Sunday 8 April 2007

Solemn Mass, Easter Sunday Morning

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

At 10.15am this morning there was a queue across the piazza and snaking down Victoria Street just to get in to the Cathedral! Amazing. The sanctuary looked beautiful and the grand organ - with its shutters open as I have never seen before - sounded fantastic in the Kyrie and Gloria of the Vierne Messe Solennelle. A wonderful wonderful celebration.

Anonymous said...

Monsignor - thanks for the beautiful pictures of Holy Week at the Cathedral. Please post more if you have them. I'd especially like to see those from the Easter Vigil.

Jude said...

Those of you who have the extreme fortune to be parishioners, or, at the very least, frequent visitors to Westminster Cathedral must consider yourself truly blessed. I am not one who whines about bad or sloppy liturgies. I attended Easter Mass this morning (twice as I am part of the music) and it was lovely. However, there were many mistakes and lots of oversights that showed the lack of care and attention--care and attention that must be paid attention to in the planning and celebration of each and every liturgy--especially the one that celebrates our holiest of days. As I looked at the photos and read the comments regarding the Holy Week and Easter liturgies at the Cathedral, I was filled with a sense of longing--I truly miss being a part of something so extraordinary--Mass celebrated the way it should be; as perfect in every sense as it can be when done by people who are commemorating the sacrifice of Christ and, his resurrection. At your Cathedral, there is never a sense of the lack of awe and solemnity. Care is put into the smallest detail and ritual. Nobody seems to take liberties with the Mass and (as in our case this morning) nobody forgets to sing the Gloria! That was agonizing!

If I were a member of your Cathedral, I'd be throwing my money in that collection basket big time. I pray there never comes a time when it's just too expensive to keep the place open. Count your blessings! And, Happy and Blessed Easter!

John the organist said...

For more wonderful Easter pictures from Oxford see http://godzdogz.op.org

fortissimo said...

Mention of the Vierne Messe Solennelle reminded me of the first time I heard it, at Westminster cathedral. It was so awe-inspiring.I am very pleased that it and the Widor Mass (I adore the Kyrie) have been recorded.
Amongst my late Grandmother's effects is a 78rpm recording of the Te Deum, Tantum Ergo, O Salutaris and Adoremus "as given in the Catholic Schools Hymn Book, sung by members of the Westminster Cathedral Choir accompanied by The Rev. Vernon Russell B.A.". would you have any idea when this might have been recorded?
Keep up the good work, an oasis of sanity for those of us exiled from the delights of London!