Latin Mass at Wigan Cancelled

Some months ago, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest started saying a Latin Mass on Sundays and Wednesdays at the church of St Mary in Wigan.  This was with the approval of Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon, the Archbishop of Liverpool, although he did ask that the Masses should not be publicly advertised.

Despite the lack of publicity, these Masses were very well attended, with a congregation of 90 on Sundays and 40 on Wednesdays.

It has now been announced that the archbishop has instructed that these Masses be discontinued.  There is a very short notice about this development on the church's website, but it does not give any explanation.

Petition to Save the Latin Mass

 

Yesterday, Sir James McMillan, the Catholic composer started a petition to stop the ban on the traditional Latin Mass.  Within 16 hours, the petition had gained 1600 signatures.  The petition can be found at Change.org   Here is a quick reference.

Youth Lead the Way

The Chartres Pilgrimage, that takes place every year over the Feast of Pentecost, has a growing popularity.  It is a grueling three day walk from Paris to Chartres that attracts traditional Catholics (mostly young people) from all over the world.  This year 18,000 pilgrims took part, which compares with 16,000 in 2023.  No doubt there would have been many more had the organisers not found it necessary to limit the numbers for practical and logistical reasons.

The Oviedo to Cavadongo Pilgrimage, which takes place every July, is a Spanish version of the Chartres Pilgrimage.  Last year it attracted 3,000 pilgrims, which was a huge increase on the previous year.  Reports from the organisers indicate that bookings for 2024 are well up on last year.  A few days ago, it became known that the Dicastery for Divine Worship had banned the Solemn Latin Mass in the great Shrine Church in Cavadongo that was to have  been the culmination of the pilgrimage.

It does seem that the Vatican authorities are getting a little desperate in their attempts to curtail the use of the Latin Mass.  However, all is not lost.  The pilgrimage will go ahead with the final Mass offered at a temporary altar set up at the final campsite.  After the Mass, the pilgrims will process to the Shrine, where there will sing the Te Deum before the exposed Blessed Sacrament.  I have little doubt that the publicity generated by the banning of the final Mass will have the result of boosting the numbers attending, and serving to promote the Latin Mass cause generally.  Here is a picture from last year's Cavadongo Pilgrimage.

In late August, there will be another opportunity for young people in particular to join a walking pilgrimage, and to demonstrate their support for the Latin Mass.  This is the Walsingham Pilgrimage organised by the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales.  It takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend and involves walking 76 miles.  It has grown steadily in size in recent years, attracting about 200 pilgrims last year.  For more information and to make a booking, visit the Latin Mass Society website.

Advanced Notice

 

Feast of Corpus Christi

 

There will be a Solemn Mass in St Wilfrid's Church (the York Oratory) at 6pm on Thursday 30th May, the Feast of Corpus Christi.  It will be followed by a procession bearing the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of York, and then Benediction back in the church  This is what tprocession looked like last year.

   The musical setting of the Mass wilolo be Josquin's Missa P:angue Lingua.

Ascension Day No Mass in Hull

Please note that the Latin Mass that normally takes place at the Church of Our Lady and St Peter Chanel in Hull on Thursday evenings will NOT take place on Ascension Day.  This is because Fr Massie has to say a Novus Ordo Mass at that time.

Feast of the Ascension

The Feast of the Ascension will be on Thursday, 9th May.  As is usual on major feast days, there will be a Solemn Mass at the York Oratory at 6pm.

There will also be a Latin Mass for the Feast of the Ascension at the church of Our L:ady and St Peter Chanel at 7.30pm.

CORRECTION

There will be NO Latin Mass on Ascension Day in Hull

Pilgrimage in Preston

 

 Pilgrimage in honour of the Martyrs of England & Wales

Saturday 4^th May

There will be a pilgrimage in honour of the English Martyrs in Preston on Saturday 4^th May. The pilgrimage will begin with devotions in the Church of St Walburge at 10.30am before pilgrims process to the Church of the English Martyrs, which is a distance of about a mile. There will be a Solemn Mass offered by the Canons of the Institute of Christ the King at the English Martyrs Church beginning at around 11.30 and this will be followed by veneration of relics. Tea and coffee will be provided after Mass.

The postcode for St Walberge’s Church is PR2 2QE, and for English Martyrs Church is PR1 1NA.

Here is a picture of the procession leaving St Walburge’s taken in 2018.

Triduum Cancelled in Diocese of Westminster

 

The Latin Mass Society has issued a press release (reproduced below) about the Archbishop of Wstminster refusing peremission for the celebration of the sacred services of  Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday in the Diocese of Westminster.  This is despite these services having taken place in the diocese fcor almost 30 years.

It is interesting to note that the Archbishop states that his decision is "for trhe sake of the wider provision", although it is difficult to understand how the wider provision is affected by having the services in their ancient form at one locatiion.

Candlemas

 Friday 2nd February is the Feast of thbe Purification, or Candlemas.  There will be a Sung Mass at the York Oratory at 6pm.  See previous post for the music.