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Also a sad day for me. For some years, the La Crosse Cathedral has hosted a First Friday Ordinary Form Latin Mass of which I sang in choir. The priest who said Mass each month is reassigned to another area and, well, nobody comes. I'm not sure why. One would think, First Friday, great devotion, Gregorian Chant, Latin, but people just didn't care. I guess this is part of a longer post I've meant to do on the La Crosse Catholic scene. But the message that Catholics in La Crosse have been sending the powers that be is that an all Latin Ordinary Form liturgy will not succeed or be well attended in the city. I'm sure the diocese is taking note. But on the other hand, we get to do a sendoff in style, providentially the Solemnity is on First Friday this year. Also, my First Fridays are now open to trips down to see my homeboys in Madison more often.
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My husband and I moved here from Madison late last summer and had been enjoying the opportunity to attend First Fridays at the Cathedral after we discovered them this winter. As you said, tonight's was particularly poignant for the Solemnity. I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts on here at some point about where the diocese is heading regarding Latin/the TLM. We are involved with Una Voce (I use "involved" very loosely - we've been out of town for the majority of Masses), but would be curious to have a better understanding of the culture in the diocese.
Here's a rundown of Milwaukee: The Institute of Christ the King, at Saint Stanislaus Parish, offers the TLM every day. It's a bright spot in this archdiocese, which is still heavily saturated with Weakland holdovers and loyalists. Even in the more "conservative" circles, there is still much hostility to the TLM and zero interest in seeing it expand outside of Saint Stanislaus. The (few) younger priests we have are good men who love the Church, but I have not seen a lot of interest from them in the TLM. A lot of this stems from seminary formation, which gives Latin and the history of liturgy in general short shrift. Milwaukee wants to present a fresh narrative of turning the page and moving forward, but how that can be done with Weakland's friends still holding prominent positions of authority remains a mystery. Saint Anthony's on the South Side has the best Novus Ordo liturgy around, but with its two priests leaving soon, one wonders what will happen there.
BCs! As an advisor (albeit from the Milwaukee area), I would like to make a quick note. There really is not much interest (anywhere) in a non-EF Latin High mass. I personally think such worship can only succeed if a pastor takes over and truly inculcates the sense of the sacred in his parish, or a bishop throughout his whole diocese. It's alright, just stick to the EF!
In regards to Anonymous, it is a great day to be a traditional Catholic in the ArchMil! There is a plenty of opportunity for the brave!
Ah, so that was you sitting out there! I plan to do a later post. If you were ever interested in joining any of the Una Voce meetings, let me know(matt@badgercatholic.com), they are at my house ever few months or so.
I thought it was very interesting to know that it was then Fr. Raymond Burke who helped get it started that some odd 40 years ago.
Right, I've heard that before about OF LM, but it is successful in places like St. Agnes in St. Paul or (I think) St. John Cantius. But it is curious that I've heard many OF only Catholics say they want more Latin in their liturgy, or a "more reverent" liturgy, but those same Catholics have to show up to events where priests are making a good effort to meet the request.
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