Today beginning at 12:30 pm here in Washington at the Basilica
of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, a Solemn
High Pontifical Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be
celebrated in the Great Upper Church. For those unfamiliar with
all the Church jargon of the previous sentence let me decode.
The “extraordinary Form” of the Mass is the form of the Mass as
it was celebrated prior to 1965 when Liturgical changes brought
about the Mass as we have it today. Prior to these changes the
Mass was celebrated exclusively in Latin with only the homily
(and sometimes the readings) in English or whatever the local
language was. The celebrant also faced in the same direction as
the people which some have wrongfully described as the priest
“having his back to the people.” To say this is a “Solemn High”
Mass means that all the ceremonial options are observed. There
is incense, extra candle bearers, and many of the prayers and
readings of the liturgy are sung. The celebrant is also assisted
by a deacon and subdeac