"It is...Our will that Catholics should abstain from certain appellations which have recently been brought into use to distinguish one group of Catholics from another. They are to be avoided not only as 'profane novelties of words,' out of harmony with both truth and justice, but also because they give rise to great trouble and confusion among Catholics. Such is the nature of Catholicism that it does not admit of more or less, but must be held as a whole or as a whole rejected: 'This is the Catholic faith, which unless a man believe faithfully and firmly; he cannot be saved' (Athanasian Creed). There is no need of adding any qualifying terms to the profession of Catholicism: it is quite enough for each one to proclaim 'Christian is my name and Catholic my surname,' only let him endeavour to be in reality what he calls himself." -- Pope Benedict XV, Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum 24 (1914)

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Congratulations Fr. Robinson

MONDAY, JUNE 04, 2012

Solemn Mass of Fr. Jonathan Robinson on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of His Priesthood
BY SHAWN TRIBE



Father Jonathan Robinson of the Toronto Oratory will surely be no stranger to most of our readership. Aside from his other accomplishments (which are many) he is perhaps best known to our readers as the author of a unique and important liturgical study, The Mass and Modernity, published by Ignatius Press.

On May 13th Father Robinson marked an important milestone: the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. The centerpiece of the celebrations was a Solemn Mass offered at St. Vincent de Paul church in Toronto, Canada according to the usus antiquior.

Suffice it to say, as you've come to expect from the London, Birmingham or Oxford Oratories, likewise from the Toronto Oratory: excellence, beauty, reverence and substance.

While I was sadly unable to attend this grand occasion in person, we can all be thankful that a full audio recording has been made of the Mass, augmented by a number of photographs from the Mass. The setting for the Mass was Mozart's Missa Brevis in D K.194

Here is a sample. The music is from the Gloria, the photos pick up from the rite of Asperges.

Here too are the other parts. Listening in for the music alone will be worth your while, but the photos are glorious as well:

Part I: Introit
Part II: Kyrie
Part IV: Credo
Part V: Sanctus
Part VI: Agnus Dei

Incidentally, lest anyone think the music quality heard within these videos is indicative of them surely being studio/CD recordings, do take note that one will hear the sounds of a young toddler in some of the videos, and thus delightful evidence of the fact that what you are hearing is a recording from the Mass itself -- and thereby, also a testimony to the liturgical excellence that was seen (and heard) on this grand occasion.

Heartfelt NLM congratulations to Fr. Robinson and the Toronto Oratory.

* * *

As a final bit of information around this occasion, the parishioners of the Toronto Oratory's other parish church, Holy Family, commissioned the following work from Canadian artist Cyril Leeper as a gift for Fr. Robinson's 50th anniversary. It shows St Philip in Ecstasy spied upon by, in this instance, none other than Fr. Robinson himself.


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