This past Monday, on the feast of St Catherine of Alexandria, a solemn Mass in the Dominican Rite was celebated at Ss Sixtus and Dominic, the church of the Angelicum, the Dominican university in Rome. As the patron Saint of philosophers, St Catherine has always been held in special honor by the Dominican Order, especially within its educational institutions. The previous Thursday, a solemn Mass in the Roman Rite was held there for the feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary. Our thanks to Don Elvir Tabaković, a Canon Regular of the Congregation of Windesheim who studies at the Angelicum, for these beautiful photos. (Don Elvir was recently interviewed by John Henry Westen of LifeSite on his previous career as a professional photographer, his conversion and entrance into religious life.)
When the celebrant and ministers go to the sedilia, they sit in hierarchical order, with the priest closest to the altar; a grembule is then placed over their laps. The subdeacon is not with them at the moment because he is getting the chalice ready; as in many medieval Uses of the Roman Rite, much of the preparation of the chalice and paten is done during the Mass of the Catechumens.
At the intonation of the Gloria in excelsis; note that the chalice has already been brought to the altar, and that the acolytes line up with the major ministers.
For the Gospel, a lectern is used, with the deacon, subdeacon and thurifer standing in a line in front of the book, and the acolytes with their candles behind it.
The Dominican Offertory is much shorter than the Roman one, since much of the preparation is done ahead of time; here we see the paten and chalice offered together.
For the preface dialogue, the deacon and subdeacon remain at the altar; the thurifer incenses them after “Gratias agamus”, and only then does the subdeacon take the paten and veil and stand behind the priest.
As in most medieval Uses, and the Ambrosian Rite, the priest stretches his hands out in the form of a Cross for the “Unde et memores.”
At the beginning of a solemn Mass, the deacon carries the Missal, and the subdeacon the lectionary; at the end; as they leave at the end, the deacon carries Missal, but the subdeacon takes the chalice instead.
The Dominican manner of lining up for the Introit.
The reading of the Gradual etc, is done at the sedilia,
as is the preparation of the chalice
and the blessing of incense at the Gospel.
The subdeacon kneels as he presents the Gospel book to the priest to kissed.
Solemn Mass in the Roman Rite for the Presentation of the Virgin Mary
