It has happened. A parishioner approached me about exercising the right given him by Benedict XVI in Summorum pontificum 6,3 to a funeral Mass in the Extraordinary Form.
At first I was anxious, but after thinking about it for a while, it seemed like something that could be done without too much trouble. We don't have vestments or a funeral pall, but these could be borrowed. I'm not sure if any of our choirs would know the Requiem Mass, but they might be happy to learn. If not, between the music director and myself I'm sure we have enough contacts to make it work. A server could be hired or borrowed, and perhaps there are young friars in my community who know how or are learning to serve the EF, whether they care to admit it or not. We have plenty of kneelers for Holy Communion. The one thing that still has me a little perplexed or concerned is candles...suffice it to say that the "candles" we have now would not be licit for the EF.
So I told the man that I would do my best to prepare and soften some ground so that he might be able to have the funeral he wants for himself.
11 comments:
Father Charles, the six candlesticks (without the unbleached candles of course)that were used to flank the casket at EF funeral masses are still "in stock" downstairs in the Church. They would need a little cleaning up but I think thay are otherwise serviceable.
Thanks for the tip!
um, congrats. I think...
Let me know if you need help with it, brother.
CUA: Thanks!
Matt: Perhaps by the time this particular person concludes his pilgrimage on earth, you will be long since perpetually professed!
what if you went to a craft/hobby store and got the sheets of beeswax and rolled them around a wick to make a candle? Like these http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/projectsforbeginners/ss/ssrolledbw1.htm
Father, on the vestments, would you also need a black cope as well as the black Mass vestments? I seem to recall that in the EF funeral liturgy the priest leaves the altar
after the last Gospel and vests in a cope for the final blessing. Is that right?
Yes. I think that the chasuble is removed and the cope put on for the prayers of absolution before the coffin leaves the church. Now that's something else I'll have to find!
I'm a convert, and have never seen any Mass - funeral or otherwise - in the extraordinary form. I had no idea there were so many things that were different. I thought saying the Mass in Latin was the biggest difference.
In other words, younger parishioners and converts will be learning right along with you, you will do your best, and God will supply the rest.
NC Sue - as a cradle Catholic, I am right there with you: I have never seen a funeral mass in the EF. When I think about what passed for masses for my most dearly departed, I sometimes get full of resentment and anger. But then I remember people like Father Charles, and that gives me hope.
If I was that parishioner I'd be most grateful for your willingness to do this. :)
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