Bishop Slattery, RIP

 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.

Cardinal Gregory: "Tradition dies a slow death, sometimes a bloody death"

On Wednesday 6 December, the Archbishop of Washington, Wilton Cardinal Gregory, took part in an event at the Catholic University of America as part of their Presidential Speaker Series, entitled "Celebrating Diversity" (h/t Diane Montagna). The full video can be found below, as well as on YouTube. In this talk, His Eminence notes that "even our American Catholic comfort zone can be rattled by the vastness of God's family of cultures, languages, and expressions of Catholic worship; so much diversity can throw some people off balance and quite frankly make them feel uneasy" (16:30). He also waxes lyrical about how the "synodal process" is rooted in the "ability to give one another grace and space as you journey together, with the freedom to express yourself freely without judgment" (29:44).

March for Life 2023 -- a very different year

On Friday, January 20, the annual March for Life will occur in Washington, D.C. In the past it was a rally of hundreds of thousands of pro-life people to the U.S. Supreme Court, commemorating the January 22, 1973 anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. This time it will be a (peaceful) march to the U.S. Capitol.

So many things have changed since last year's March for Life. On the positive side, Roe was overturned, with the Dobbs decision. On the negative side, D.C. Cardinal Wilton Gregory banned all traditional Latin Masses at parish churches, allowing just three Sunday TLMs for the entire Archdiocese of Washington (one in D.C. and two in Maryland). Weekday Masses are not permitted by the cardinal.

Nellie Gray Mass, March for Life 2020

So this means there will not be a traditional Latin Mass on Friday in the Archdiocese of Washington before or after the March for Life. The annual "Nellie Gray Mass" -- which for many years was a solemn, and sometimes pontifical, TLM at Saint Mary Mother of God church in Washington honoring the founder of the March for Life -- will instead be a novus ordo liturgy, despite Miss Gray faithfully attending the TLM at Saint Mary's until her death.

Final parish TLM in DC

The Diocese of Arlington has begun segregating those who attend the traditional Latin Mass from parish churches, a practice that started today (happy birthday, Mary!). The nearby Archdiocese of Washington begins its segregation of traditional Catholics on 21 September.

The very last traditional Latin Mass at a parish in the Archdiocese of Washington -- for now -- will be at Saint Anthony of Padua church, a parish near the Catholic University of America. The TLM congregation at Saint Anthony's is comprised of mostly young adults, many from CUA (as students who attend the TLM are not welcome to worship on campus). If you are nearby and need to see some hope for the future, this young congregation will make it worth the trip. The Missa Solemnis will be on 20 September at 7 p.m.

The votive Mass of Thanksgiving, for many years of the TLM in DC -- including several vocations -- will have a professional choir to sing "Missa Pange Lingua" by Josquin des Prez. Clergy from the region are invited to process (with cassock/habit, surplice and biretta) and sit in choir (in the sanctuary). Laymen are invited to pray in the pews at this bittersweet conclusion to so many years of graces from the TLM in parishes. Plenty of parking is available near the church (in the church/school lot or on the street), a short walk from the red line on the Metro.

Yet another Washington Post article on the DC Latin Massacre

If you are a liberal archbishop of a prominent archdiocese, the last thing you probably want to see is the liberal newspaper in your city run three pieces in the last few weeks on your DC Latin Massacre. Especially when all of the media coverage shows clear sympathy toward practicing Catholics being evicted from their parishes.

Today's Washington Post has an article by a reporter, William Wan, who visited Saint Mary Mother of God parish in DC yesterday morning. Planning his article on Friday and doing the necessary research on the issue that afternoon, his trip to Saint Mary's -- to actually talk with TLM parishioners -- was something DC Cardinal Wilton Gregory refused to do himself. Wan spoke with about a dozen communicants before and after the 9 a.m. traditional Latin Mass. His article shows the sincere reactions of several parishioners to Cardinal Gregory's decree suppressing TLMs at parishes effective in less than two months.

The article published today in the Washington Post follows pieces in the same publication here and here.

Washington Post coverage of DC Latin Mass ban

The Massacre this morning in Washington, DC, has led to a news article in the Washington Post, complete with a photo of a smug Cardinal Gregory.

One can assume the cardinal did not expect this issue to land in the Post twice in the last three weeks.

Catholics Archdiocese of Washington to ban Latin Mass in parishes

By Marisa Iati

July 22, 2022 at 11:06 a.m. EDT

Archdiocese of Washington Suppresses All Parish Latin Masses

Cardinal Wilton Gregory, archbishop of Washington (DC), issued a decree today suppressing every traditional Latin Mass offered at parishes in the Archdiocese of Washington. There are currently seven public TLMs on Sundays around the archdiocese, plus numerous private Masses, plus weekday and holy day Masses. Nearly 20 priests -- archdiocesan, religious and extern -- offer TLMs in the Archdiocese of Washington. TLMs, except on days like Easter, the Triduum, Christmas and Pentecost (when they will be completely banned!) will be permitted at three non-parish locations; one in DC and two in Maryland. No other traditional sacraments, from nuptials to baptisms to extreme unction, are allowed. No weekday Masses are permitted.

