Our schedule of Traditional liturgies for Holy Week can be found at this link.
24 Mar
2024
Our schedule of Traditional liturgies for Holy Week can be found at this link.
24 Mar
2024
11 Mar
2024
Sermon for the Monday of the Fourth Week in Lent
by Fr. Richard G. Cipolla
March 11, 2024
When I lived in England many years ago now, I made it a point to visit the many
great medieval cathedrals that still stand today: Canterbury, York, Salisbury,
Durham, all magnificent testaments to the faith of the people of what we call the
Middle Ages. After the English Reformation led by King Henry VIII because the
Pope would not grant him a divorce from his wife, all the cathedrals in England
became part of the new Church of England. And so they still stand, no longer
Catholic but just as beautiful and as testaments to faith.
The sad fact is that today many of these cathedrals are being used to rent out their
space for what are called “raves”. The young people know what this means, but
for the rest of us who have to be told what a rave is: A rave is a dance party at a
warehouse, club, or other public or private venue, typically
featuring performances by DJs playing electronic dance music where alcoholic
drinks are served. I saw a photo of a rave that went on in the huge nave of
Canterbury Cathedral featuring both a DJ and a rock band and two large bars set
up with drinks. Many of the cathedrals in England, like their parish churches, have
very few people attending their services. There is constant need for repair of these
buildings and the money to do so, despite money from the State, the money is
drying up. So these raves are a way to raise money for the upkeep of these
churches. That this is being done is deeply saddening, and it is this situation that
came to my mind while writing this little sermon.
Today’s gospel tells of Jesus going into the temple precincts, taking some sort of a
cord whip and in anger driving out the money changers and those who were selling
small doves for the sacrifices. Why did he do this? Any money given to the temple
had to be in Hebrew coins. So those who had Roman coins or any other coins had
to change their money into Hebrew coins. And the money changers charged
interest for this exchange, which was absolutely forbidden by Jewish Law. The rich
people would bring their own animals for the sacrifices that were offered to God.
But the poor people could only afford to buy small birds for the sacrifice, and there
were sellers of these little birds just outside of the temple. It is this situation that
provoked Jesus’ anger, that these money changers and sellers of birds to be
sacrificed were defiling the Temple itself and were making a mockery of the
sacrifices offered to God. Of course, the supreme irony is that it is Jesus himself
who would offer the supreme sacrifice, not by the priests in the temple, but by his
death on the Cross outside the city of Jerusalem itself. And the temple was
destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
One must ask if those Anglican bishops who hire out their cathedrals for raves to
raise money for the operation and repair of these places that were consecrated as
holy places so that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass could be offered there: one must
ask if they remember the cleansing of the temple by Christ, and if they do, do they
care?
7 Mar
2024
On February 18, Bishop Pierre-André Dumas of the Diocese of Anse-à-Veau/Miragoâneis (Haiti) was caught in an explosion in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. As of February 20 he was reported to be in stable condition. Last September he presided at Solemn Vespers in Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York. The Society of St. Hugh of Cluny co-sponsored that evening’s vespers. We pray for the bishop’s recovery and for the people of Haiti who at ths moment are undergoing such terrible trials.
Notice of the Bishops’ Conference of Haiti. (In French)
“Haitian Bishop in Stable Condition after Explosion in Port-au-Prince” (Catholic News Agency, 2/20/2024)
“Gangs in Haiti try to seize Main Airport after Thousands escape Prisons” (Catholic News Agency, 3/6/2024)
7 Mar
2024
12 Feb
2024
This Wednesday, February 14 is Ash Wednesday. The followin churches will offer the Traditional Mass.
Connecticut
St. Mary Church, Norwalk, 8 am, 7 pm
Sacred Heart Oratory, Redding, 6 PM, music by the Viri Galilaei and followed by sung Vespers, as every Wednesday.
Sts. Cyril and Methodius Oratory, Bridegport, 7:45 am low Mass; 6 pm Solemn Mass
St Patrick Oratory, Waterbury, 8 am; 6 pm
New York
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine, New York, NY, 7 AM Low Mass, 7:45 AM Low Mass, 7 PM Missa Cantata
Holy Innocents, New York, NY, 8 am, 6 pm
St. Patrick Church, Glen Cove, Long Island, 7 pm low Mass.
St. Paul the Apostle, Yonkers, 12 noon
Immaculate Conception, Sleepy Hollow, NY, low Mass, 7 pm
St. Mary St. Andrew, Ellenville, Missa Cantata, 7 pm
New Jersey
Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Jersey City, 8:30 pm
Our Lady of Victories, Harrington Park, 6:15 pm
Our Lady of Fatima Chapel, Pequannock, 7 am, 9 am, 12 noon, 7 pm
St. Anthony of Padua Oratory, West Orange, 9 am Low Mass; 7 pm Missa Cantata.
Shrine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, Raritan, 7 pm
Corpus Christi Church, South River, 6:15 pm low Mass.
