Pontifical High Mass: SEEK26

Over winter break, I wanted to make a trip to Columbus to visit friends who were in town for SEEK26. I had no intentions to attend any of the conference events, but as soon as I got to my friend's apartment, he informed me that there was a Pontifical High Mass beginning in 15 minutes. I immediately dropped my things and we drove over to the Church. Fortunately, the liturgy was outside of the convention center, so I didn't need a conference pass to attend.

We arrived maybe 5 minutes late, and I walked in to find the entire church packed with Gen Z college students. I was stunned because I had read all of the narratives online about how the young people love the TLM, but those don't usually correlate with my experience in my home diocese. This was very different. Not only did the students fill the church, but it was clear that they were not newbies or first time visitors. Most of the congregation would chant the responses with joy. It was incredible to experience because I commonly see High Masses where pretty much only the schola sings anything. I was especially amazed by the Ite Missa Est, Deo Gratias because the deacon chose the Mass VIII setting for it, and it is pretty complicated to repeat unless one has it in their memory. Despite that, many sang it with passion!

The music overall was something special too. I have been to a few of these 'extraordinary' extraordinary form liturgies, and one can expect an abundance of polyphony. This was certainly present, but the crown jewel, in my opinion, was the singing of Morten Lauridsen's version of O Magnum Mysterium. This piece is iconic in its own right. The melody is so beautiful that I wish it was sung year round, but the text itself is clearly intended for the Christmas season.

What was unique about the liturgy for me was the context in which it was celebrated. It was a Mass for the participants of SEEK26, and somehow felt like a Mass at the conference, not just a random TLM at a random parish. The homily was excellent; it was the typical kerygmatic preaching that one would expect from a Mass at SEEK. We could all feel the bishop's authenticity when he was sharing part of his testimony. He explained a lot regarding his own vocation story and how all of the young people should give all of their trust to God when He beings to tug their hearts. He made it clear that he had no plans to ever become a bishop, but one thing led to another as a result of following the Lord in faith and not by sight. 

It was also just refreshing to hear a non-controversial bishop tell us that we are blessed to be able to attend the Mass that St John Vianney would celebrate after he heard hours of confessions, the Mass that St Padre Pio would celebrate with exquisite devotion, and the Mass that St Therese of Lisieux would attend while practicing her little way. He was honoring this desire and wanted us to cultivate it rather than push it away so we can avoid being called 'backwardist.' I felt very safe in that space, and I think all of the young people there felt very similar. Thank you to Bishop Earl Fernandes for being pastoral and providing a space for this liturgy to take place.

As soon as I got out of Mass, I felt a pull towards buying a day pass for the next day of the conference. I previously said I wasn't going to attend because I didn't want to spend the money and I have been to many other conferences, but I felt 'called' to spring for it. It ended up being one of the best decisions I have made in a while. I will save that story for another post.