St. Agnes to discontinue Orchestral/Sung Masses in EF, will only offer in Ordinary Form

10:00 a.m. OF Sung Latin High Mass in September

In an effort to respond to Pope Benedict’s Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum , and the requests of the faithful, Fr. Ubel began the practice of alternating the OF and EF Forms at the 10:00 a.m. Sung Mass. I commend him for his generosity and ingenuity. The Orchestral Masses and the Gregorian chant have served as unifying elements as we alternate from one Form to the other each Sunday; however, liturgical calendar issues still remain, as well as, whether or not this alternation is promoting the stability envisioned in Summorum Pontificum . As an example of the calendar difficulties, just two weeks ago we entered into the EF pre-Lenten time when we celebrated Sexagesima and then returned back to the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time last Sun- day. In addition, many parishioners who desire the EF Mass find themselves alternating churches from week to week. Since Saint Augustine Church in South Saint Paul has been offering an EF Mass for quite some time in the later morning, it would seem prudent to offer an early morning Mass in order to offer the faithful another consistent opportunity and not to “compete” or conflict with other parishes.

I have had a couple of requests for the 10:00 a.m. Mass be celebrated only in the EF. That would be a great loss to Saint Agnes and the Local Church. Saint Agnes has literally been known throughout the world for the past four decades because of its Sung High Mass according to the Missal of Paul VI. Monsignor Schuler, with admirable knowledge and courage, carefully implemented the New Mass by obediently enacting the Council’s desire for the preservation of Latin, Chant and Sacred Music.

Therefore, starting September 15, 2013, the 10 a.m. Mass will return to being celebrated in Latin as a Sung Mass in the Ordinary Form with the only exceptions being Christmas and Easter. ( The Midnight Mass and the Easter Vigil Masses are already OF. )

Details at St. Agnes Bulletin

I understand the concerns I guess, it would be hard to keep track week to week which form for which Sunday.  The details state that there will now be a regular 7:30 am EF Mass now.  I would take either form in the Schuler model if I could get it! 

Well perhaps with time those singers with devotion to the EF could offer more complex settings for the 7:30 Mass as time goes on.  .... I'd still say that for feast days that hopefully an EF can still be included.

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