On Thursday, January 10, one of the Brothers and a postulant drove up north to sing for the Solemn High Requiem of Dr. William Peter Mahrt, president of the Church Music Association of America (CMAA) and a publisher for New Liturgical Movement. The Requiem took place in the basilica church of the Mission Dolores (Misión San Francisco de Asís), adjacent to the much older 1776 adobe chapel originally used by Franciscan missionaries. Mary Ann Carr-Wilson, who in the past has collaborated frequently with the Brothers, was one of the singers our envoys recognized at the Requiem. Many of the others who sang for the funeral were students of Dr. Mahrt while he taught at Stanford University. Two obituaries; a sermon from His Excellency the Most Reverend Msgr. Salvatore Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco, who preached before the absolution; and other related articles are available in the links below.
All who served the Mass that day (MC, crucifer, etc.) appeared to be priests. Two deacons sat
in choro alongside Abp. Cordileone in choir dress,
Fr. Joseph Illo of Star of the Sea Church, a Norbertine from St. Michael's Abbey, a Dominican friar, and other clerics. Another elderly Dominican friar sat in the nave of the basilica with a walker. The vestment set worn included a
Neri-style chasuble.
Some Photos from Karolina Zapolska
The full photo album from Dr. Mahrt's funeral can be viewed at the bottom of the CMAA obituary, as well as on CMAA's
Facebook.
Photos from the Mission Complex
The following photos were taken in various parts of the Mission complex before the Mass. Aside from the basilica church and the chapel, the complex also includes a museum and a cemetery. The cemetery's burials include Costanoan Indians converted by the Franciscans, Spanish colonial officials, as well as American-era Irish and Italian settlers.
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| A replica Costanoan hut |
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| Grave of two baptized Costonoans |
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| A bugia |
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| Preparations for Mass |
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| A kneeler used by JP2 |
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| Side altar of the adobe chapel |
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Our Lady of Refuge,
Patroness of California |
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| A reliquary of St. Junipero Serra |
Singing Materials and Dr. Mahrt's Favorite Motets List
At the funeral reception, some of the singers joined in singing Dr. Mahrt's favorite motets, which are listed below:
- Caeleste beneficium (Jean Mouton)
- Sicut cervus (Palestrina)
- O magnum mysterium (Victoria)
- O Salutaris Hostia (La Rue)
- Christum ducem (Josquin des Prez)
The program for the Mass and other printed materials can also be found in the photos above. Helen Waddell's (d. 1965) English translation of a hymn from Prudentius, the Roman Christian poet who wrote
Corde natus, was included at the end of the Mass booklet. In fact, it is listed as Hymn X in the
Liber Cathemerinon, immediately after Hymn IX,
Corde natus. The original Latin text and the English text from the booklet can be found in the links below.
A Quote from St. Philip
"If God be with us, there is no one else left to fear."
Translated by the Rev. Fr. F.W. Faber, Cong. Orat.
Requiescat in pace.
