The Anglican Use of the Roman Rite: Solemn High Mass in the Basilica

The first principle of the Ordinariate is then about Christian unity. St. Basil the Great, the Church’s greatest ecumenist, literally expended his life on the work of building bridges between orthodox brethren who shared a common faith, but who had become separated from one another in a Church badly fragmented by heresy and controversy. He taught that the work of Christian unity requires deliberate and ceaseless effort...St. Basil often talked with yearning about the archaia agape, the ancient love of the apostolic community, so rarely seen in the Church of his day. This love, he taught, is a visible sign that the Holy Spirit is indeed present and active, and it is absolutely essential for the health of the Church.

- Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson, Homily on the Occasion of his Formal Institution as Ordinary

Friday, June 11, 2010

Solemn High Mass in the Basilica

We celebrated a solemn high Mass for the feast of the Sacred Heart at 5:00 pm.

I joined with the choir formed from members of the various congregations as well as some members of the Basilica's choir. We were directed by Paul Campbell.