich treasury of Sacred Music in the Church’s possession. Along with further works by Lassus, repertoire will come from the English Renaissance  – William Byrd (c.1539/40 or 1543 – 1623) – and the Italian Renaissance and Baroque – Felice Anerio (ca.1560–1614) and Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni (1657–1743).



“I also like to introduce less familiar masterpieces, with a view to enriching the experience of those who attend year on year. In this way, the English Emancipation-period composer John Richardson (1816–79) will provide our Reproaches on Good Friday, and the French Romantic and Twentieth-Century organist-composers Jacques-Louis Battmann (1818–1886) and Théodore Dubois (1837–1924) will provide uplifting fare for the Easter Vigil. These works are rarely heard, and it has been rewarding to prepare special editions from the sources – a musical resurrection, if you will!”



Joseph Shaw, Chairman of the Latin Mass Society says “ 'I am delighted that the Latin Mass Society continues to make a unique contribution to the liturgical life of the capital in putting on these services, with the solemnity and the excellent musical accompaniment which they deserve.'



The Holy Week services commence with Tenebrae at 21.00 on Wednesday 28th March and continue until the great celebration of the Easter Vigil at 18:00 on Saturday 31st March.



As well as the services at St Mary Moorfields, Traditional Triduum liturgies will be celebrated at churches throughout the country. Details of Holy Week Mass listings are:


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16/03/2018 - 16:21

Join the pro-lifers at London's St Patrick's Day parade

From 'Right to Life'



Dear Supporter,

Last weekend saw the All Ireland Rally for Life in Dublin, at which up to 100,000 people marched for life, for mothers and babies and to save the Eighth Amendment to the Irish Constitution!

Especially if you’re Irish or have Irish ancestry (but even if you’re not or don’t!), to signify your solidarity with this campaign, please join London Irish United For Life as they attend the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

The plan for this is:
–> Meet at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Farm Street (W1K 3AH) at 10:30 for tea/coffee.
–> Walk to the March starting area between Hyde Park Corner and Half Moon Street in Piccadilly (nearest tubes Hyde Park Corner and Green Park).
–> Those coming late, or who miss the 10:30 meeting can come to the London Irish United for Life starting area, which will be in Section E, Number 57, which is predicted to be between Down Street and Old Park Lane. Stewards in pink high-vis jackets will be there to direct people to sections. People should look out for signs saying ‘Section E’. Everyone needs to be in place by 11:15.
–> Posters will be provided. Remember to wear green!

Last year, the abortion lobby received a boost by the London Irish Abortion Rights Campaign forming a section in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2017. This will be an important way to give balance, show support for the fight for the right to life of unborn children, and to bolster the Save The Eighth campaign in Ireland.

Please do share, invite others, and come along!

Thanks in advance for all your help, and thanks again for all that you do to help safeguard human dignity and the right to life.

With our kindest regards,

The Team at Right To Life

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15/03/2018 - 11:56

LMS Priest Training Conference: book now! April 9-12th

The Latin Mass Society will be holding a residential training conference for priests, deacons, seminarians and laymen wishing to learn to celebrate or serve Mass in the Extraordinary Form. It will be held at Prior Park College near Bath from Monday 9th April to Thursday 12th April 2018.

Tuition will be in small groups. For clergy and seminarians, this will be provided by priests experienced in the Extraordinary Form, for servers this will be provided by laymen with years of experience in the Extraordinary Form.
Low Mass, Missa Cantata and Solemn Mass will be covered, although participants will be expected to be proficient at Low Mass before progressing to the more complicated forms.
No previous experience is necessary, and participants will be divided into groups, according to their abilities.
There will be daily Mass intended to be an example of best practice.

The conference will start after lunch on the Monday and conclude before lunch on the Thursday.
Full board and lodging is provided in basic single rooms (not en suite).
Lunch on the Monday and the Thursday can be booked at extra cost, £5 per lunch for all participants.
The fee for attending is: £120.00
Full-time students: £60
Seminarians: FREE OF CHARGE

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14/03/2018 - 12:46

SCT Family Retreat: booking reminder

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Don't forget to book for the St Catherine's Trust Family Retreat, taken this year by Canons Montjean and Tanner of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.

It is taking place at the Oratory School near Reading over Low Sunday Weekend: 6-8th April.

Book online here.

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The Retreat is, as its name implies, designed to allow families to attend together. We provide activities for the younger children during the spiritual conferences offered by the retreat-givers. Everyone, however, is welcome to attend.

Prices are lower than last year, and bursaries are available from the Latin Mass Society for those who are in financial difficulties.

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Photos of last year's retreat, which took place over Passion Sunday weekend because of the late Easter.

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13/03/2018 - 10:00

Mass in Tyburn last Saturday

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Last Saturday a Traditional Sung Mass was celebrated in the Relic Chapel of Tyburn Convent in London, by Fr Serafino Lanzetta. It was celebrated with Low Mass ceremonies, and just one server, accompanied by two singers. This Mass was sponsored by the Latin Mass Society.

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The occasion was a youth conference organised by the Catholic Medical Association (and on Facebook), on the subject of conscience. I gave a talk, as did John Smeaton of SPUC and s sister of the convent. Fr Lanzetta gave a sermon on the same subject.

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It was a great privilege to hear Mass in this place, where so many relics of the martyrs can be seen. There are also some lovely stained glass windows showing episodes from their lives, illustrating for example the Corporal Works of Mercy. I love the rain in the above panel, showing St Oliver Plunket giving the sacrament of Confirmation on a hillside.

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Above the Carthusians celebrate Mass before finally defying Henry VIII by refusing the swear the Oath of Supremacy, which denied the authority of the Pope.

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The chap above, Bl. Nicholas Horner, was a tailor. The crime for which he died was making a doublet for a priest, contravening the law against giving comfort and assistance to priests. He had already lost a leg because of the chains he endured during a previous period of imprisonment.

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