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Traditional Catholic Faith => Catholic Living in the Modern World => Topic started by: solitary Man on January 05, 2024, 07:27:23 PM

Title: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: solitary Man on January 05, 2024, 07:27:23 PM
Well, I believe it is not appropriate, but what surprises me is the attitude of the circus workers, all of whom seem to actually know what mass is!Well, I believe it is not appropriate, but what surprises me is the attitude of the circus workers, all of whom seem to actually know what mass is!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_7eK41zIcs
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Yeti on January 05, 2024, 07:57:46 PM
I've seen this video before. I am very curious why Mass was celebrated in a circus. It seems like early modernism to me.
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Nadir on January 05, 2024, 08:10:05 PM
Can you give a little more background? Circuses are usually constantly on the move. Maybe this location as the only one available.

What country are they in?

Some look devout, but I would say that at least half the congregation/audience has not a clue as to what is going on.  Painted faces and false noses are definitely out of place. 
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Gray2023 on January 05, 2024, 08:18:49 PM
Here is a reference i found on youtube

"Mass is held for Bouglione circus 100th anniversary of its creation. Paris, France."
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Nadir on January 05, 2024, 08:41:02 PM
Thank you Gray. 

Looking up Bouglione Circus I came up with this.
https://www.cirquedhiver.com/en/history/

and this
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Bouglione

Now I wonder who that Bishop was.

Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Ladislaus on January 05, 2024, 09:10:25 PM
I've seen this video before. I am very curious why Mass was celebrated in a circus. It seems like early modernism to me.

Nah, everything was great in 1952.
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Geremia on January 05, 2024, 10:33:01 PM
Can't workers wear their work clothes to a daily workers' Mass?…
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Nadir on January 05, 2024, 10:56:18 PM
Can't workers wear their work clothes to a daily workers' Mass?…
It would depend on the clothes. I wouldn't call a false nose "clothes"
Besides it wasn't a daily Mass occasion but a once in a century occasion.
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Nadir on January 05, 2024, 11:02:49 PM
I've seen this video before. I am very curious why Mass was celebrated in a circus. It seems like early modernism to me.

Not that early. Modernism was already in full swing when Pope St Pius X issued PASCENDI DOMINICI GREGIS ON THE DOCTRINES OF THE MODERNISTS in 1907
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Yeti on January 05, 2024, 11:08:14 PM
Here is a reference i found on youtube

"Mass is held for Bouglione circus 100th anniversary of its creation. Paris, France."
.

This doesn't make any sense to me. Why don't they all go and attend Mass in a church to celebrate their anniversary? Mass isn't supposed to be celebrated in a circus tent. With clowns and everything. This whole scene is way off.

The holy sacrifice must be celebrated only in a consecrated and sacred place.
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Yeti on January 05, 2024, 11:09:52 PM
Can't workers wear their work clothes to a daily workers' Mass?…
.

Of course they can ... in a church. But what these people are doing would be like celebrating Mass in a factory or a supermarket. Except this is even worse, because a circus is a place of amusement, and even less suitable for Mass than the above. So this would be like celebrating Mass in a bar or a movie theater or a bowling alley.
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: AMDGJMJ on January 06, 2024, 06:07:15 AM
https://ucatholic.com/blog/traditional-latin-mass-at-a-circus-yes-that-happened/ (https://ucatholic.com/blog/traditional-latin-mass-at-a-circus-yes-that-happened/)

The link above mentions the name of the bishop and more details. 

Rosa Bouglione always seems to always wear a cross in her pictures.  And apparently she was married in a lions cage.  
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Gray2023 on January 06, 2024, 10:42:10 AM
.

This doesn't make any sense to me. Why don't they all go and attend Mass in a church to celebrate their anniversary? Mass isn't supposed to be celebrated in a circus tent. With clowns and everything. This whole scene is way off.