The action has been in the works since Lent. In fact, almost nothing has changed since the cardinal's original proposal before Easter -- despite dozens of letters to him, pleas from priests and laity, and alternatives presented by chancery officials and other clergy. He was presented a no-brainer solution to designate Saint Mary Mother of God parish, which does not have territorial boundaries, into the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal. The pastor of the church even offered to be the chaplain, giving up his pastor title and privileges. The cardinal rejected the offer. The shrine status would have maintained the TLM at Saint Mary's under this draconian decree.

Archdiocesan priests who do not even celebrate public TLMs -- several of them! -- met with the cardinal to beg him to reconsider, as they saw this as an injustice toward practicing, faithful Catholics. The cardinal held a sham of a synodal discussion and had TLM communicants tell their stories, from nuptial Masses to their work in parishes. One has to wonder what the point was in all that; the draft proposal back in Lent, to suppress all TLMs at archdiocesan parishes, was nearly identical to the one issued today. So much for dialogue. It is almost as if the whole thing was a game, where the cardinal laughed at groveling traditional Catholics while he continued to protect Holy Trinity, the Jesuit parish in Georgetown -- a church that relishes its role as a sanctuary of heresy.

A look at a parish Cardinal Wilton Gregory wants to destroy

Wilton Cardinal Gregory is preparing to announce that every traditional Latin Mass in the Archdiocese of Washington will be suppressed. This includes seven public Masses at archdiocesan parishes each Sunday, numerous holy day and weekday TLMs and several parishes that offer private Masses. All told there are about 20 priests residing in the archdiocese that offer the traditional Latin Mass. A non-parish location, such as the Franciscan Monastery, would be used for a merged traditional ghetto to replace all of the other TLMs.

Solemn Requiem Mass for Cardinal Kung in D.C.

In the Archdiocese of Washington there has been a growing number of traditional Latin Masses in recent years, including seven (public) TLMs offered every Sunday. Near the Catholic University of America in Northeast is the parish of Saint Anthony of Padua, which has graciously accommodated dozens -- hundreds -- of CUA students who desire the old Mass on Sundays, holy days and occasional feasts.

Saint Anthony's, with guest clergy, will host a traditional Latin Requiem High Mass on Saturday, February 26th, at 11 a.m. for Ignatius Cardinal Kung. The celebrant of the Mass, a priest of the Diocese of Hong Kong, has shared the following for our readers:

There will be a Solemn High Requiem Mass for Ignatius Cardinal Kung, in solidarity with the persecuted Church in China on Saturday, February 26th at 11:00 AM at Saint Anthony of Padua Church in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Ignatius Cardinal Kung was consecrated Bishop of Shanghai in 1950 and in 1955 was imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party for 33 years as punishment for refusing to join the Patriotic Association. In 1986 he was named a cardinal in secret by St. John Paul II. In 1986 he was released from prison and settled in America. 

DC Pontifical Mass: CANCELED

A pontifical high Mass had been planned for 14 August in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.  It was actually supposed to be offered a year ago, but was postponed due to COVID restrictions.  The music was all set.  The clergy were all lined up.  EWTN was going to air it live.

Following Pope Francis' motu proprio attacking the traditional Latin Mass and placing massive restrictions on Catholics who worship using the old books, Cardinal Wilton Gregory, archbishop of Washington, demanded the celebrant of the planned 14 August Mass -- Archbishop Thomas Gullickson -- submit a formal request for permission.  Mind you, all permissions had already been attained prior to the motu proprio.  The organizers and funders of the Mass, the Paulus Institute for the Propagation of Sacred Liturgy, had been working with shrine and chancery staff, even in the past few days, on liturgical and logistical details, including rehearsal times.

Today, Archbishop Gullickson received a reply from Cardinal Gregory.  Permission:  denied.

Pontifical High Mass: Washington, D.C.

A pontifical high Mass will be offered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, 14 August 2021 -- the vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This will be the fourth pontifical high Mass there since 1969:  2010 with Bishop Slattery; 2018 with Archbishop Sample; and 2019 with Archbishop Cordileone.

