Solemn High Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of  the Holy Cross
Friday, Sept 14th at 7:30 in the evening
Saint Gabriel Church
914 Newfield Ave
Stamford, CT 06905
Byrd’s Mass for Three Voices and Gregorian Propers
Refreshments to follow in the Parish Meeting Room.

(It seems our correspondent Mr. Screwtape is a few days late with this posting. Perhaps researching this contribution in the Kneipen of the East Village and the Lower East Side proved too strenuous: Burp Castle, Lorelei, Zum Schneider etc.)

Down one of the side streets of the quaint Manhattan neighborhood one grew up in formerly known as Kleindeutschland and now referred to as the East Village is an interesting drinking establishment which claims to be “operated by the Brewist Monks since 1022 A.D.” called “Burp Castle”.

Saint Augustine of Hippo, illustrious Doctor of the Church, has the added notable notoriety of being classified the patron saint of brewers. (How about the Saint of Suds? or the Apostle of Ale? Okay please put down that very heavy stein.) Among the particularly pious the following may serve as an adequate explanation of this dubious distinction: “St. Augustine of Hippo is the patron of brewers because of his conversion from a former life of loose living, which included parties, entertainment, and worldly ambitions. His complete turnaround and conversion has been an inspiration to many who struggle with a particular vice or habit they long to break.” Perhaps a more properly historical outlook may be summarized thusly: “Centuries ago beer was the daily drink of the people, both because plain water was often polluted and due to beer’s inexpensive, nourishing qualities. Monks brewed beer for themselves as a safe source of hearty sustenance. Monk’s meals were frugal at best, particularly during fast periods. However, consumption of liquids did not break the fast. Without widespread hotel chains, monasteries served as inns for travelers who shared the monk’s provisions, especially their robust, sustaining beers. Eventually, the monks were able to also sell their beers at pubs called klosterschenken, and a flourishing trade developed.” Being one of the oldest monastic rules in the Church and followed by many religious houses in the Middle Ages (especially in Germany) the Rule of Saint Augustine may have contributed to the one-time wayward son of Saint Monica achieving an amusing avocation as Bishop of brewers.

But as a serious scholar it is indubitably incumbent upon one to piously pursue this religious research. >BURP!<

Mr. Screwtape

A Sung Requiem with absolution at the catafalque, according to the 1962 liturgical books, will be celebrated at 11am on Saturday, 1 September 2012, in New York City.
The Requiem will take place at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, E. 90th Street between 3rd and 2nd Avenues in Manhattan. The Mass will be offered by Fr. Justin Wylie, a priest of the Holy See’s mission to the United Nations. Fr. Wylie, a noted preacher, will give a sermon after the absolution. Fr. Wylie is a regular celebrant of the Traditional Latin Mass in local New York churches.

(The Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel is conveniently served by the 4-5-6 subway trains at the E. 86th Street station. The church is also close to the 15, 86, 98, 101, 102, and 103 bus lines.)

Thomas H. Poole designed the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, which was completed in 1892. Its stone exterior is notable for crenellated coping and turrets. Inside, the ornate and spacious interior is decorated with lacy gothic details, galleries on three sides, and beautiful stained glass windows.

The Catholic Artists Society announces its second annual Mass for Artists. A Solemn Mass will be offered at the Church of Our Saviour in Manhattan at 2pm on Sunday, September 30th. Father Joseph Koterski, SJ will be the celebrant, with choral music by a professional choir, led by James Wetzel. Afterwards, there will be a reception in the undercroft of the church.

THERE WILL BE A SOLEMN MASS FOR THE FEAST OF ST. BARTHOLEMEW, APOSTLE AND MARTYR, TOMORROW, FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH, AT 6 PM AT THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS IN MANHATTAN.

The Cardinal Prefect (in pecctore) of the Secretly Clandestine Sacred Congregation of Indulgent Indulgences is always scouring texts ancient and modern, high and low, in order to delightfully discover eminently enjoyable epicurean excursions in this vale of tears for the Christian Faithful to exercise their belief in the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.

St. Bartholomew is the patron saint of beekeepers and honey-makers, and for this reason it was traditional in England for the honey crop to be gathered on August 24. Since the main ingredient in mead—an ancient alcoholic drink that is still made in some parts of England today—is honey, the Blessing of the Mead is also observed on St. Bartholomew’s Day. In St. Mount’s Bay, Cornwall, a special ceremony is held by the Almoner of the Worshipful Company of Mead Makers (One thinks he may have just found a new side job). It begins with a church service, and then the participants move to the Mead Hall, where the Almoner, who is also the vicar of the parish, blesses the mead that has been fermenting for two years and pours it into a special cup. The mead can then be moved to a storage vat. In the past, mead was traditionally drunk from a bowl, known as a mazer, made from birds-eye maple with a silver rim.

And, of course, after impishly imbibing the lively libations invite some Huguenots over!

(Okay, I know it’s not a very ecumenical thing to say! Pooh!)
Mr. Screwtape

On Wednesday,  August 22, the following churches in Connecticut will offer the Traditional Mass in honor of the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

St. Mary Church, Norwalk,  Missa Cantata, 7 pm.

St. Gabriel Church, Stamford, Solemn Mass, 7:30 pm. Canon Aaron Huberfeld of the Institute of Christ the King,  Guest Homilist.  Refreshments to follow in Parish Meeting Room.

In New York:

Church of the Holy Innocents, Manhattan, Solemn Mass, 6 pm.

In the photo is the Virgen de la Immaculada in the Convent of St. Anthony of Padua in Izamal, Yucatan, Mexico.  This image, to which are attributed many miracles, was crowned by Blessed Pope John Paul II in 1993.

The following parishes will offer Mass in the Extraordinary Form for the Feast of the Assumption on Wednesday, August 15. If any of our readers know of another Mass in the area, please let us know.

Connecticut

St. Mary Church, Norwalk, Solemn Mass at 5:30 p.m.
Music will include the Missa de Beata Maria of David Hughes and motets by Palestrina and Tye.

St. Stanislaus, New Haven, low Mass at 5:30 p.m.(?)

New York

Church of the Holy Innocents, Manhattan, low Mass at 8:30 a.m. AND Solemn Mass at 6:00 p.m.
Music for the latter will include the Messe royale du premier ton of Henri Dumont and Gregorian and Parisian chant.

Immaculate Conception, Sleepy Hollow, low Mass at 5:00 p.m.

New Jersey

St. Anthony of Padua, Jersey City, Solemn Mass at 7:00 p.m.
Music will include the Missa Brevis of Palestrina with guest soloist Paula Scalera.

(For the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua)

The Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, East Harlem, will be having a Traditional Missa Cantata at 10am on “Giglio Sunday”, August 12th. The Giglio is a multi-storied tower carrying a band and statue of St. Anthony of Padua that is “danced” by around 120 men through the streets of East Harlem. There will also be a traditional feast in the street with food and amusements. St. Anthony’s relics will be venerated after Mass and the dance of the Giglio begins at 1pm.

A video of the giglio at Our Lady of Mount Carmel can be found HERE.

The Church of St. Gabriel in Stamford, CT will offer a Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, August 22, at 7:30 pm. The pastor, Father La Pastina, has told us that he has scheduled an extraordinary form Mass at St. Gabriel each month for the next year on a different feast day each month. The list will be forthcoming.