The Providence Journal
PROVIDENCE – The Rev. Alfred P. Almonte hadn’t celebrated the Mass in Latin in about four decades, so when one of his parishioners at St. Bartholomew parish in Silver Lake suggested that he bring back the Latin Mass as part of the church’s 100-year jubilee, he knew that he would have some brushing up to do.
But the priest, who said Mass in Latin for the first four or five years after his ordination, in 1961, saw it as an opportunity to connect St. Bart’s parishioners to their past.
Not that it was going to be easy. While the edict issued by Pope Benedict XVI three months ago gave priests blanket permission to publicly celebrate the old Tridentine rite without having to get the approval of their bishop, there was still the problem of finding a cadre of altar servers who could recite the Latin responses and do the detailed choreography associated with a Solemn High Latin Mass.
Yesterday, as more than 400 people filtered into what some people still call the “new” St. Bart’s (having replaced the original building in 1969), 10 altar servers, all grown men, two deacons and two priests gathered in a room to don cassocks and robes, hoping that they would not forget what they had learned in three weeks of rehearsals.
Angelo DeFeo, 44, acknowledged that he had never been to a Latin Mass. “Don’t worry,” declared fellow altar server Ray Funaro, 64. “We’ll make a lot of mistakes, but nobody will know but us.”
At one time St. Bartholomew’s was an almost exclusively a parish of Italian immigrants, but has evolved over time into a parish with a large contingent of young Hispanic families who attend a Spanish- speaking Mass at 9:30 a.m. and an older, English-speaking congregation that worships at 11:30.
Yesterday the two congregations were joined. Though some critics have expressed disdain for what they see as a liturgy that does not encourage participation by the people, the Rev. Philip E. Lacombe of St. Timothy Church in Warwick, the visiting preacher, argued yesterday that there is participation in the Tridentine rite but of a different sort.
“Through this Mass people experience a profound sense that they are participating in a mystery,” Father Lacombe said.
“The priest’s back is not against the people, but rather the priest and people are facing in the same direction toward God,” he said.
Though there has been a weekly celebration of the old rite at Holy Name Church in Providence for the last 13 years, Pope Benedict’s edict allowing the rite’s wider use seems to be taking hold: the Rev. Kevin R. Fisette, pastor of St. Leo the Great parish in Pawtucket, announced that he will have a 5 p.m. “low” Latin Mass on the third Sunday of every month beginning Oct. 21. and the Rev. Douglas J. Spina polled his parishioners at St. Martha Church in East Providence and found 180 parishioners who would “commit” to attending a Latin Mass weekly. He plans to introduce the Mass in January.
Father Lacombe says St. Timothy’s is planning to celebrate the old rite on an “occasional basis.” Father Almonte said so many people were moved by yesterday’s Mass that he would consider doing the same.
Codified by Pope Pius V in 1570, the Tridentine rite was the dominant form of worship in the Catholic Church until the Second Vatican Council permitted Masses in the vernacular and Pope Paul VI promulgated a simpler “new order” Mass in the late 1960s.
As was customary under the old rite, parishioners yesterday knelt at a communion rail and received the hosts on the tongue.
Esther Yacavone said choir members had been practicing the Latin prayers for two months and was pleased with the result.
“Would I like to do it every week? No. But I would like it for my funeral. It was beautiful.”
2007 The Providence Journal. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
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posted October 10, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Huh. First I read about atheists in Alabama and Florida (where I live), and now I read about orthodox Catholics in Rhode Island. So much for the whole Red-Blue distinction.
Anyway, if people are getting interested in the Latin Mass, good for them. I’ve little experience with Catholic ritual of any religion, but from what I’ve heard from lots of people is that, as incomprehensible as the older version is, it is far more moving. Not sure if I would like it, but to each parish its own, I guess.
God bless.
posted October 10, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I live in RI and have a friend and her family that have been attending a church with the mass in Latin for years, before Benny “giving permission”, because they preferred it. RI has more Catholics per capita than any other state in the union, so the popularity of the Latin mass spreading here is no surprise.
posted October 10, 2007 at 7:55 pm
We did the Latin Mass once, in Missouri, and I believe it was for OUR church’s jubilee. All I remember about it (I was around 10 or so, I’m 26 now) was that it was REALLY neat and beautiful sounding and how my grandparents and father were one of the (extremely) few who could make the proper congregational responses without needing the handout they gave us.
