Author Topic: John Adams describes a visit to Mass in 1774 (Read 329 times)

ElAusente · « **on:** May 24, 2020, 04:54:20 PM »

I thought this description of Mass by John Adams might be of interest to some here.

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This afternoon, led by Curiosity and good Company I strolled away to Mother Church, or rather Grandmother Church, I mean the Romish Chappell. Heard a good, short, moral Essay upon the Duty of Parents to their Children, founded in Justice and Charity, to take care of their Interests temporal and spiritual. This Afternoons Entertainment was to me, most awfull and affecting. The poor Wretches, fingering their Beads, chanting Latin, not a Word of which they understood, their Pater Nosters and Ave Maria's. Their holy Water—their Crossing themselves perpetually—their Bowing to the Name of Jesus, wherever they hear it—their Bowings, and Kneelings, and Genuflections before the Altar. The Dress of the Priest was rich with Lace—his Pulpit was Velvet and Gold. The Altar Piece was very rich—little Images and Crucifixes about—Wax Candles lighted up. But how shall I describe the Picture of our Saviour in a Frame of Marble over the Altar at full Length upon the Cross, in the Agonies, and the Blood dropping and streaming from his Wounds.

The Musick consisting of an organ, and a Choir of singers, went all the Afternoon, excepting sermon Time, and the Assembly chanted—most sweetly and exquisitely.

Here is every Thing which can lay hold of the Eye, Ear, and Imagination. Every Thing which can charm and bewitch the simple and ignorant. I wonder how Luther ever broke the spell.

Source: https://www.masshist.org/publications/adams-papers/index.php/view/ADMS-04-01-02-0111

In particular, I find it interesting that the laypeople were singing.

MarylandTrad · « **Reply #1 on:** May 24, 2020, 06:59:22 PM »

His testimony reminds me of what the Council of Trent taught regarding the ceremonies of the Mass:

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And whereas such is the nature of man, that, without external helps, he cannot easily be raised to the meditation of divine things; therefore has holy Mother Church instituted certain rites, to wit that certain things be pronounced in the mass in a low, and others in a louder, tone. She has likewise employed ceremonies, such as mystic benedictions, lights, incense, vestments, and many other things of this kind, derived from an apostolical discipline and tradition, whereby both the majesty of so great a sacrifice might be recommended, and the minds of the faithful be excited, by those visible signs of religion and piety, to the contemplation of those most sublime things which are hidden in this sacrifice. Session XXII, Chapter V.

Undoubtedly going to such a ceremony was a big grace for Mr. Adams, one which, unfortunately, he appears not to have cooperated with. He failed, but others will not if given the chance. We need to give them the chance by fighting for church buildings with solemn public worship. You can listen to countless Indult Catholics brag during this time about how happy they are that their priests are offering private services for them to receive the sacraments. They should be ashamed that they are failing to participate in public worship of the kind that is a tremendous grace for all those like Mr. Adams who happen to stumble upon it. They are also depriving themselves and their children of the aids which make the meditation of divine things easier. They are depriving themselves of the things which "excite the minds of the faithful to contemplation of those most sublime things which are hidden in the Sacrifice of the Mass." We will see how that works out for them long term.

All too many seem way too eager to go back to the catacombs without sufficient reason. Satan wants exactly that. He wants Catholics to become so afraid of incurring the opprobrium of the hierarchy that they will refrain from public solemn worship rather than risk null "excommunications" or other penalties.

poche · « **Reply #2 on:** May 28, 2020, 11:07:03 PM »

Here is a rough translation of another description;
The chronicler Almakkari tells us that in the early eleventh century, when much of Spain was still under Muslim power, a chancellor of Abd-er-Rahman V had to attend a night ceremony in a Mozarabic church in Cordoba and .. .

"... he saw her upholstered with branches of myrtle and sumptuously decorated, while the sound of the bells enchanted her ear and the splendor of the candles dazzled her eyes. He stopped, fascinated despite himself, at the sight of majesty and joy sacred that radiated from the enclosure; he then remembered with admiration the entrance of the officiant and the other worshipers of Jesus Christ, dressed in admirable ornaments; the aroma of the aged wine that the ministers poured into the chalice, where the priest dipped his pure lips; the modest attire and the beauty of the children and adolescents who helped beside the altar; the solemn recitation of psalms and sacred prayers, all the rites, in short, of that ceremony; the solemn devotion and joy with which it was celebrated and the fervor of the Christian people ... "
(Jacques Fontaine, The Romanesque Spain 10. The Mozarabic, p. 45).

A thousand years later we offer, in this corner of the Network, a small sample of the Hispanic or Hispano-Mozarabic liturgy, still living in the lands of Spain.

http://www.hispanomozarabe.es/

Author Topic: John Adams describes a visit to Mass in 1774 (Read 329 times)

ElAusente

John Adams describes a visit to Mass in 1774

MarylandTrad

Re: John Adams describes a visit to Mass in 1774

poche

Re: John Adams describes a visit to Mass in 1774