Mallow Street

We are approaching Pope Benedict’s year’s mind on 31 December and this edition of Mass of Ages contains a range of articles looking at aspects of his life and legacy. We owe much to the pope of Summorum Pontificum. There will be a Sung Requiem for him at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane on Monday 8 January at 6.30 pm and other churches will no doubt be marking his anniversary too.

The high point of the summer was the Walsingham Pilgrimage, which saw 200 pilgrims walk from Ely to Walsingham over three days. Each day there was a full High Mass with polyphony and there were spiritual talks, rosary, hymn singing and devotions throughout the walk. The ranks swelled on the third day, with more than 400 pilgrims present in deepest Norfolk for a glorious outdoor High Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady.

A setback since the last edition of Mass of Ages has been the cancellation of the annual Requiem at Westminster Cathedral. This has been an important occasion for the LMS and the church more widely since it was begun by Cardinal Heenan after he secured the 1971 ‘English Indult’ allowing the traditional Mass from St Paul VI.  The 1962 Missal will continue to be used in the cathedral on First Saturdays with a Low Mass at 4 pm. A Sung Requiem with Absolutions for deceased members was held at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane on 6 November, and Holy Mass continues to be offered each week for the living and deceased members of the society.

The Chairman’s Message in this edition explains why the LMS has decided to discontinue Mass Listings in Mass of Ages. Instead, members will receive listings as a supplement distributed together with the magazine.  LMS Local Representatives and staff at Mallow Street remain on hand to answer enquiries about the traditional Latin Mass in any particular area.

We’ve had an enquiry about LMS elections. This year our new officers and committee members were elected unopposed. Any member wishing to stand for office can see full details here: lms.org.uk/constitution.

Our Local Representatives meeting in October heard mixed reports from around the country. Clergy moves are presenting a problem in places, with some incoming clergy unwilling or unable to celebrate the Old Rite. But the mood was surprisingly optimistic. There were upbeat reports of growing congregations. In places where the traditional Rite is allowed to flourish, we see a phenomenon of young families and people from across all age ranges who have a newfound dedication to the traditional Mass.  We continue to rely on the kindly support of our bishops and priests, few of whom seem enthusiastic about Rome’s liturgical volte-face of recent years.