• Home
  • About
  • Masses & Events
  • Photos & Reports
  • Reviews & Essays
  • Website Highlights

22 Jun

2014

Will Wonders Never Cease…

Posted by Stuart Chessman 

When we last encountered Amy Welborn on the net some ten years ago she was one of the “Bravest of the Brave” in defense of the liturgical status quo (along with Mark Shea, George Weigel etc.). Now, on a trip to Charleston, she visited Stella Maris parish:

“Now, please note, if you can – the church seems to be mostly in its original state, which means that this is the original altar, with no extra altar stuck in the sanctuary.

Yes, Mass was celebrated ad orientem. It was mostly in English (except for the Gloria in Latin), and no Propers, but with decent hymnody and some Bach from the hard-working choir and organist. The homily was quite good, centered on the concepts of exitus and reditus as an way of talking about the Ascension and mission.

And can I repeat? Mass was celebrated ad orientem. The Leonine Prayers were recited after Mass. The homily was theologically substantive and evangelical. There were no self-referential extemporaneous goings-on. The place was packed. The congregation was attentive, reverent and vocal.

Everyone survived and the earth continued to revolve (I think).”

Source: CHARLOTTE WAS BOTH

What also needs to be mentioned, however, is that later in the day on Sunday a Traditional Mass has been celebrated at Stella Maris for many years now:

IMG_1054 - Version 2

(Above and below)Pictures from 2006

IMG_1055 - Version 2

Stella-Maris-Catholic-Church-n

(Above) A photo of the sanctuary today from the parish’s website. Please note that in fact the altar has been beautifully restored at some time after 2006.

Judging by Amy Welborn’s remarks, the concept of “mutual enrichment” of the “two forms of the Roman rite” may be working more effectively than anyone could have imagined.

Published in Uncategorized

Related Articles

  • Traditional Masses for the Feast of the Annunciation (March 22nd, 2023)
  • Holy Week Shuttles Organized in DC Area to Help the Faithful to Get to Liturgies (March 20th, 2023)
  • Well-attended Women’s Retreat on Long Island (March 12th, 2023)
  • Traditional Mass at St. Emery in Fairfield Cancelled (March 6th, 2023)
  • 40 Hours Devotion at the Guild of the Most Sacred Heart in Redding, CT (February 28th, 2023)

2 users responded in this post

Subscribe to this post comment rss or