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Solemn High Mass at Kenrick

This morning, in accordance with the provisions of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, there was celebrated a solemn high Mass at Kenrick. The priest was Father Lenhardt of the ICRSP, and the deacon and subdeacon were some of our own seminarians.

I was the thurifer, which I enjoyed because I got to be closer to the sacred ministers and assist them.

Of course, many of us had to learn what to do, having never assisted besides possibly in choir at a Mass in the older use, but everything went very well.

Update: See many more pictures from Jeff Geerling.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 14th, 2007 at 1:05 PM and is filed under liturgy, personal, photographs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to “Solemn High Mass at Kenrick”

Gravatar Larry
Posted September 16th, 2007 at 5:22 PM.

The photos are very nice. You are in several of them. So explain the distinction to me between Mass and High Holy Mass.

Gravatar Dylan
Posted September 16th, 2007 at 5:29 PM.

Well, of course every Mass is infinitely holy because of the presence of Christ. The degree of solemnity of the visible actions, however, does vary. (I don’t want to give the impression that one Mass is objectively ‘holier’ than another.)

In the ordinary form of the Roman Rite, we have different degrees of solemnity: ferial day, memorial, feast, solemnity. However, we also have much more flexibility with things like: what parts of the Mass are sung, is a deacon present, etc. These elements can be present or absent basically ad lib according to the circumstances.

In the extraordinary form, there are the distinctions among which days are more solemn just as today (only with a more complicated system), however, there are “classes” of Masses which specify which parts are sung, who is present, etc.

Low Mass: Just a priest, with parts of the Mass recited.
High Mass: Just a priest, parts of the Mass sung.
Solemn High Mass: Priest, Deacon, Subdeacon (each performing his own duties), parts of the Mass sung.

Gravatar Mom
Posted September 16th, 2007 at 10:44 PM.

Stunning. Beautiful.

Gravatar Larry
Posted September 23rd, 2007 at 9:06 PM.

Thank you for that explanation. Now please explain the meaning of “solemnity” as you are using it in relation to Mass. Thank you.

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