Saturday, December 01, 2007

Usus Antiquior returns to Cathedral of Mexico City

The Institute of Christ the King are reporting as follows:

"On Thursday, November 29th , an awed group of pilgrims from the United States, joined by a contingent of Mexicans from different parts of their country, assisted at an event of deep significance. On that day, at 8:00 am, a High Mass in the Classical Latin form was offered at the High Altar of the impressive 17th-century Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City. Msgr. R. Michael Schmitz, Vicar General of the Institute of Christ the King, celebrated the votive High Mass to Christ the King, assisted by members of the group from America, who had come on a pilgrimage led by the Institute of Christ the King to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Music for the High Mass was supplied by the organist of the cathedral, who aptly accompanied the liturgy from the massive Spanish-style organ, even while this was his first experience of the Mass of Ages. The event was facilitated by members of Una Voce Mexico and the graciousness of the dean of the cathedral, Father Ruben Avila, and Father Francisco Bezerra, its major sacristan.

"Barely two weeks before, the cathedral had been invaded by anti-Catholic socialists who overturned pews and terrorized the faithful and clergy. The cathedral was subsequently closed, pending security measures by the government. It had been re-opened only a few days before the High Mass on November 29th. In a land hallowed by the blood of those who, under the rallying cry of “Viva Cristo Rey,” had died to uphold the Kingship of Christ, it did not go unnoticed that it was in honor of Christ the King that the Traditional Latin Mass returned to this venerable precinct after forty years, through the Institute of Christ the King."


A full set of images are available here.



A modest beginning, but a beginning nonetheless.

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