Devotions are liturgical matters apart from and outside of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  Used in this sense the term “devotions” includes Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, praying the Rosary, and other devotional practices such as the Divine Mercy devotion, the May Crowning, the First Friday devotion and the First Saturday devotion.

 We are permitted the use of Holy Cross Chapel for the Traditional Latin Mass on Sundays and Holydays.  Devotional practices may be included so long as they do not interfere with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, or with the use of Holy Cross Mausoleum by the public who wish to pay their respects to deceased relatives and friends.

 For over 20 years, the only exception to the above-stated rule has been the Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament on the first Sunday of the month.  Although the liturgical rules governing Exposition and Benediction provide that it must be held separate and apart from the Mass, in 1985 Monsignor Andreatta allowed Exposition and Benediction on the first Sunday of the month immediately following the Mass because that devotion in particular was not then available to the faithful in parish churches.  In 1990, Fr. Neely continued this practice.  In 2004, when a second Traditional Latin Mass at Holy Cross was approved consideration was given to discontinuing Exposition and Benediction at Holy Cross as this devotion could be made available at parish churches.  After careful consideration of the matter the priests who serve us decided to continue the devotion at Holy Cross for the foreseeable future.

 During the past 20 years other devotional practices have been observed at Holy Cross including the Rosary before and after Mass, a May Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Mother’s Day, and the Divine Mercy devotion.  These devotions are an efficacious means of grace and are to be encouraged.  However, it must be remembered that Holy Cross Chapel is not a parish church and we cannot expect to make use of it as such.  Devotional practices at Holy Cross may continue only so long as they conform to the general rule previously stated.

 Devotional practices may not interfere with the Mass.  The Norbertine priests who serve us on Sundays come a considerable distance to offer our Masses.  They are expected to return to the Abbey immediately following the Mass.  Consequently, the Mass may not be delayed to accommodate devotional practices.  The Rosary devotion, if properly limited, can be concluded in 20 to 25 minutes.  Additional time is not available between our two Masses.

 Similarly devotional practices following the 9:00 a.m. Mass may not interfere with our responsibility to restore the chapel for use as a mausoleum chapel unless prior arrangements have been made and any necessary permission obtained.  Understandably, our volunteers who attend to the setup and break-down of the chapel are not comfortable doing so in the midst of a devotion.  Also they too have families and other commitments and it is not fair to them to expect them to set aside those obligations with little or no notice.
For these reasons devotional practices at Holy Cross must be limited.  Your understanding and your cooperation in these matters is needed.

June 8, 2008

The Chaplain's Corner is a regular feature of the monthly bulletin published by the Tridentine Latin Mass Congregation of San Diego.  Rev. William Dillard was appointed by the Most Reverend Robert H. Brom, D.D., Bishop of San Diego, to serve as Chaplain for the Tridentine Latin Mass Congregation.

For more information contact:  San Diego Traditional Latin Mass Society P.O. Box 212825 Chula Vista, CA 91921-2825 or contact the Chaplain by  at:  chaplain@sandiego-tlmc.org