Christmas Midnight Mass at St. Anthony's in Calgary was splendid!
The church was overflowing, the flowers were arranged beautifully, the choir sang superbly, the sanctuary was full with a very large complement of altar servers. Holiday joy was in the air.
All visitors were very impressed with the devotion and fervor of the faithful. I have to say it was most edifying!
Calgary is today a melting pot and Latin is the concord of peoples. Worshipers came from every corner of the globe, including Romania, Lebanon, the Czech Republic, Vietnam, the U.S., Russia and so many other countries! The unity of the Latin language - uniting the people of Babel - is seen as most edifying in a global world. English hegemony takes a back seat.
The festive carols before Mass included Adeste Fideles by J.F. Wade, In Dulci Jubilio (organ) by M. Reger, Silent Night by F. Gruber, Lo How a Rose, Psallite by M. Praetorius, Gesu Bambino (organ solo), and Hodie Apparuit by O. Lasso.
The music of the Mass was stellar, including O Magnum Mysterium by Victoria, Mass for Three Voices by Byrd, Verbum Caro Factum Est by Compere, Credo III, Variations of Divinum Mysterium, Mirabile Mysterium by Victoria, Resonet in Laudibus, Angels We Have Heard On High, as well as Notel X (organ solo) by Daquin.
Calgary is greatly in need of a personal parish for the Extraordinary Form. Dear Bishop McGrattan, if you read this, please be generous this Christmas season. And welcome to Calgary!
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