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Showing posts with label Vocations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vocations. Show all posts

Saturday 14 June 2008

Toronto Archbishop Thomas C. Collins celebrates Mass in Latin "ad orientem"

To the musical perfection of Giovanni Pierluigi Palestrina's Missa Veni Sponsa Christi and William Byrd's Confirma Hoc, Deus; Toronto Archbishop Thomas Christopher Collins today ordained the Reverend Brother Michael Eades to the Diaconate.

Reverend Brother Eades is a new Deacon of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Toronto.

Archbishop Collins celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass according to the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite (1970/2000 Roman Missal) in Latin and facing "ad orientem"--to the east.

The significance of this cannot be underestimated.

"Ad orientem" has been mistakenly been referred to as the priest saying Mass with his "back to the people." This posture is the norm in the Traditional Latin Mass or the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite as referred to in Pope Benedict's motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum. However, what is little understood by the catholic-laity and many priests is that the Novus Ordo or Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite can and should be celebrated in this posture. In two places in the rubrics of the Mass the priest is instructed to "turn" to the people presuming, therefore, that he is not already facing them!

Archbishop Collins was an inspiration this morning leading the congregation "on a pilgrimage" with his "face before God." He spoke in his homily of the need for all us to evangelise while linking that with the day's scripture readings and what is now a particular charism imparted by the Holy Spirit through His Grace upon Reverend Brother Eades as he is now able to proclaim the Gospel at Mass.

Founded by Father Jonathan Robinson, C.O. the Fathers of the Toronto Oratory serve two parishes, Holy Family where the Oratory is located and St. Vincent de Paul, the neigbouring parish. Saint Philip's Seminary is an apostolate of the Oratory. It is affiliated with the Pontifical University of the Lateran and has been authorised to grand degrees by the Province of Ontario. It accepts students for the priesthood who are sponsored by their diocese or by their religious order.

May God abundantly bless Archbishop Collins as he shepherd's this most difficult archdiocese.

May God abundantly bless Father Jonathan Robinson and all the Fathers and Brothers of the Oratory for their work and service to His people in Toronto.

May God abundantly bless Reverend Brother Michael Eades as he continues along the journey of the call of Our LORD to His holy priesthood.

This morning, for the first time in my life I kissed a Bishop's ring.

It was the first time in my life that I actually wanted to!

Special thanks to Greg Schilhab for the Copyright photos.
You can visit and see his wonderful work at:

www.gregschilhab.com