Cleansing Fire

Defending Truth and Tradition in the Roman Catholic Church

Communion Antiphons > “One Bread, One Body”

August 28th, 2010, Promulgated by Gen

A diligent and devoted reader of Cleansing Fire emails us the following snippet of glorious news:

“This evening’s Mass at Our Lady of Victory was among the best I have ever had the pleasure of being present for. To start with, the altar (i.e. “old High Altar”) and the Cranmer table were both decked out with regal simplicity, with green altar linens, simple lace linens, and perfectly symmetrical candles. That’s a big thing with me, having a symmetrical sanctuary, but that’s beside the point. The second dose of awesomeness was the fact that Deacon Scott Caton was the homilist for the Mass – and what a homily he gave! Talk about defending the Truth with “clarity and charity”! His reverence, coupled with Fr. Antinarelli’s customary liturgical decorum, was tops. Had I your tremendous and umlimited authority, I would confer upon the whole lot a “nod of the miter.”

But that’s not even the best part. At Communion, my ears were greeted, not with a Eucharistic hymn, per se, but something absolutely transcendent. It was today’s Communion antiphon, chanted in Latin, with an English verse. Now that’s “mutual enrichment.” The cantor’s love for the ancient musical traditions of the Church was undeniable. I commend him on it. For anyone not familiar with this weekend’s proper communion antiphon, it can be found here (in English).

Our Lady of Victory is the best parish in the diocese when it comes to enacting what Vatican II intended. Rather than tacky hymns glorifying the created, there is a sense of awe at the contemplation of the Creator. The use of Latin is just so that it enriches the soul without seeming heavy-handed or politically-motivated. There’s no sense of hesitancy, impropriety, indecency, confusion, disorder, or division. All those present do the same thing, say the same words, believe the same thing. Absolutely tremendous. I hope that this introduction of some of the Gregorian propers of the Mass will continue and grow in time. Fr. Antinarelli deserves to be commended by all for his untarnished fidelity to the liturgy and the Church which is its guardian. The seeds have been planted, and I look forward to seeing them burst into bloom.”

I yield to our brother’s request – an official Nod of the Miter goes to Fr. Antinarelli, David O’Donnell, the parishioners at Our Lady of Victory, and anyone who has the audacity to prove their literacy by doing what the documents of Vatican II actually say.

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4 Responses to “Communion Antiphons > “One Bread, One Body””

  1. Bernie says:

    Mass at OLV is almost -almost- exactly what I think the Council fathers had in mind. If Mass were celebrated with priest and people facing the same direction then I think it would be exactly what they had in mind. I doubt Buffalo Road would let that happen, however.

  2. TL says:

    We were there by chance and I agree! My heart was at peace, my 14-year-old wasn’t bored, and the homily actually taught something. It was wonderful to go to Mass and actually get…Mass!

  3. Christopher says:

    Bernie, where have you read what the council father’s had in mind for the mass. I am curious to read it for myself if it’s online.

    Thanks,
    Christopher

  4. Gen says:

    It’s mostly in Sacrosanctum Concillium, the Council’s main document on the Liturgy. A simple google search will yield bountiful fruits. Also, do a search for the writings of Cardinal Ottaviani. It should instill in you a sense of what is being discussed here.

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