This year's (rescheduled from last year) celebrant will be His Excellency Thomas E. Gullickson, JCD, an American who recently retired as papal nuncio to Switzerland and Liechtenstein after several years in the Vatican diplomatic service.  Archbishop Gullickson was ordained for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The pontifical high Mass, like the other three offered since Summorum Pontificum, will be at the high altar in the great upper church (although the portable table in front of it is not allowed to be removed from the sanctuary, except for concerts).  EWTN will broadcast the 1 p.m. 14 August Mass, like it has done for the other three pontifical Masses.  It will be sponsored by the Paulus Institute for the Propagation of Sacred Liturgy, which sponsored the 2010 and 2018 Masses at the basilica shrine (the 2019 sponsor was the Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Worship).  Thanks must be given to sponsors, as it is an understatement on just how difficult it is to fund and organize such a liturgy -- and fill the pews in the largest church in North America.  In addition to the above website (through which a donation may be made), the Paulus Institute also has a Facebook page for updates.

Washington, DC, pontifical high Mass postponed

In November of last year we announced details for a pontifical High Mass that was to be celebrated next month at the basilica shrine in Washington, D.C.  Alas, things have changed a bit in the world since then.

The Mass, sponsored by the Paulus Institute for the Propagation of Sacred Liturgy, will be postponed. Instead of 22 August 2020, the pontifical Mass to be offered by Archbishop Thomas Gullickson will be celebrated on 14 August 2021, in the upper church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  Although the basilica shrine, the largest church in North America, holds several thousand people, current coronavirus restrictions in place by the mayor of Washington limit occupancy to 100 people, making any major liturgical planning a great challenge this year.

Archbishop Gregory bashes Knights of Columbus, President

Wilton Gregory, archbishop of Washington, DC, has essentially been missing for about three months.  March 8 was the last Sunday of public Masses in the Archdiocese of Washington, with a ban announced by Gregory on March 12.  The government of Washington, DC, has limited church congregations to a whopping ten people -- even in the first COVID-19 phase of reopening.  Considering all of the other large public gatherings in Washington, an outrage.  Not a public word from Wilton Gregory.

No public Masses are being offered in the nation's capital -- not even at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest church in North America.  The DC government limit of ten people applies to that church, which seats thousands. Not a public word from Wilton Gregory.

Today, though, Wilton Gregory woke up and spoke up.  Not on public Masses, or confessions, or any sacraments.  He chose to make his most public statement of the year to condemn the Knights of Columbus and the U.S. president for a visit to the John Paul II shrine in DC for an event on international religious freedom. Today marks the anniversary of JPII's famous nine day pilgrimage that started with a liturgy in Warsaw on June 2, 1979. 

Wilton Gregory, doing who knows what

The JPII shrine, owned by the Knights of Columbus, issued a response to Gregory's attack.

March for Life and TLM photos

On Friday, 24 January, thousands of traditional Catholics attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C., from the Fraternity of Saint Peter to the Institute of Christ the King to diocesan parishes that offer the traditional Latin Mass.

Rorate was there and took a few photos:

President Donald Trump, speaking in-person at the March for Life

Congressman Chris Smith, co-chairman of the House Pro-Life Caucus

Nellie Gray Mass 2020; Saint Mary Mother of God church in Washington, D.C.

March for Life: First U.S. president in-person, and plenty of TLMs around

The announcement that President Donald Trump will speak in-person at the March for Life in Washington, D.C., tomorrow (Friday) at 12 noon is a game-changer for the annual commemoration of the Roe versus Wade court decision overturning pro-life state laws in the U.S.

Ronald Reagan was the first president to address the March for Life, in 1985, but via telephone from the Oval Office. He did so again in 1986, 1987 and 1988.  This was a big deal for America, as both Republican and Democrat presidents avoided the significant gathering on the National Mall each January 22nd until the second term of President Reagan. Both President George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush spoke to the March for Life via audio, the latter usually from an out-of-town trip scheduled for January 22nd.

Mike Pence made history as the first vice president to address the March for Life in-person in 2017, the only time Secret Service was employed for security screening. He spoke again last year, unannounced (no screening) -- a bold move. For this year's March for Life, tomorrow (as the March for Life is now held on the Friday closest to January 22nd), Vice President Pence (baptized Catholic, no longer practicing) will be at the Vatican.

President Trump, who previously spoke to the March for Life via video/audio, will speak in-person for at least 15 minutes as early as 12 noon on Friday, January 24th.  The speeches, which will also include House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, Congressman Chris Smith, Louisiana First Lady Donna Edwards and Louisiana State Senator Katrina Jackson, will be at 12th Street on the National Mall.

It is highly recommended visitors plan ahead for extreme traffic and extensive security screening (the Secret Service prohibits even pieces of fruit).  Buses should depart earlier than they think if the goal is to see and hear the president inside the secure National Mall perimeter.  Expect the unexpected, such as the closure of the nearest Metro station (Smithsonian) and other hassles that result in delays to the main event.

It goes without saying many traditional Catholics come to the nation's capital for the March for Life.  To that end, there are numerous traditional Latin Masses offered in the District that day.  Saint Mary Mother of God church at 5th and H streets, NW, will have several visiting priests offer Low Masses at side altars starting as early as 7 a.m. Here are four scheduled Mass options in walking/Metro distance from the March for Life.

