The Diocese of Tulsa announced His Excellency Edward J. Slattery died yesterday at the age of 84.
Bishop Slattery was the celebrant of the solemn pontifical Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., on April 24, 2010. He graciously stepped in after a media firestorm concerning the originally scheduled celebrant, Dario Cardinal Hoyos. The day turned out to be an absolutely glorious one -- standing room only in the largest church in North America. The dozens of clergy, the numerous choirs, the magnificent pipe organ, the beautiful vestments, the joy in all who attended in-person or watched live on EWTN -- it was a traditional Latin Mass that defined the liturgical restoration of its era.
Bishop Slattery's sermon is not to be missed. Given that it was over 14 years ago, it is worth a replay -- or, perhaps for those not yet born or of the age of reason back then, a new click on it to appreciate the bishop, the Mass and that historic day.
May he rest in peace.
