Low Mass in Adelaide

Friday the 11^th of September 2010, a bit after 6:30 pm at Holy Name, Stepney, in Adelaide, the City of Churches: Low Mass of St Nicholas of Tolentino, offered, not by the expected Fr McCaffery, F.S.S.P., but by another priest – an American, probably of the same Fraternity.  He prefaced Mass by explaining that the Sacrifice was to be offered up for the victims of Saturday’s earthquake in Christchurch, and by telling us that Fr Rizzo – well-known to me and the congregation, evidently – was safe but somewhat traumatized, sleeping in his car for fear of aftershocks, since he had been thrown against the wall while asleep in his bed by the force of the original tremor.  The Cathedral there is presently closed as a precaution, but Mass is being offered in the adjacent, undamaged hall.

In the manner I’ve observed of other Fraternity priests, past and present (certainly those in Melbourne do the same), Father began the prayers at the foot of the altar in a very low voice, which he maintained till he came to the Introit.  (I used the time profitably in saying the traditional psalms and so forth that comprise the accession office before Mass.)  Strangely, he used the same low voice for the Offertory antiphon and for the Agnus Dei, as also for the Last Gospel (although many priests do that).  The fact that the server brought a lit candle to the altar at the start of the Canon marks a rubrical observance maintained only by the Fraternity in my experience – Dominicans do so, but as part of their own proper Use.

The celebrant preached a short sermon in honour of St Nicholas of Tolentino, reminding us that he was known particularly for his penance, his humility, and his kindness.  What a high standard he sets for us all!  I prayed to gain somewhat of his kindness at the least.

St Nicholas of Tolentino

Who, do you ask?  Who is he commemorated this day?  A holy Hermit of St Augustine, who died on this day some seven centuries and two years ago, aged three score years, having spent his last thirty at Tolentino, there preaching daily; who was at once a doer of all works of mercy, a peacemaker, a wonder-worker, and an indefatigable intercessor for the Holy Souls in Purgatory; who had been born to formerly childless parents after their making a pilgrimage to Bari out of devotion to the great St Nicholas whose relics are there; who had been named after that saint; who had ever lived a godly, pious and sober life; who had been moved to join the O.S.A. after hearing a member thereof preach on the text Nolite diligere mundum, nec ea quæ sunt in mundo... quia mundus transit et concupiscentia ejus (cf. I St John ii, 15a. 17a); who had ever fasted and done harsh penances, macerating his flesh that it might be subdued to the spirit; who had for the last half-year of his life heard the singing of the angels in heaven, and therefore had sighed to join them, saying with St Paul Cupio dissolvi et esse cum Christo (Phil. i, 23b).

His Collect:

Adesto, Domine, supplicationibus nostris, quas in beati Nicolai Confessoris tui solemnitate deferimus: ut, qui nostræ justitiæ fiduciam non habemus, ejus, qui tibi placuit, precibus adjuvemur.  Per...

(Attend, Lord, to our supplications, which we offer on the solemnity of blessed Nicholas Thy Confessor: that we who have no trust in our own righteousness, may be aided by his prayers, who pleased Thee.  Through...)

St Nicholas of Tolentino, pray for us.