This weekend: The LMS Pilgrimage to Oxford, Solemn Mass according to the ancient Dominican Rite, and a new priest for the London Oratory

Processing back down Holywell Street, proclaiming
the Faith of our Fathers to all whom we passed by 

October seems to have been a month of pilgrimages for me. Having just been to the LMS Pilgrimage to Aylesford last week, I joined the Society's Pilgrimage to Oxford yesterday. Next Saturday sees another LMS pilgrimage, this time to the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden - a place once close to St Thomas More's heart, who would often visit there to seek the Blessed Virgin's intercession. I might even try and make it to this event, too, before the cold and dark Winter days set in, bringing to an end this year's pilgrimage season.

It was well worth the journey to Oxford yesterday, where I joined with my fellow pilgrims in assisting at Solemn Mass according to the ancient Dominican Rite. Having never attended an old Dominican Rite Mass before, it was quite something to witness this idiosyncratic, yet very beautiful, Catholic way of worshipping Almighty God.

Blackfriars - a sun-lit hush after the worshippers had gone

From what I saw yesterday, it also seems that, in some respects, Mass according to the Dominican Rite (or Use) is far simpler than the Tridentine one, yet it also appeared to be far more stylised, requiring extra attention to detail from the sacred ministers and servers. One of the more eccentric aspects of Solemn Mass according to the Dominican Rite is the fact that the chalice is prepared immediately before the Gospel. Other differences between the old Roman Rite and the Dominican Rite include the wording of some of the responses as well as the Confiteor - which is much shorter in the Dominican Mass, and which only makes reference to Blessed Mary and St Dominic. Another interesting feature at yesterday's Mass was that an osculatorium (or peace plate) was used during the pax, as opposed to the usual kiss of peace between the sacred ministers, servers and those in choir dress.

"This is typical of Oxford ... to start the new
year in autumn" Brideshead Revisited

The music at yesterday's Mass (provided by Schola Abelis) was awe-inspiring, just what is required when lifting one's heart and mind to God during the Holy Sacrifice. According to the old Dominican Ordo, yesterday was the feast of the Dedication of the Priory Church, and it was therefore good to see so many young Dominicans in the Sanctuary. There were quite a few bloggers at the Mass, too, as well as the procession that followed, so I am sure that some reports and photos will soon appear on: LMS Chairman, Catholic with Attitude, Juventutem London and Smeaton's Corner. I believe that the Ordinariate's John Hunwicke (Fr Hunwicke's Liturgical Notes) was also present at the Mass.

I managed to join my sister for lunch in the Eagle & Child, famous as the pub where C S Lewis and J R R Tolkien would meet to discuss works in progress as well as their shared Christian faith - Lewis being an Anglican (who was heavily influenced by G K Chesterton) and Tolkein being a devout Catholic who would nowadays have been called a 'traditionalist' (he refused to respond in the vernacular during post-Conciliar Masses). After lunch, I met up with some friends and fellow bloggers who were on the Pilgrimage, and joined them in the Procession through Broad Street and down Holywell Street - to the place where the four Catholic Martyrs being commemorated were executed in 1589:

Deus, qui verae fidei et sedis Apostolicae primatui
propugnando beatos Martyres tuos...

Blessed George Nicholas (priest), Blessed Richard Yaxley (priest), Blessed Thomas Belson (gentleman), and Blessed Humphrey Pritchard (the Welsh serving man at the Catholic friendly Catherine Wheel Inn).

There were quite a few of us on the Procession - mainly students, young people and families. We chanted the The Great Litany of the Saints and the Te Deum (both in Latin) on the way to the spot where the four men were martyred, and then sang some English hymns, including Faith of our Fathers and The Song of the British Zouaves, on the way back to Blackfriars - where Benediction was given. I had to leave before Benediction, as I had arranged to meet a cousin who is currently studying at Oxford. Although missing the last part of yesterday's pilgrimage, I am really glad that I was able to make it to the Mass and Procession. All in all, it was a really enjoyable day out, and a spiritual occasion that I am immensely grateful for.

Spending yesterday at Oxford meant that I missed Br Edward van den Bergh's ordination to the Sacred Priesthood at the Brompton Oratory. Although not feeling too well and a bit tired, I determined to be at Fr Edward's first Mass this morning. He celebrated the 11:00am Solemn Mass at the Oratory, during which Fr Ignatius Harrison, Provost of the London and Birmingham Oratories, preached an excellent sermon on being a priest. It was wonderful to see this new and humble priest begin his priestly ministry. Many congratulations to Fr van den Burgh on his ordination to the Sacred Priesthood... Ad multos annos!


[Images: As ever, I did not take photos of the liturgies during yesterday's LMS Pilgrimage, but am sure there will be some excellent photos on Joseph Shaw's Flickr page sometime soon (see LMS Chairman)]