An Extraordinary Feast.......

......and an Extraordinary Mass.

The Feast of Corpus Christi from St Joseph's Cathedral, Swansea.

My apologies for the camera work, I need much more practice but, I learn quickly, next time I'll have a tripod a la Mulier Fortis fashion. There will be more parts of the Mass to follow.

Thanks to Newcastle Emlyn Schola for the heavenly voices, the altar servers for the dignified and measured serving and to celebrant Fr Jason Jones. Also to Fr Michael Burke, under whose guardianship the Cathedral Mass schedule is and to our Bishop, Tom Burns.

How we celebrated the great feast in Wales!

The mother church of the Diocese of Menevia is St Joseph's Cathedral, Swansea where, on the feast of Corpus Christi sung Mass was celebrated with great reverence and piety.

The celebrant was Diocesan Co-ordinator for the EF Mass, Fr Jason Jones and the choir was The Newcastle Emlyn Schola.

Among the altar servers was one seminarian and one prospective candidate for the FSSP - all served beautifully.

Here are some extracts from the Mass; at present in still form, once I discover how to download the videos I will post those.

The Mass itself lived up to Fr Faber's description of the Tridentine Latin Mass as being "the most beautiful thing this side of Heaven".

Extraordinary! Beautiful! Mass on the feast of Corpus Christi

Thursday 23rd June and Swansea Cathedral, probably for the first time in 40 plus years, witnessed a Sung Mass on the Feast of Corpus Christi with a congregation estimated to be in the region of 75 plus.

"The most beautiful thing this side of Heaven..."

Celebrant was Father Jason Jones, Parish Priest of nearby Sacred Heart, Morriston and three other priests attended. All who were able to kneel, knelt to receive Holy Communion and ALL received by mouth.

The choir, from the Newcastle Emlyn Schola, sang in a manner that must have sent a few of the heavenly host into a green mood and afterwards, a full procession with young girls strewing rose petals in the path of The Blessed Sacrament. Traditional Corpus Christi hymns were sung throughout the procession and the finale was a rousing 'Faith of Our Fathers'.


Swansea Cathedral, not big but well attended
for the Feast of Corpus Christi


For many in the congregation it was the first time that they had attended an Extraordinary Form of Mass and the response afterwards paid tribute to the immense reverence that is invoked at such Masses.

For my sins I was MC which, in my case stands for 'Muddler of Ceremonies'. I blame (of course) the fact that such wonderful Masses are still pretty infrequent down here in West Wales and that a bit more practice would bring me a shade nearer perfection. All on the sanctuary was saved by my fellow servers Corey, Patrick and Seamus who were impeccable in their performance.

The Cathedral aisles could not accommodate
a canopy

At present there is talk about the Charismatic Movement on several blogs. I defy anyone who, after witnessing last night's Mass, would think that holding hands, swaying to the rhythm or clapping at the Consecration was anything but crass irreverence and that true adoration can only be achieved in full at an EF Mass.

We left immediately after Mass and could not stay for the 'bunfight' which is such a feature of Catholic post Mass celebrations. I know that Bridgend parish had one also.

On the way home we were treated to the spectacle, for a few seconds, of a setting sun; just an orb of fiery red in the night sky, like a host on fire. It seemed a very fitting and appropriate end to a memorable evening.

Corpus Christi at Swansea Cathedral

This Thursday, 23rd June at 7pm, Sung Mass and Procession at St Joseph's Cathedral, Swansea....

The Choir of the National Shrine of Wales, celebrant, Father Jason Jones

Photo source: Godzdogz