Solemn High Mass in Phoenix

Today (Sunday, June 6, 2004) for the first time since this Diocese was created in 1969 a licit Tridentine Solemn High Mass was celebrated in Phoenix.

The Mass was to begin at 1 p.m. and today it was 110 degrees at noon. I left in time to get there 1/2 hour early so as to find a place to park that would not require me to walk too far in the heat. When I arrived, actually 40 minutes early, the parking lot was already quite full and the Church was about 3/4 full - by 12:45 there was standing room only with spillover along the walls and in the vestibule. The pastor also commented on how they had obviously underestimated the number who would be in attendance -- no kidding!!!!

The Diocesan Office had estimated that about 200-400 people would be in attendance and 300 copies of the booklet missal from Ecclesia Dei Society had been ordered. Well, that 300 was not nearly enough and the total attendance was placed at 1,300. It is also reported that many people called later to say they could not find a parking place and were unable to attend.

Women with veils were prominent throughout the congregation and many with hats. Few were bare headed.

Before the Mass began there was a brief ceremony of induction for the 12 newly trained young men who would serve as Altar Boys. The pastor of the Church conducted the ceremony which was quite beautiful. Before the ceremony he talked about how these young men would experience something quite different from the altar serves at the N.O. Mass and how many priests had served as altar boys in their youth. He asked us all to pray for them to discern if a future vocation as priests was to be theirs.

I think I found the installation of the altar boys as moving as the Mass. They ranged in age from about 8-10 to late teens, several of them being brothers from the same family. I could not get over how well trained they had become in such a short time.

They came into the church in procession, heads bowed, hands together with fingers pointing heavenward - seated in the two front rows. As each name was called they moved to a kneeling position at the communion kneelers. They wore only their cassocks for the ceremony. After agreeing to certain promises, like being on time, uphholding the faith, living a life that would not cause scandal, etc., they were each presented with their surplices individually, each one kissing the surplice they received. They processed from the ceremony with hand placed over their hearts -- 16 in all were installed.

The Church still has the high altar with tabernacle behind it, probably why it was chosen as the one where this and future Tridentine Masses will be held. It is a very beautiful older Church at about 24th Street and Campbell, St. Thomas the Apostle. The pastor has removed the "table" permanently from the sanctuary and all Masses in the parish are now said at the main altar under the baldachino.

The music was exquisite and was conducted by J. Richard Haefer, an assistant professor of music at the Arizona State University who specializes in both sacred and ethnic music and gregorian chant. The remainder of the summer Masses will be low Mass but Richard was signing up people for the choir both schola and mixed for the ordinary.

Two priests served communion but with such a large crowd, it took a long while to accommodate all the people. But no one seemed to mind, all knelt and prayed. Every face I saw looked joyful.

There was a social afterwards which was well attended - so many people I talked with, like me, have prayed for a long time for this. Those of us who love the Tridentine Mass do so for the beauty of it, the mystery, the spirituality we experience there and do not experience at the N.O. Mass and for us this was a great occasion and blessing for which we thank John Paul II and Bishop Olmsted. "Give me that Old Time Religion", bell ringing, breast beating, communion kneeling, head covering, incensing, internal participation, organ music, choir out of site in the loft, solemnity, and yes Latin.

Special report from Billie Chiricuzio

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