Martin Mosebach in New York

Correspondents from the two most prestigious newspapers of the German speaking world – the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (“FAZ”) and the Neue Zuercher Zeitung (“NZZ”) – reported on the solemn high mass at the Church of Our Saviour in New York last Sunday and on the presentation by Martin Mosebach and Fr. Uwe Lang which followed. These reports show clearly the favorable impression that the Traditional Roman Rite leaves even on those outside the ranks of committed traditionalists. Father Rutler’s beautiful church on Park Avenue was completely full for the occasion. Jordan Mejias of the FAZ described the setting: “The Church of Our Saviour in New York … is a house of God that has translated into life stylistic influences from many centuries, right up to the splendor of the icons in their golden background, reminiscent of Byzantium.” He wondered whether the large congregation had come to absorb the Roman Rite or to listen to Martin Mosebach.

Mr. Mejias was equally impressed by the singing of both the choir and the congregation: “One could clearly perceive that the congregation of the Church of Our Saviour was already very conversant with this liturgy. The congregation mastered its role in the responses – sung of course in Latin – with complete assurance. They were surpassed only by the choir which not only accompanied but also shaped and filled with life the high mass with Gregorian chant and excerpts from Ockeghem’s Missa Prolationum (in canon form).“

“The reception for the guest, described as a “profound thinker and Catholic Traditionalist” was more than just warm.” Mejias noted that Mosebach was visiting New York as a guest of the Society of St Hugh of Cluny which is dedicated to realizing the intentions of the pope as set forth in Summorum Pontificum. The Society, “founded only last July, intends to initiate priests into the half forgotten rite, to organize conferences and to reconcile the liturgy once again with great art and music. In the context, Mosebach could be introduced without any exaggeration as a star and as an author whose incisive and cogent case for the Roman rite is unmatched in the entire world. The Society was not disappointed. …. Mosebach read from the English version of
his “Heresy of Formlessness” and earned great adulation – judging from the lengthy applause and the long line for autographs.” (I should add that Fr. Lang had presented a detailed introduction to Mosebach’s work and the current status of the Traditional liturgy under Summorum Pontificum.) The reporter only regretted that Mosebach seemed to be speaking mostly to the initiated, enjoying the advantage of playing a “home game away.”

Andrea Koehler of the NZZ focused more on the mass and on aesthetics rather than Mosebach’s talk. According to her, Martin Mosebach is on a “mission” to spread the old rite in the USA. “Mosebach has enlisted in the foremost ranks of the pious apologists for the old Latin mass.” She praises the new seventh, expanded (German) edition of “Heresy of Formlessness” as “mourning the reform (of the old Latin mass) in incisive and at the same time entertaining form.” Strangely, (I hope through an editing error) she then describes Mosebach as celebrating the solemn high mass with Fr. Lang.

“The Kyrie Eleison, as if sung by the voices of angels, hovered in church’s nave, redolent of incense, while the late afternoon sun illuminated the deep blue of the windows. To cite Botho Strauss (a prominent German author – ed.), it is he who feels himself to be a “tortured and unhappy protestant” who is naturally disposed to find the Catholic rite, with its theatrical incensing, whispering of the psalms, baroque garments and ceremonial genuflections, more attractive than the pragmatic pastoral care of protestant derivation.”

There were some sour notes regarding ceremony. The reporter judged that “ the choreography around the altar lacked the effortless dignity conferred only long practice…..the Latin came out like Italian” ( I gather she may be unfamiliar with pronunciation of ecclesiastical Latin). On the other hand, she was very impressed by the distribution of communion: “All the same, how much more effective is receiving the host on the tongue while kneeling. Indeed, bending the knee (flectamus genua!) does exercise a palpable, concentrating power.” For (Mosebach) it is clear that ‘our divine service does not come from men but from angels.’ Nevertheless, whether (the catholic rite) is sent by angels or made imperfectly by men, one can with full confidence view the supernaturally beautiful chant of the choir as a gift from heaven. Levate!”

See: “Steinzeitmann in New York by Jordan Mejias (FAZ September 12, 2007)
“http://www.faz.net/s/RubCF3AEB154CE64960822FA5429A182360/Doc%7EE107D7D16BD324451A898B08CC05D80D6%7EATpl%7EEcommon%7EScontent.html?rss_googlefeed

“Mit den Knien glauben” by Andrea Koehler (NZZ September 12, 2007)