The Ordinariate preserves the Latin liturgy but it isn't traddie

Unbeknownst to many Roman Catholics especially those of the Latin traditional persuasion, Anglicanism has preserved  Latin in the Western Church and now hands it back to the 21st century  Church. Professor Diarmaid McCullough credits the Anglicans for preserving what he calls things of beauty the post Vatican II Roman Church threw out.

The Book of Common Prayer has a beautiful psalmody and it is likely that this would be included in the liturgical books of the Ordinariates. The psalms are still introduced by their first Latin verse. Example Psalm 137 is still introduced by its first Latin verse as "Super flumina". Now which Roman Catholic prayerbook still has that?

In three minutes we can see the Mass of St Theresa of Avila in the Anglican Use celebrated by the Rt Rev Msgr Andrew Burnham in St Mary Magdalene, Brighton. No one can confuse this Mass as a Novus Ordo or the Tridentine Mass. It is the Mass of the Anglican Use of the Roman Rite. This Mass does not claim to be the "Mass of the Ages". All Masses are, irrespective of rite or use.

But we do not detect a defiant traddie attitude in this Mass. It is a Mass celebrated in the 21st century but preserves the Catholic ethos of Anglicanism. It is Catholic in an Anglican expression.

The Ordinariate is not a particular church separated and exclusive from the rest of the Catholic Church. It is living a tradition that has restored and preserves  a spirituality that has animated the faithful over the centuries.

How are the Anglican prayer expressions being preserved in the Catholic Church?

The Rt Rev Msgr Andrew Burnham of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham gives readers an update here.

We doff our hats to the AngloCatholic!

We share one baptism, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Bishop Kevin Vann of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, TX, USA gave a homily during the Mass welcoming Anglicans into communion with the Catholic Church, You can read the bishop's homily here.

This I find as the best passage

"In God’s providence someone who loved you, led you to the baptismal font to and to the life and light of Christ.  For many of you here, today, this was the baptismal font of the Anglican churches where you grew up and knew the Lord.  The portrait of your life began there, at that moment, with the hand of God.  For those of you who are returning to the Catholic Church, it was the font of baptism in your local parish where you parents worshipped.  And for others still, it was a decision you made as an adult.  Whatever the case may be, your baptism formed the foundational part of the picture that we now build on today, without which none of this would be possible."


We really share one baptism and we look forward to sharing a single Eucharist in the Father's house.

The Rt Rev Msgr Keith Newton on "What is the Ordinariate?"

The Ordinary of Our Lady of Walsingham has approved a transcript of his lecture delivered last January on "What is the Ordinariate?" You can read it in the Catholic League blog here.