Growing up, I could never understand why they didn’t KEEP the Latin in the Mass, after all, what better way to bring people of the same faith together throughout the world than to have EVERYONE hearing the same words in the same language?
Of course, I’m Agnostic now, so my opinion doesn’t have much sway with ANY Catholic congregation, but if I WERE Catholic, I’d try and get it into the parish more often.
posted October 10, 2007 at 10:07 pm
I can imagine the service (and the theology behind it) makes more sense in a language none of them understands. But if English was good enough for Jesus it should be good enough for them!
posted October 11, 2007 at 12:58 am
nnms, I’ve come across your posts a number of times, and I must admit that I am unsurprised that what I’ve gathered as your antipathy toward Christianity would come out as it does here. Why so perpetually hostile?
posted October 11, 2007 at 10:27 am
I am of two hearts on this. First, I know that the beauty and majesty of the Mass is best when experienced in the language of its original creation. The cadences and patterns flow and weave beautifully and it is easy to get caught up in all the nuances within.
However, I am no more familiar with latin than I am with Russian, Italian, Japanese, Lakota, or Swahili. All of these also afford beautfil music and poetry, none of which I understand. I once took a high school group to a nation wide church event in germany, We heard some German kids singing American Spirituals on the train, and our kids joined in. As we got to our tation the German kids asked ours what the songs meant – they only repeated syllables they learned, without meaning. This seems much the same. In many ways going back to the Latin mass seems like going to a Renaissance Fair. Lots of costumes, charicatures, and novelty. It becomes an entertainment rather than an opportunity to experience reverence.
pagansister,
I once went to school in RI – my sister lives there now (New Englander born and raised – and escaped to sunny Florida). I even played in Brass Quintets in some of the local churches – many years ago.
posted October 11, 2007 at 10:54 am
Quote: What better way to bring people of the same faith together throughout the world than to have EVERYONE hearing the same words in the same language.
Everyone would hear the same beautiful “sound”, but the meaning would only be guessed at. English is a universal language, that everyone understands in European countries and etc. It’s better to know what is being actually said in a service for anyone.
I’m sorry but I don’t agree that nnmns is hostile, he uses logic and his own take on Christianity. Lossen up a little you won’t fall apart.
posted October 11, 2007 at 11:04 am
Henrietta,
Just so we do not seem all arrogant and Anglo-centric, why not have the mass in Esperanto. It would be the saving grace for a dying effort at international inclusion. It is as Latin-esqu as it is Enlgish-lite, with enough other linguistic inclusions to both please and aggravate everyone. Isn’t that what religon does best?!
posted October 11, 2007 at 4:03 pm
jestrfyl:
Small world, huh? How many years did you live here? We moved here 14 years ago this month….husband’s last work assignment for a local construction company based in RI. All the moves were for them. He was born in MA and lived in RI until college. Of the 6 places we have lived together in 43 years, 8 were in Orlando. We really like it here, in spite of the cold. No family lives here, however, which is a drawback. They’re in NY, FL, AL and NC.
posted October 11, 2007 at 4:39 pm
I went to a now-defunct “Christian” college outside Providence about 35 years ago. We are on the west oast of FL now and love it. Grew up in CT, school in ME, lived there as well as USVI and VA. Love the winters here, summers are no worse than RI. We get back to CT once or twice a year.
“It’s a Small world (after all” -we all know the song!)
posted October 11, 2007 at 7:08 pm
I, too, was in RI, a little before you j. Coming from the country in the midwest it was an eye-opener for me. I learned to like lobster, sweet old-fashions, fish and chips, and Roger Williams’ attitude, among other things. If that suggests I observe with my stomach too much, it’s right.
posted October 11, 2007 at 7:17 pm
nnmns:
I also lived in Kansas, as a child, before Alabama and other states. Coming from the mid-west to my current stomping grounds certainly would have been an eye-opener.
posted October 11, 2007 at 7:19 pm
“nnms, I’ve come across your posts a number of times, and I must admit that I am unsurprised that what I’ve gathered as your antipathy toward Christianity would come out as it does here. Why so perpetually hostile?”
