CHICAGO, IL (June 3, 2008) - Ever since Pope Benedict XVI issued Summorum Pontificum in 2007, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius have been hard at work to educate priests how to offer the Extraordinary Form of the Mass according to the 1962 Missale Romanum. Their multi-media website, www.SanctaMissa.org, is not yet one-year old, yet it has already given assistance to priests throughout the world learning to offer the usus antiquor. 

Because many priests regularly approach the Canons Regular for personal training in the Extraordinary Form, it seemed advantageous to them to offer a formal group-training workshop for priests so that the requests of more clergy could be met. Working in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Canons Regular received the blessing of Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, to carry out this work of formation, so that the pastoral needs of Catholics today could be better addressed. His Eminence also suggested inviting seminarians to the workshop so that they would also be able to gain from this liturgical and pastoral formation experience.

With enthusiasm, priests and seminarians descended upon the campus of Mundelein Seminary on May 19, 2008, to attend a hands-on workshop on the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass of the Roman Rite held at the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House. For the next five days, these priests and seminarians, who hailed not only from the Archdiocese of Chicago, but from all over the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Lithuania, Italy, and the Philippines, would study the ceremony, ritual, rubrics of the Missal of Blessed John XXIII. 

Each day the participants of the workshop had an opportunity to attend celebrations of the Traditional Latin Mass, ranging from Missa Pontificalis to Missa Lecta. Hosted by the Conventual Franciscans, the Missa Pontificalis and Missa Solemnis were celebrated at Marytown. The celebration of the Missa Cantata was held three times during the week at the St. Mary Chapel of Mundelein Seminary. The participants were greeted with warm hospitality by our hosts at Marytown and Mundelein, and everyone enjoyed participating in the robust singing of the Gregorian chant ordinaries and responses.

While the priests of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius instructed the priests in the celebration of Low Mass and High Mass, the brothers taught the seminarians in attendance how to serve at the altar. Additional tutorials were provided in the correct pronunciation of ecclesiastical Latin as well as in Gregorian chant.

The workshop filled the Cardinal Stritch House to its capacity and had a waiting list of priests who expressed a desire to attend. Due to the popularity and success of this workshop, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius are scheduling future training workshops for priests and seminarians at the Cardinal Stritch House.

The entire success of this workshop was entrusted to Our Blessed Mother, and each day the priests and seminarians begged her intercession as they continued to study the celebration of the Extraordinary Form, so that they might return to their parishes and serve the faithful attracted to the Sacred Liturgy celebrated according to the venerable traditions of our fathers.

 


 

"In order to better serve Catholics who wish to worship according to the 'Forma extraordinaria', ample and ongoing catechesis in the form of the Mass must be available. This can only be achieved if, first of all, priests and seminarians are prepared to serve this need." —H. E. Francis Cardinal George

 
 
 

During the workshop, the Most Rev. Joseph N. Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, presented a talk entitled The Spirituality of the Traditional Latin Mass, showing how the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms of the Mass, held in equal honor, can enrich the Catholic faithful in parish life. Plunging into the spiritual depths of the Traditional Latin Mass, Bishop Perry inspired all to receive the Extraordinary Form as a gift from the Church, meant to nourish souls with the grace of God.

Rev. C. Frank Phillips, C.R., Pastor of St. John Cantius Church in Chicago, and Founder of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, gave a lecture entitled The Extraordinary Form in Parish Life Today, detailing ways in which the celebration of classical form of the Liturgy can be successfully integrated into parochial life and help provide Catholics of all ages with a deep appreciation of the heritage and tradition that is ours.

Rev. C. Frank Phillips C.R. explaining the rubrics of the Mass

Additional Photographs

Monday, May 19, 2008
Pontifical Mass at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at
Marytown, the National Shrine of St. Maximillian Kolbe.

 

The blessing before the Proclamation of the Gospel

 

The Proclamation of the Gospel

 

The Elevation


Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Solemn Mass at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at
Marytown, the National Shrine of St. Maximillian Kolbe.
 


Incensation of the altar at the offertory
 
 
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Missa Cantata at University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary

 

Elevation of the Host
 
 
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Missa Cantata and Procession with the Blessed Sacrament
at University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary
 


Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
 
 
Friday, May 23, 2008
Requiem Mass at University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary
 


Sitting during the 'Dies Irae'
 


The Elevation