10 Jan
2024
Father Richard Cipolla, chaplain of our Society, released a statement concerning the cancellation of the Traditional Mass in New Haven. He encourages whomeover can make it to attend the final Mass, which is this Sunday at 2 pm at St. Stanislaus Church.
Dear Friends,
The recent announcement from the Archdiocese of Hartford that the Traditional
Mass is suppressed at St. Stanislaus in New Haven is a source for me of deep
sadness. The St. Gregory Society was founded 38 years ago to offer the
Traditional Mass, especially in the beauty and depth of the Solemn form, as a
positive response to St. John Paul II’s Indult allowing the use of the 1962 Missal.
Not only did the Society play an important role in the regular restoration of the
Traditional Mass but also brought back Beauty as an intrinsic and central element
of the celebration of Holy Mass. The Society of St. Gregory’s importance to me is
indeed great, for it was at my first celebration of the Traditional Roman Mass over
twenty years ago in Sacred Heart church in New Haven that I first understood the
transcendental power of the Mass and its deep relationship to the Beauty of the
person of Jesus Christ who is both Priest and Victim.
I am convinced that despite the foolish and painful attempts in this pontificate to
radically suppress the Mass of Catholic Tradition, Beauty is stronger than
ignorance and oppression. In a real way the parishes that have offered and still
offer that Traditional Mass are in debt to the St. Gregory Society for its leadership
beginning 38 years ago to the present time. I would ask that as many Catholics
who love the Traditional Roman Mass attend the “last” Traditional Mass in New
Haven at St. Stanislaus Church on Sunday 14 January at 2 p.m. For the laity to
show great support for the Traditional Mass is necessary at this time to counter the
forces of reaction within the Church that have deliberately forgotten that the Mass
is not self-worship but the worship of the transcendent God in the person of Jesus
Christ.
Oremus pro invicem.
Father Richard Gennaro Cipolla, Ph.D., D. Phil.(Oxon)
8 Jan
2024
(Above) Herodias, Salome and the decapitated St. John the Baptist as depicted in the leading baptistery of Catholic New York located in St. Ignatius Loyola Church.
Recent commentators have drawn attention to the contrast between Fiducia Supplicans and the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist.
But Gustave Flaubert in his 1877 novella Herodias had aready juxtaposed the use of specious and sophistic reasoning (as well as perverse biblical exegesis) on the subject of adultery with the story of John’s death. In the following exchange, the tetrarch Herod (Antipas) and his entourage try to talk away the fiery denunciations made by John (Iaokanaan) that they have just heard:
Herodias glided away and disappeared within the palace. The Pharisees were scandalised at what they had heard. Antipas, standing among them, attempted to justify his past conduct and to excuse his present situation.
“Without doubt,” said Eleazar, “it was necessary for him to marry his brother’s wife; but Herodias was not a widow, and besides, she had a child, which she abandoned; and that was an abomination.”
“You are wrong,” objected Jonathas the Sadducee; “the law condemns such marriages but does not actually forbid them.”
“What matters it? All the world shows me injustice,” said Antipas, bitterly; “and why? Did not Absalom lie with his father’s wives, Judah with his daughter-in-law, Ammon with his sister, and Lot with his daughters?”
Aulus, who had been reposing within the palace, now reappeared in the court. After he had heard how matters stood, he approved of the attitude of the tetrarch. “A man should never allow himself to be annoyed,” said he, “by such foolish criticism.” And he laughed at the censure of the priests and the fury of Iaokanann, saying that his words were of little importance.
Flaubert, Gustave, Herodias (included in Three Tales(1877)).
2 Jan
2024
In the traditional calendar, Saturday, January 6th is the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord. The following churches will be offering traditional Masses. Please inform us of other churches in the area that are offering this Mass.
St. Mary Church, Norwalk, 8 am Low Mass; 9:15 Solemn Mass for the Regina Pacis community, all are welcome to attend.
Sts. Cyril and Methodius Oratory, Bridgeport, 7:45 am Mass; 6 pm Mass and blessing of Epiphany water
St. Patrick Oratory, Waterbury, 8 am Mass and blessing of Epiphany water
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New York, NY, 7 am Low Mass, 7:45 am Low Mass; 10 am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament all day; 7 pm First Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, blessing of Epiphany water, chalk and scaramentals
Annunciation Church, Crestwood, NY, January 5th, blessing of Epiphany water at 7pm, bring empty bottles/vessels, which you will be able to fill from the larger vessels in the Sanctuary after the service.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New York, NY, 8 pm blessing of Epiphany water
St Josaphat’s, Bayside, Queens, 5pm Blessing of Epiphany water, 7pm Mass.
Our Lady of Fatima, Pequannock, NJ, 9 am Mass followed by blessing of Epiphany water
St. Anthony of Padua Oratory, West Orange, NJ, blessing Epiphany water at 6 pm.
