EWTN this weekend, reminder and a twist

Readers are reminded that this Sunday, April 6, at 8:00 AM EST, EWTN is televising their third usus antiquior Mass from their Shrine Church in Alabama.

There is another aspect to this story which is interesting and can arguably be understood as a next step in development and maturation of the usus antiquior and its "mainstreaming" on that great Catholic network.

Previously, the Masses had been celebrated by priests of the Fraternity of St. Peter -- a wonderful thing. This particular Mass, however, is not, and is being celebrated by a priest from the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross (Opus Angelorum).

For myself, I see this as a progression for the reason that it also makes clear that the usus antiquior is not only a Fraternity of St. Peter perogative. It might also help people to become introduced to different groups which see activity in this regard -- one wonders, for instance, when we might see the ICRSS, the Canons of St. John Cantius, or even the Institute of the Good Shepherd -- not to mention others.

However, what I am most hopeful for is to see EWTN's own MFVA friars themselves offer the usus antiquior from the Shrine Church, be it in Solemn form or a simpler Missa Cantata.

This would be a very pertinent and beneficial development, for those friars are recognized the world over because of their involvement in EWTN. For them to celebrate the ancient liturgy and televise it would send a very powerful message about the normalcy of this form of the Roman liturgy in Catholic life today.