Mass of Ages Print Edition Spring 2023
Mass of Ages is the quarterly magazine of the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales. It contains reports on our many activities across the country, national and international news of Traditional Catholic events, feature articles on different aspects of traditional Faith and culture, and opinions and views on developments in the Catholic Church.
There is no charge for the magazine but we do ask for a contribution towards the cost of posting it to you. This cost will be calculated as you proceed through the checkout.
In this issue: • Joseph Shaw introduces two new patrons of the Latin Mass Society, Sir Edward Leigh and John Smeaton • Peter A. Kwasniewski remembers Pope Benedict XVI • Follow that Missal! Owning and knowing how to use a Missal is a joy, says Jeremy Boot • Charles A. Coulombe looks at the life of Catholic convert Bertram Ashburnham
“Like many charities, the Latin Mass Society has ‘Patrons’: distinguished individuals who associate themselves with the work of a charity by lending their names, which are often printed on the charity’s headed notepaper. Patrons are not paid, and don’t have fixed responsibilities; instead, they offer their implicit endorsement of an organisation.
In January the Latin Mass Society was able to announce two new Patrons, bringing our total to seven. The new Patrons are the veteran Member of Parliament, Sir Edward Leigh, and the well-known pro-life campaigner John Smeaton, who retired from his long-standing role as Chief Executive of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) in 2021.”
The death, on the last day of 2022, of Pope Benedict XVI marked the end of the earthly life of a faithful priest, a great pope, and a committed supporter of tradition. “Although I had already fallen in love with the classical Roman Rite by experiencing it in its recited and sung forms, it was Ratzinger who first opened my eyes to why I loved it—the theological and spiritual rationale. He made my own mind and heart intelligible to me, gave me the language with which to express what had been an intuition and an attraction.” Writes Peter Kwasniewski. “Rarely has anyone in
the last hundred years spoken with as commanding a breadth and depth of knowledge as Ratzinger possessed, or with comparable rhetorical finesse.”
“Many times, over the last few years people who are new to the old rite, have asked where they could get hold of a Missal or, having acquired one, are puzzled how to use it - it does not come with a user manual – and find they don’t know where to look, which Mass applies or how exactly to proceed. Hence this article to highlight a few points and give some explanation both for newcomers and not-so-new comers who may remain confused.” Writes Jeremy Boot, who goes on to give a details explanation of how to navigate a hand missal.
Continuing his look at notable Catholics, Charles A. Coulombe looks at the life of Catholic convert Bertram Ashburnham. “As was typical in his family, young Bertram was active in court circles, and was part of the delegation that brought Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph the Order of the Garter in 1867. Without a doubt both this experience and his time in France played a part in his conversion to Catholicism, which took place in 1872. Four years later, he succeeded to his father’s title and lands in England and Wales.” Read the life story of this remarkable man.
We publish an obituary on David Lloyd, former Chairman and Secretary of the Latin Mass Society, who died at the end of last year.
Our regular columnists:
• The Chairman’s Message: There is never a dull moment in the current Pontificate, as Joseph Shaw explains
• Family Matters: We all need to make a special effort to be more specific about our faith, says James Preece
• Art and Devotion: Caroline Farey looks at the Chichester-Constable chasuble
• Rome Report: Diane Montagna looks at a revealing new book by Benedict XVI’s personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein
• Architecture: Paul Waddington examines an impressive Black Country church, St Mary on the Hill in Wednesbury
• Mary O’Regan on the grandparents of aborted children and the perils of being too special
• Wine: Sebastian Morello on a wonderful Mediterranean potion
• World News: Paul Waddington reports on what’s happening around the globe
The Holy Face Alberto Carosa on a powerhouse of holiness and grace
Books – Joseph Shaw reviews Victor Stater’s Hoax: The Popish Plot That Never Was
Mallow Street Column – we say ‘Hello’ to the new office of the LMS and ‘Goodbye’ to two of the staff
Easter cards - we showcase our selection of Easter cards for this year.