St. John Vianney Church, Colonia, NJ, Holy Hour of Reparation to the Sacred Heart, 3-4 pm; Blessing of Holy Water at 4 pm. Bring 1 gallon bottles of water.
Connecticut
Mary Church, Greenwich Ave, Greenwich, CT, Missa Cantata 8 am in the lower chapel followed by First Saturday devotions. The chapel is accessed through a separate entrance to the left of the church entrance.
Sacred Heart Oratory, Redding, CT, Low Mass, 8:30 am; Solemn Mass 10 am
Sts. Cyril and Methodius Oratory, Bridgeport, 10:15 am
St. Patrick Oratory, Waterbury, 8 am
New York
Church of Holy Innocents, New York, NY, 6 am, 1 pm
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New York, NY, 7:45 Low Mass; 9 am Missa Cantata; 7 pm Second Vespers
Most Holy Redeemer, New York, NY, Solemn Mass, 12 noon.
St. Vincent Ferrer, New York, NY, Solemn High Dominican Rite Mass, 9:30 AM
St. Josaphat Church, Bayside, Queens, 9:30 am
St. Paul the Apostle, Yonkers, 12 noon
Sacred Heart Church, Esopus NY, 11:30 AM
St. Mary/St. Andrew, Ellenville, NY, 12:30 pm
New Jersey
Our Lady of Sorrows, Jersey City, 11:00 am – blessing of Epiphany water followed by Mass
Our Lady of Fatima, Pequannock, NJ, 7 am, 9 am
St. Anthony of Padua Oratory, West Orange, NJ, 9:00 am – low Mass, 11:00 am – High Mass of Epiphany (N.B. Blessing of Epiphany water will occur on Friday, Jan. 5th at 6:00 pm.)
Shrine Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Raritan, 9 am
Corpus Christi, South River, Solemn Mass 12 noon
30 Dec
2023
The following churches will offer Traditional Masses this Monday January 1, the Feast of the Circumcision, the Octave Day of Christmas.
If you know of a Traditional Mass to add to our schedule, please notify us.
Connecticut
St. Mary Church, Norwalk, 9 am.
St. Pius X, Fairfield, 7 pm, in the chapel
Sacred Heart Oratory, Redding, 12 noon, Bishop Frank Caggiano preaching.
Sts. Cyril and Methodius Oratory, Bridgeport, 8 am Confession; Low Mass 8:30 am; 9:45 Confessions; High Mass 10:15 am. (On New Year’s Eve Holy Hour and Te Deum at 6 pm)
St. Patrick Oratory, Waterbury, Low Mass 12 noon
New York
Church of the Holy Innocents, New York, NY, 9 am Low Mass; 10:30 am High Mass (n.b. there are no Confessions on New Year’s Day)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New York, NY, 10:30 am Missa Cantata
Our Lady of Refuge, Bronx, 1 pm.
St. Josaphat Church, Bayside, Queens, 10:30 am
St. Rocco Church, Glen Cove, Long Island, Missa Cantata, 11:30 am
St. Paul the Apostle, Yonkers, 12 noon.
Immaculate Conception, Sleepy Hollow, 4 pm low Mass
Sacred Heart Church, Esopus, 11:30 am
New Jersey
Our Lady of Sorrows, Jersey City, 9 am.
St. John Vianney, Colonia, Missa Cantata at 12AM on January 1st and a Holy Hour just before Mass.
Our Lady of Fatima Chapel, Pequannock, 7 am, 9 am, 11 am, 1:30 pm, 5 pm
St. Anthony of Padua Oratory, West Orange, 9 am Low Mass, 11 am High Mass
Shrine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, 10 am
St. John the Baptist, Allentown, 11 am
St. Mary Church, Greenwich Ave, Greenwich, CT, Missa Cantata 8 am in the lower chapel followed by First Saturday devotions. The chapel is accessed through a separate entrance to the left of the church entrance.
Sacred Heart Oratory, Redding, CT, Low Mass, 8:30 am; Solemn Mass 10 am
Church of Holy Innocents, New York, NY, 6 am, 1 pm
Most Holy Redeemer, New York, NY, Solemn Mass, 12 noon.
St. Vincent Ferrer, New York, NY, Solemn High Dominican Rite Mass, 9:30 AM
Annunciation Church, Crestwood, NY, January 5th, blessing of Epiphany water at 7pm, bring empty bottles/vessels, which you will be able to fill from the larger vessels in the Sanctuary after the service.
St. Mary/St. Andrew, Ellenville, NY, 12:30 pm
Our Lady of Sorrows, Jersey City, 11:00 am – blessing of Epiphany water followed by Mass
St. Anthony of Padua Oratory, West Orange, NJ, 9:00 am – low Mass, 11:00 am – High Mass of Epiphany (N.B. Blessing of Epiphany water will occur on Friday, Jan. 5th at 6:00 pm.)