83rd Anniversary of Cathedral Photopost

The reading of the Gospel

Fratellino has provided us with photos from the Solemn High Mass at St. Anne to commemorate the Dedication of St. Joseph's Cathedral in Downtown San Diego. The celebrant that evening was Fr. Aaron Liebert, F.S.S.P., with Fr. Earl Eggleston serving as deacon and Mr. Ricardo Ascensio, F.S.S.P. serving as straw subdeacon. 

In the eight months since this Mass, Fr. Liebert has since been relocated to a new assignment within the Fraternity. We will surely miss him, especially for his willingness to celebrate Vespers with us. 

We sang the first Kyrie ad libitum provided in the Liber Usualis, "Clemens rector" (probably the longest Kyrie in the Liber). The rest of the Ordinary was taken from Mass IV. The Propers of the Mass beautifully related the dedication of church buildings to scenes from the Old Testament and the Apocalypse. 

The Introit recalls the words which the patriarch Jacob spoke following his dream of angels ascending and descending a ladder connecting heaven to earth. These words precede Jacob's anointing of the stone at Bethel (the house of God), paralleling the anointing of the altar which occurs at a church's dedication.

The other chants and readings recall St. John's vision of the heavenly Jerusalem and King David's promise to build a fitting temple for God. The Gospel reading recounts Christ choosing to enter the house of Zacchaeus, reflecting God's choosing to dwell among men in these houses of prayer, despite man's sinfulness. 

The text of the Communion antiphon should also be highly familiar to those who have attended the services of St. Philip's Day according to the texts passed down by the Oratorians: "My house shall be called a house of prayer, saith the Lord..."

Courtesy: Fratellino