Michael I answered this on another board a couple days ago so I’ll make it short. I spent most of my life a quiet atheist but fundamentalist Christians have done and tried to do so many bad things that impact my life and those I love, that I do what little I can to point out the lack of foundation of the beliefs they use to do their bad work. A very few of the things they do or try to do: suppress real science teaching and real sex education, ignore global warming, elect the worst president we’ve probably ever had and on and on.
I know there are Christians I agree with on most things and I make them uncomfortable at times, and I feel bad about that but at least some of them here seem willing to tolerate me and I appreciate that. Basically if the moderate Christians took back their religion from the radical right I’d still disagree with their theology and occasionally say so but I’m sure I’d not come off as so perpetually hostile.
And btw I also point out the failings in other religions as the occasion arises
posted October 11, 2007 at 8:15 pm
nnms-
I am a Christian and am not bothered in the least by your lack of believe in God. Nor, does it have any effect on my belief nor, on my life. That is your choice not to believe in God….and I respect it. That said, we usually agree on most everything else.
There are many Christians that post here. We share a belief in God. However, with the exception of Henrietta22 and jestrfyl, I often disagree with most everything else they post.
So, I willl take an insightful atheist over a bigotted Christian any day.
Peace!
posted October 11, 2007 at 8:40 pm
John Q
Have you heard/read about the new church we are forming? It is the The Fifth Third Prodrastination of Peculiars – look for the particulars in the article about The Episcopal Leadership and the divide over homosexuality. As a tease, simply know I am on the hunt for a bagpiper, accodianist, or banjo picker. We already have tamborine and cowbell covered.
By the way, atheists are welcome, as are agnostics, devotees of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and anyone with knowledge about Nessie or sasquatch. O’, and I suppose we’ll accept Christians, too – but they better watch out. I think for now – out of shere laziness – we will stick with English. However, there may be a movement for Esperanto or maybe Cantonese. We’ll see.
posted October 12, 2007 at 1:08 am
John Q, I led you astray. The particulars abut our peculiars church straggles along under the “Christians are Anti-Gay” heading.
OK, gay people, come on in. Also staight and “a-” folks. Celibates of any and all orientation can join the party too.
We need to work on a Trademark and a mascot. I suggest the platypus (one of my favorite Easter animals). It is all things to all “people”/critters, and it has a venomous barb behind its back paddles. Cute but dangerous, that’s us!
posted October 12, 2007 at 12:21 pm
I suggest the platypus (one of my favorite Easter animals). It is all things to all “people”/critters, and it has a venomous barb behind its back paddles. Cute but dangerous, that’s us!
Easter platypus? Will there be shrimp for us to eat?
posted October 12, 2007 at 12:29 pm
If the Gays are invited, then I’ll have to join the Peculiars Church, too. May I bring my attack cat to add to the peculiar animals? No instrument, but I’ll sing off key for you.
posted October 12, 2007 at 3:45 pm
And I have a coatimundi, we can recreate a Noah’s Ark of Peculiar Animals? That actually sounds like an adorable children’s play to put on for the 1st Annual Prodrastination of Peculiars Potluck Party.
posted October 12, 2007 at 7:48 pm
H22 & I_L_Dragyn:
Welcome! Our little Peculiar’s group is getting larger….and as far as I know, all peculiar animals are welcome also. (attack cat and coatimundi).
Henrietta, your singing can accompany my really sad tambourine and cowbell playing.
Potluck? YUM!
posted October 12, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Hey with my herd of animals we could use an ark of some kind. I have a great little tiger salamander that likes cliff diving, several snakes, birds, cats, dogs, turtles and other swimming things.
I also offer to the table my drumming skills on a dumbek.
As for Latin bringing people together it didn’t become a dead language with out reason. Besides I agree, English is best, it relates to many different languages with all the words that have been in cooperated into it. I attended a service as a child in the Latin and found it even more boring than the regular services. I don’t think that will help the RC church keep young members.
posted October 12, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Ruairi:
You and your drumming skill are most welcome! Someone in this group has to know how to play an instrument!
You do have a varity of little creatures.
posted October 13, 2007 at 12:31 pm
OK, we have the basics for our ChrismaChannaDenaliSolstice pagaent. Who is working on the script, or should it just be improve, or maybe simply vidoe of the animals romping (and us trying to kepp them fro eating each other) with a sonorous narration that tells the story “’bout a man named Fred, a poor ‘Piscopalian, tried to get the gay foks wed, when he was out one day…”- you fill in the rest.