Date, celebrant announced for next D.C. basilica shrine pontifical Mass

What better way to celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary than a pontifical high Mass in the great upper church of the basilica shrine in Washington, DC?

This will be the fourth (2010, 2018, 2019, 2020) traditional Latin pontifical Mass since Summorum Pontificum in the largest church in North America.

Mark your calendar now, tell your family and friends, and plan your summer vacation around this one.

DC basilica shrine rector under investigation

Another high-profile cleric in the Archdiocese of Washington is under investigation.  To no one's surprise (except the Washington Post and other mainstream media) Monsignor Walter Rossi, the current rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, is the subject of a "full forensic investigation" by the Diocese of Scranton (Rossi's home diocese) and the Archdiocese of Washington (where Rossi works at the basilica shrine).

The issue of the affairs of Walter Rossi has been pushed for at least a year by investigative reporter George Neumayr.  This week a question was asked directly -- and in public -- about Rossi to the new DC Archbishop, Wilton Gregory, at a "Theology on Tap" event. The next day an investigation was announced.

[Ah, such memories of the news about high-ranking clergy that can be made at DC Theology on Tap events.]

So far, former DC cardinal-archbishop (Mr.) Theodore McCarrick has been defrocked after years of bishops, dioceses and the mainstream media covering for him. His successor, Donald Wuerl, was forced into retirement as a result of years of scandal. The former rector of the basilica shrine in DC, Michael Bransfield, was removed as bishop of Wheeling-Charleston due to scandal, and his basilica shrine successor, Walter Rossi, is now under investigation by two dioceses. And then there's this mess stemming from DC, starring Rossi's close priest-friend, co-featuring the bishop of Trenton who formerly headed Catholic University in, of course, Washington.

You Report: New chapter of Una Voce in the Washington, D.C. region

We are pleased to pass along this note from the new Northern Virginia chapter of Una Voce:

We would be delighted if Rorate could let its readership know about the newly-formed Chapter of Una Voce of NoVA. One of our Chapter’s objectives is to build a strong membership base in the Virginia-DC-Maryland-WV region, with the formation of local subchapters throughout the area. 

Saint Joseph Una Voce has been gathering with other like-minded Catholics at St. Peter Catholic Church in Washington, VA, on First Saturday mornings after hearing the 8:30 am Tridentine Mass, generously offered by the pastor, Fr. Kevin Beres. With Father's kind permission, a Meet and Greet pot-luck brunch follows, where old, new, and prospective members can meet and socialize. During brunch, an informal conversation ensues in which new goals and advancements are discussed.

Also, we are launching our speaker program, in which well-respected Catholic speakers are being invited to speak on topics of interest to our membership and friends. At present, we are finalizing plans for a popular speaker and hope to have the details published soon. Please check back to our website, under the News and Events tab, for the most current information. 

https://www.unavocevirginia.com

Do visit our website. We invite you to see the endorsements of some of the faithful prelates, clergy, and laity who have enthusiastically encouraged our efforts.

MISSION STATEMENT

High Mass in DC basilica shrine Saturday

There will be a High Mass offered in the crypt church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception this Saturday, 1 June, at 5:30 p.m.

The Mass will conclude the annual three-day pilgrimage, organized and led by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, "to do penance for our sins and for the sins of our nation."  Named after its founder, Father James Buckley, FSSP, the "Buckley March" has concluded at the basilica shrine in D.C. for over a decade, with photos of some past years here and here.

Saturday's Mass will be a votive of the Immaculate Conception during paschaltide, as permitted in the shrine so-named. The celebrant (and chaplain for the pilgrimage) will be Father David Franco, who began offering the annual High Mass at the basilica shrine immediately after his ordination in 2015 (relieving Father Buckley).  Gregorian chant propers will be sung by the men's schola of Saint Mary Mother of God church, and a polyphonic choir from the region will sing Hassler's "Missa Secunda" as the ordinary of the Mass and motets such as Asola's "Ave Maris Stella" and L'Heritier's "Ave Maria." 

DC Archbishop Wilton Gregory's disgraced guest

At the "installation" of Wilton Gregory as archbishop of Washington this afternoon, eyebrows were raised when disgraced Cardinal Roger Mahony was spotted near disgraced Cardinal Donald Wuerl in the sanctuary.

Roger Mahony in 2011 while still archbishop of Los Angeles

Tweeted by Washington Post religion reporter Michelle Boorstein, it is a telling sign of where the Archdiocese of Washington is headed.  Following his step down from public ministry in Los Angeles in 2013, at the request of Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, Mahony has been very selective on his public appearances.  He attended the "installation" of like-minded Bishop Robert McElroy in 2015.