The holy sacrifice must be celebrated only in a consecrated and sacred place.
Isn't it true that Rogation Masses were done in the fields?  And in times of war on the back of jeeps?  They were also done in people's homes in Virginia, because there were no Catholic Churches before 1795? They might have thought the were giving Glory to God and thanking him for their 100 years was proper before the 100th year anniversary show.  Jesus was born in  stable and died on the cross, he didn't make a big deal about pomp and circuмstances.  If the Mass had the circus performers performing during the Mass that would be an entirely different story.
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Ladislaus on January 06, 2024, 11:08:21 AM
Isn't it true that Rogation Masses were done in the fields?  And in times of war on the back of jeeps?  They were also done in people's homes in Virginia, because there were no Catholic Churches before 1795? They might have thought the were giving Glory to God and thanking him for their 100 years was proper before the 100th year anniversary show.  Jesus was born in  stable and died on the cross, he didn't make a big deal about pomp and circuмstances.  If the Mass had the circus performers performing during the Mass that would be an entirely different story.

Of course, certain situations of necessity would permit Mass to be offered in different venues, but I doubt this was such a situation.  I've also seen pictures of this circus online that entailed seriously immodest dress on the part of the entertainers.  Canon Law was fairly strict about where it was appropriate to offer Mass, except in situations of extreme urgency ... but left the typical "out" that it was up to the bishop.
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Ladislaus on January 06, 2024, 11:11:42 AM
https://ucatholic.com/blog/traditional-latin-mass-at-a-circus-yes-that-happened/ (https://ucatholic.com/blog/traditional-latin-mass-at-a-circus-yes-that-happened/)

The link above mentions the name of the bishop and more details. 

Rosa Bouglione always seems to always wear a cross in her pictures.  And apparently she was married in a lions cage. 

From that article:
Quote
This event, a Traditional Latin Mass celebrated in a circus setting, highlights that the diversity of celebrations existed even before the reforms of Vatican II.

It shows that the Traditional Latin Mass was not limited to Church settings, but was celebrated in unconventional settings such as a circus too.

This unique event serves as a reminder of the rich history of the Catholic Church and the various ways it has been celebrated over the centuries.

So, the Conciliarist spin above show that "diversity of celebrations" were welcomed even before Vatican II, seeing the NOM (which has become a circus in its own right) is merely a continuation of this "rich history ... over the centuries".
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Gray2023 on January 06, 2024, 11:22:25 AM
Of course, certain situations of necessity would permit Mass to be offered in different venues, but I doubt this was such a situation.  I've also seen pictures of this circus online that entailed seriously immodest dress on the part of the entertainers.  Canon Law was fairly strict about where it was appropriate to offer Mass, except in situations of extreme urgency ... but left the typical "out" that it was up to the bishop.
So they were taking licenses they shouldn't have taken.
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Ladislaus on January 06, 2024, 11:38:28 AM
So they were taking licenses they shouldn't have taken.

That's my personal opinion, and we all know that the Liturgical experimentation was well underway already in the 1940s and 1950s.
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Seraphina on January 06, 2024, 02:51:54 PM
Highly irregular and people dressed—or not—immodestly.  Even if the Mass was held on the circus grounds, it seems to me the acrobats, dancers, etc. should have thrown on a caftan and the masks removed.  I’ve been to Mass in a few unusual places, either because the local bishop refused use of the church for traditional Mass or because a proper church was not available, ie. in a house or place on private property, en route on a pilgrimage, at a camp or wilderness trek.  
It could also be that many of the circus workers were not Catholic or uncatechized. They were curious on-lookers.  
The woman who got married in the lion’s cage; to who?  The lion?  
Title: Re: Latin mass at the circus in 1952
Post by: Philip on January 07, 2024, 06:47:37 AM
I would recommend looking at Gerald Ellard's 'The Mass of the Future' published by Bruce, Milwaukee in 1948 and his other works.  They show all sorts of experimentation going on.  Internet Archive have a link but you have to login in and 'borrow' the book:

https://archive.org/details/massoffuture0000ella/page/n425/mode/2up

There is a description of a 'workers' Mass' in Castres, France in 1944 on p. 155  Note it was all in French, save for the Canon, and facing the people.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/7277/WZN6fu.png)

There are some photographs too of early changes to sanctuaries adapted for Mass facing the people, e.g.:

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/3267/72Tvc6.jpg)