Eamon Duffy to Speak at Corpus Christi Parish, New York

Copyright Yale Univesity Press

Eamon Duffy, the noted historian, will speak on Mary Tudor, England’s first ruling queen, and Cardinal Reginald Pole, Catholic reformer and Archbishop of Canterbury, who died 450 years ago this year. A sung requiem mass and concert, both with music from the Tudor Age, shall precede Professor Duffy’s address. All of these events are free to the public and will take place on Monday, November 17, 2008 at Corpus Christi Church in Manhattan.

The “Requiem Mass” will most likely be Novus Ordo (including some peculiar local customs of the parish) with fine music. Prof. Duffy requires no introduction to traditionalists. His work on the early reformation in England, The Stripping of the Altars, is the best work I know of on the role of the liturgy in the concrete daily life of Catholic culture and religion – and how that religion can be destroyed through manipulation of the liturgy. He has followed that up with several more specialized studies on 16th century Catholic culture in parish life and prayer books. I will not conceal that, outside of his specific field of historical and liturgical studies, Prof. Duffy adheres to the left wing of Catholic liberalism and is (accordingly) a favored commentator on things Catholic for the Tablet and the BBC. But it will be a privilege to hear his insights on the short lived Catholic renaissance under Queen Mary and Cardinal Pole, of which Prof. Duffy has already written favorably in The Stripping of the Altars.

For more information on the talk, the service and the music as well as directions please see:

Mary Tudor and Cardinal Pole