The Value of the Mass

The Value of the Mass
Up to our own times, it has been the constant concern of supreme pontiffs to ensure that the Church of Christ offers a worthy ritual to the Divine Majesty, 'to the praise and glory of His name,' and 'to the benefit of all His Holy Church - Pope Benedict XVI, Summorum Pontificum

Sunday, May 6, 2007

I need to learn French!

For those of you who like the Traditional Latin Mass, you'll enjoy this video. Unfortunately for us Americans (or just non-French speakers) the video is entirely in French. It's still a good video though. I guess I'm operating under the philosophy "It's not what they said, but how they said it!"

The Mass of the Ages

:-)

Edit: Due to my non-existent French skills, I was unaware that this is a video for the SSPX. I still find the video informative and beautiful, but I must make this disclaimer. I do not support nor endorse the Society of St. Pius X. I only posted this video based on the sole fact that I thought it was a well done video highlighting the Traditional Latin Mass.

Edit: One of the commentor here translated this video from the French. Here is the translation:

The Mass of ages:

Frequently banned
Never forbidden


One priest out of five ordained today in France celebrates exclusively the traditional rite of the Mass.

Numerous priests express the desire to discover the traditional Mass, and to celebrate it.

65% of French Catholics support wider use of the traditional Mass.

At a time when Pope Benedict XVI is on the verge of allowing wider use of the Tridentine rite of the Mass, the Society of St. Pius X proposes this high quality educational tool which will allow all priests to discover this rite.

CELEBRATE THE MASS OF AGES

Voiceover: He unfolds the altar cloth. The altar cloth is placed two fingers' width from the edge of the altar. Several times during the duration fo the mass, the priest must place his joined hands on the alter, like this. His hands must not touch the altar cloth. At the words "A reading from the Gospel," he places is left hand on the edge of the missal, and makes with his right thumb a sign of the cross over the spot on the page where the Gospel starts. Then, with his left hand on his chest, he makes the sign of the cross on himself with his right thumb, first on the forehead, then on the lips, and then on the chest. Then, he joins his hands together.

He takes the paten, and holding it in both hands at chest height, he raises his eyes for one moment to the alter crucifix. With his eyes focused on the host, he begins the prayer of consecration. To set down the host, the priest proceeds as follows. He lowers the paten, tracing with it a sign of the cross on the altar. He sets the host down on the altar cloth, taking the paten with his right hand and slides it halfway under the corporale.

He recites the [unclear] in a deep bow, joined hands placed on the altear. Then he bends down to the altar, stands back up, and then traces a sign of the cross on the host and over teh chalice. He then makes the sign over himself before joining his hands again.

This film is a production from the "Letter to our brother priests." a means of connection between the Society of St. Pius X and the priests of France.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hm, if I didn't desperately need sleep, I would translate these titles out for everyone. The statistic it cites that 20% of priests in France only celebrate the Tridentine rite is fascinating, if true.

Zach said...

Yeah, if you can find time to translate that I'd post it on the blog. It would be interesting to see what they have to say, as the video seems to be done very well.

Anonymous said...

I'll do it when I get home from work this afternoon, since I posted the same video in my blog. I need the French practice!

For the most part, the narrator is just describing what the priest is doing and why, but as a seminarian you may see more nuances in the text than I do.

Anonymous said...

translation's done. You can reproduce it here if you like. It is a little rough, since my religious vocabulary in French is not great.

Zach said...

I would still like to see your take on it though, if only to get an idea about what they're saying. You can feel free to post it here in the comments and I can then make it a main post. Or, if you want, you can email it to me at zkelly at yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

It is a beautiful mass. It is slightly more understandable why otherwise odedient, conservative catholics woul be drawn to schism and relativism by their attraction to it. It illustrates why great care is needed in its return.

Anonymous said...

The Mass of ages:

Frequently banned
Never forbidden


One priest out of five ordained today in France celebrates exclusively the traditional rite of the Mass.

Numerous priests express the desire to discover the traditional Mass, and to celebrate it.

65% of French Catholics support wider use of the traditional Mass.

At a time when Pope Benedict XVI is on the verge of allowing wider use of the Tridentine rite of the Mass, the Society of St. Pius X proposes this high quality educational tool which will allow all priests to discover this rite.

CELEBRATE THE MASS OF AGES

Voiceover: He unfolds the altar cloth. The altar cloth is placed two fingers' width from the edge of the altar. Several times during the duration fo the mass, the priest must place his joined hands on the alter, like this. His hands must not touch the altar cloth. At the words "A reading from the Gospel," he places is left hand on the edge of the missal, and makes with his right thumb a sign of the cross over the spot on the page where the Gospel starts. Then, with his left hand on his chest, he makes the sign of the cross on himself with his right thumb, first on the forehead, then on the lips, and then on the chest. Then, he joins his hands together.

He takes the paten, and holding it in both hands at chest height, he raises his eyes for one moment to the alter crucifix. With his eyes focused on the host, he begins the prayer of consecration. To set down the host, the priest proceeds as follows. He lowers the paten, tracing with it a sign of the cross on the altar. He sets the host down on the altar cloth, taking the paten with his right hand and slides it halfway under the corporale.

He recites the [unclear] in a deep bow, joined hands placed on the altear. Then he bends down to the altar, stands back up, and then traces a sign of the cross on the host and over teh chalice. He then makes the sign over himself before joining his hands again.

This film is a production from the "Letter to our brother priests." a means of connection between the Society of St. Pius X and the priests of France.