Una Voce Hartford

Dear Friends,

The recent announcement from the Archdiocese of Hartford that the Traditional Mass is suppressed at St. Stanislaus in New Haven is a source for me of deep sadness. The St. Gregory Society was founded 38 years ago to offer the Traditional Mass, especially in the beauty and depth of the Solemn form, as a positive response to St. John Paul II’s Indult allowing the use of the 1962 Missal. Not only did the Society play an important role in the regular restoration of the Traditional Mass but also brought back Beauty as an intrinsic and central element of the celebration of Holy Mass. The Society of St. Gregory’s importance to me is indeed great, for it was at my first celebration of the Traditional Roman Mass over twenty years ago in Sacred Heart church in New Haven that I first understood the transcendental power of the Mass and its deep relationship to the Beauty of the person of Jesus Christ who is both Priest and Victim.

I am convinced that despite the foolish and painful attempts in this pontificate to radically suppress the Mass of Catholic Tradition, Beauty is stronger than ignorance and oppression. In a real way the parishes that have offered and still offer that Traditional Mass are in debt to the St. Gregory Society for its leadership beginning 38 years ago to the present time. I would ask that as many Catholics who love the Traditional Roman Mass attend the “last” Traditional Mass in New Haven at St. Stanislaus Church on Sunday 14 January at 2 p.m. For the laity to show great support for the Traditional Mass is necessary at this time to counter the forces of reaction within the Church that have deliberately forgotten that the Mass is not self-worship but the worship of the transcendent God in the person of Jesus Christ.

Oremus pro invicem.

Father Richard Gennaro Cipolla, Ph.D., D. Phil.(Oxon)