Dumbek drumming is most excellent, but we still need an accordian, banjo, and bagpipe. With this band the only key we could possibly sing in is “r” for ‘Rong!
Sounds like the tiger salamander and the platypus should get along well. Is the salamander into long walks on the beach, dinner at sunset (grubs and worms?), candle light and long conversations about interspecies romance?
posted October 13, 2007 at 11:40 pm
We do well in this household with interspecies romances. I have threesomes going with my snakes, a ball python, corn snake and sand boa who happily live together. we also have the cockiteils and a parakeet as a group. The salamander and turtle live together now, but I am sure they would welcome a platypus playmate. We are definitely into the long walks on the beach although I myself prefer shrimp.
My husband plays the guitar, piano, and tin flutes so he can be a good addition to the group. His drumming is much better than mine too.
As a former piscapalian, I like this version oh so much better. Can we still have some kewl stain glassed windows? Perhaps a wonderful sunset with the platypus and Salamander in a loving embrace.
posted October 14, 2007 at 12:26 am
OK, it sounds zoologically kinky, but I’m with you. Maybe a scene from our ChrismaChannaDenaliSolstice pagaent would be a good subject.
Personally I prefer my shrimp in the water, being food for bigger and badder sealife.
Tin flutes will be an excellent additon to the Worlds Most Annoying Band – though pan flutes a la Zamfir would be great too.
Any other takers for the Fifth Third Prodrastination Church of Peculiars?
posted October 14, 2007 at 1:04 pm
jestrfyl:
Personnally I think Improv would be fun..but others might think differently.
posted October 14, 2007 at 11:41 pm
OHHH improv works for me, I use to do that as a catagory in speech and debate contests in collage. I can BS my way through almost anything. Sounds like I am ready for stirring the masses. Blessed Be!
posted October 15, 2007 at 12:26 pm
OK, we need suggestions for improv “sermons” or songs. Shall we do it like “Clue”, with a person, and object, and a place, or some variants like that? Or we could go with the “A minister, a priest, and a rabbi” kind of thing, replacing each role with other amusing folks. How about “A Jester, a Pagan, and a TV evangelist walk into a Cathedral” – what happens next? Creativity over neatness, collaboration is better than solo ventures, spelling is optional (say he with fat fingers that never find the right keys) but clarity helps.
posted October 15, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Instead of “Old MacDonald” we could try and sing “Old Creator”(had a World?) and on this world she had a …..? Maybe I could bang on my tambourine hard enough to drown out the singing?
Sorry, best I could come up with at this time (10:15 PM).
posted October 16, 2007 at 12:28 am
Old Creator had a (supply the name of the new dinosaur fossil that was unearthed in Brazil) E I E I Ooooo.And that (super huge fossil) had a giant appetite E I E I Oooo.
With a chomp chomp here
OK you get the picture. the hard part will be rhyming the dinosaur’s name. The fun part will be singing this for Creationists. everyone, Join In, with a chomp chomp here and a stomp stomp there
here a chomp, there a stomp, everywhere they chomp & stomp…
posted October 16, 2007 at 9:20 pm
How about this one… Okay the tunes not perfect nor the rhyme, guess I am just really bored tonight
Wading in the water , wading in the water ameboas, wading in the water, whats a growing in that um water?
Must be the stromatolites bateria led
Whats a growing in that um water?
Wading in the water , wading in the water ameboas, wading in the water, whats a growing in that um water?
Must be the tribolites moving to land
Whats a growing in that um water?
Wading in the water , wading in the water ameboas, wading in the water, whats a growing in that um water?
Must be the children that moses led
posted October 17, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Ruariri
Awesome beginning. But let’s not start another inter-religious war. I love the evolutionary theme! We may need a sledge hammer to mash those rascally syllables into place.
posted October 19, 2007 at 12:58 pm
The last line was actually accidentally left on. I had it there so I could keep the rhythm of the song in my head. It was when it posted that i saw it lol.
We use to sing that song at girl scout camp way back when. The syllables actually aren’t too bad, I have a friend who does parodies of all kinds of songs, I guess he is rubbing off on me.
posted October 19, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Ruairi:
Does your song have a tune I would recognize? Just wondering.