Westminster Abbey Choir joined with the Sistine Chapel Choir at the Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul to provide music for the Mass and Imposition of the Pallium on Metropolitan Archbishops at the Vatican Basilica on June 29, 2012.
The combined choirs sing "Tu es Petrus" by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina at the entry procession:
During Holy Communion the Abbey choir sings "Ave verum corpus" by William Byrd:
General Audience
Last week the English (and Scots) Ordinariate celebrated its first year of existence — and did so in style, with a pilgrimage to Rome led by our Ordinary, Mgr Keith Newton. You may already have seen photographs on other websites; this is just a personal sketch of what happened to us in those memorable six days.
We flew from three different British airports, Heathrow and Gatwick and Bristol — and some even came by train. We began as strangers, and certainly ended as friends. It is so good to learn about others' experience of new beginnings, often with only a handful of people setting out as Catholics. Some of the priests are now running Catholic Parishes, others are supporting themselves and their families in various chaplaincies while involved with their Ordinariate Group and also nearby Catholic Parishes.
The Ordinary with Deacon Bradley (l) and Music Director Michael Vian Clark (with scarf)
The young director of music from Buckfast Abbey somehow conjured a choir out of a group of disparate pilgrims, and managed some wonderful music, plainchant and Anglican hymnody, different for every Mass. We even found the confidence to sing in the packed Audience Hall to the Holy Father and assorted Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Religious and faithful laity from around the world. "Praise to the Holiest" by our Patron, John Henry Newman, can seldom have been heard in such a setting.
Scots preacher Fr Len Black at St Joseph's Altar in St Peter's
But then, we also sang in St Peter's, bringing our Anglican Patrimony into those walls created by Michaelangelo and Borromini, adorned with sculptures and paintings of great beauty. More than one of our party was in tears by the end of that Mass, when we gathered before the tomb of Peter and said the General Thanksgiving from the 1662 English Prayer Book.
Quite a Sacristy - in S Peter's Basilica
So much of the Pilgrimage was about 'coming home', back to our origins. In San Giorgio Valabro — it sounds so much more exotic than St George's in the Marsh, which is its translation – we remembered John Henry Newman, whose titular church this was when he became a Cardinal. There a couple from my own group in Bournemouth were received and chrismated into the Catholic Church by Mgr Keith, and their delight at being in Communion with the Holy Father and the entire Catholic Church inspired us all.
Brian and Barbel, still smiling
St Gregory's was also a matter of going back to base, for it was from this monastery that Gregory the Great sent monks to convert England — among them Augustine of Canterbury and Paulinus of York, to say nothing of the first bishops of London and Rochester. By this time the Italian media had begun to catch up with our Group, and the Ordinary had to stay in our Hotel fending them off so that we might continue our pilgrimage undisturbed.
Ancient Ikon of Our Lady in San Gregorio's
Although it had rained on our first day, the weather grew ever better by the day. On Thursday we went up into the hills, to Subiaco and the roots of Western Monasticism. The Sacro Speco or holy cave is where Benedict led a hermit's life for three years, before beginning to build his first monastery, now known as St Scholastica's, it is the only survivor of the ten original foundations. The others have been destroyed down the years by invaders, by earthquakes and other such disasters. The hospitality in St Scholastica's was in the great Benedictine tradition. We sunned ourselves on the terraces, yet less than a fortnight before there had been such a snowfall (the greatest in fifty years) that they had been cut off for days, and many trees were brought down by the weight of snow.
So many people made us welcome wherever we went. The kindness of the parish priest at Santa Maria del Popolo on our last morning was typical of the generosity of everyone we came across. There is a genuine interest in the Ordinariate, a sense that something great is just beginning to bud and blossom. I hope the few pictures posted here might give a little flavour of what we were given during our days of thanksgiving for the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. There are more to be added, but it is late and my computer is refusing to download any more just now. Good night!
I'm in Rome right now with a wonderful group of students from our parish school. What a joy it is to be with them — they have such a marvellous faith, and they're completely awestruck by everything they're experiencing. This morning we were at St. Peter's Basilica, and as we were going by the tomb of Blessed John Paul, they asked especially if we could stop for prayer there, so we did. As I knelt with them, I called to mind all those who are preparing to enter the Ordinariates, and especially the many of you whom I have met, or spoken with by phone.
Late this afternoon we celebrated Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, and the Cardinal Archpriest greeted us beforehand. The students sang the Arcadelt "Ave Maria" for him, and he was visibly moved, commenting that he could tell by their singing that they had a deep love for the faith, and for the Blessed Mother. As I celebrated Mass in that wonderful place, once again I prayed for all those preparing to enter into full communion with the Holy See, asking the special prayers of the Virgin Mary for your intentions.
The Vatican and Villanova University have teamed-up to produce a spectacular virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel. The detail is absolutely phenomenal! Don't click on the link unless you want to get lost for hours!
The producers of the tour claim that that the digital view is clearer and steadier than the one a tourist on the spot would get using high-powered binoculars.
The team has also produced virtual tours of the Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran and the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls. It is expected that a virtual tour of St. Peter's Basilica will be available by early summer.
CNA reports that changes have been made to the security protocols governing processions in the Vatican Basilica. Amongst other changes, the aisle is to be widened, providing a deeper buffer around the Pope, concelebrants, and accompanying ministers in procession and allowing security personnel greater room to maneuver should they be required to interpose themselves between the Supreme Pontiff and an attacker.
The near-tragic event at St. Peter's on Christmas Eve should give pause to all Catholic Anglicans. There is every reason to believe that without Benedict XVI on the papal throne, there would be no Anglicanorum Coetibus. The Apostolic Constitution is very much the product of this visionary pontiff's revolutionary ecumenical mind. [Indeed in many ways, it could be argued that Benedict XVI is the first "Anglican" pope!] Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, has guided the TAC initiative from the very beginning and it was the force of his generous will that resulted in the offer of personal ordinariates to give Catholic Anglicans a place of honor and protection in the Universal Church.
Over the past weeks we have rejoiced in the release of the Apostolic Constitution, we have studied its contents, and we have looked forward to a glorious future of unity and communion in the heart of the Catholic Church. But it is important to understand that, at the present moment, no personal ordinariates have yet been erected. Arrangements have not been made with local episcopal conferences; statutes and particular norms for the future ordinariates have yet to be drafted. The provinces of the TAC are only now beginning the process of applying for the establishment of the structures that will receive them. Our future is by no means certain. And potentially, all could be lost were the Holy Father to be incapacitated (or worse) by an attack — or a simple accident. This year, the Pope will be 83 years old.
Nor ought we forget that there exist powerful forces, visible and invisible, that are striving against the Holy Father and his hopes of reconciling traditionalist Anglicans to the Catholic Church. Liberal local bishops, progressive episcopal conferences, curial officials, and Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church are arrayed against him. And there are far more powerful forces at work besides!
In his short pontificate, Benedict XVI has already promulgated Summorum Pontificum and Anglicanorum Coetibus, but even these may pale in comparison with the achievements yet to come!
Each and every one of us should make it our habit to pray daily for the health and strength of the Vicar of Christ, that God may grant him long life, and that his plans for the unity of the Church and the restoration of tradition may bear abundant fruit.
V. Let us pray for Benedict XVI, our Pope.
R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. [Ps 40:3]
Our Father, Hail Mary.
O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Benedict XVI, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.