Day 5 – Solemn High Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima

While it is almost a week since this Solemn High Mass took place, I am still struck with both the honor of being able to be present at this historic event, and mindful of the challenges it presented.  It was indeed a beautiful Mass.  Now to some explanation about how I got my images.  While there were balconies on either side of the nave, which would have allowed me to photograph “up and over” some of the sanctuary elements like the free standing altar in front, it was decided by the security at the Basilica that this would not be possible.  Undaunted, but challenged none the less, I did what I could to capture the beauty of the Mass from the floor of the nave.  With all the appointments of the Novus Ordo form of the Mass in front of the High Altar, it was a challenge to “shoot around” them.  That explains why there are a lot of wide angle images, as well as very close images.  Now I’d like to offer two personal impressions of the Mass from me:

First, I was worried about getting good images from this important event, and expressed as much to Fr. Phillips, Superior to the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius and celebrant for the Mass.  He told me he was certain that whatever I got would be truly beautiful.  I walked away encouraged and ready.  Thank you Fr. Phillips!

Second, the chanting and music offered filled the whole Basilica with a deep reverence and holiness.  Br. Matthew Schuster chanted the Propers of the Mass “a solo”.  Yet once during the Mass I looked behind me to see if he was chanting from the organ loft.  He wasn’t and was in fact chanting up front in the sanctuary.  Yet his voice sounded clear and far, and filled the entire Basilica!

Now, on to the images!

"Gloria in Excelsis Deo"

"Dominus vobiscum"

Fr. Haynes preaching the Homily, with Fr. Santos translating into Portuguese

after finishing the Credo at the altar, the sacred ministers descend

detail of the High Altar of the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima

One of the priests in choir, Msgr. Lebrum, had a small camera with him and was able to capture some images from inside the sanctuary.  A link to the images on his blog is below:

The Tridentine Mass in Portual Blog