13 October 2019 - Canonization Mass in St. Peter's Square

Today is the reason for my entire trip - to attend the Canonization Mass in St. Peter's Square.  Honestly, even since my visit to Milano, Roma has simply been somewhere in my bucket list.  And I have never given thought to a Canonization Mass - until John Henry Newman.  The ongoing connection between his conversion story and those of contemporary Anglicans converting to Catholicism via the Personal Ordinariates is huge in Church history.  I am here to celebrate St. John Henry Newman with many of them, from around the world.

My alarms were set for about 5:30am.  The entrances to the Square would open at 7:00am.  I managed to arrive there at 6:45, along with about 300 other early-risers.  It was just before dawn when I took the photo below on the Via della Conciliazione.

St. Peter's just before dawn.

By the time we had processed through security and bag check, the sun had just come up, and illuminated the Basilica nicely.  It was still a bit chilly, but warming quickly.  The thousands of plastic chairs had accumulated quite a bit of dew over night - only a few people had thought to bring any sort of towel.  I was not one of them!

From my seat in the Square.

Me at about an hour before Mass was to begin.

There were groups from all the nations of the new saints:  England, Italy, India, Brazil, and Switzerland.  Many of them were singing their favorite songs or hymns.  About 45 minutes before Mass, we could hear the musicians warming up over the loud speakers.  Then something really awesome happened.  Ten minutes before Mass they asked for all to prepare for Mass by joining in reciting the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary.  Immediately people sat down and the entire Square fell silent.  Each Mystery was announced in Italian, English, and Spanish.  Then the prayers were prayed by all in Latin!

My seat is where the yellow circle is.

(I will relate the progress of the Liturgy, but you can view the entire Mass here.)

The Entrance Procession was "Cantico delle Creature", with lyrics from Daniel 3:52-90.  The Schola sang each verse with the congregation responding "Alleluia".  The musical setting had four phrases that repeated.  It was accompanied by the organ with brass ensemble interludes.  The first part was:

     May eternal glory be yours, O God.  Alleluia!

     May the whole universe sing to you!  Alleluia!

     All angels of heaven, Alleluia!

     O bless you the Lord, Alleluia!

This was followed immediately by the Introit for the 18th Sunday of the year, "Si iniquitates" (N.B. Antiphon only).  Usually chanted only by the Schola, the music was included in the libretto, therefore, I sang along.

After the Holy Father began with the Sign of the Cross and "Peace be with you", the hymn "Veni Creator Spiritus" was sung - invoking the Holy Spirit for the Proclamation of the new saints.

Cardinal Becciu then petitioned the Holy Father to proclaim the new saints to which the Holy Father invited all to chant the Litany of the Saints.

The Proclamation of the new saints was to be next, but there was a missed cue, and the Schola intoned the "Gloria".  (All the Mass Ordinary was from Missa de Angelis.)  Although the libretto was marked dividing the Schola and congregation, I sang it straight through as I always have.  Then Pope Francis proclaimed the new saints, and the Mass continued with the Opening Prayer.

The First Reading was done by an Oratorian in English.  It concluded with the chanted Latin "Verbum Domini." to which the congregation responded "Deo gratias."

The Responsorial Psalm was in Italian.

The Second Reading was done in Italian by a sister of the Daughters of St. Camillo, the order founded by one of the Blesseds.  The conclusion was the same as the First Reading.

The Gospel Verse used the ubiquitous Mode VI triple Alleluia, introduced by the brass and timpani, with the verse and repeated Alleluia in an SATB arrangement.

The Gospel was chanted twice, by two deacons, one Latin Rite and one Eastern Rite, with appropriate tones from their Rites.

After Pope Francis' homily, we chanted Credo III.  Again, it was marked for alternation between Schola and congregation, but I sang it through.

The Prayer of the Faithful was intoned by a deacon, in Latin.  Each petition was read by a selected member of the congregation in their vernacular, followed by the deacon chanting, "Dominum deprecemur." to which the congregation responded "Te rogamus audi nos."

The motet during the Preparation of the Gifts was "Exultate Deo" sung by the Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory School.

The rest of the Mass was as usual, the Eucharistic Prayer III in Latin allowed for the names of the new saints to be added after the elevations.  The responses were Gregorian chant.  The "Sanctus" and "Agnus Dei" were from the Missa de Angelis.  The Communion Antiphon, "Aufer a me", was printed in the libretto just like the Introit, so I sang along once again.

The music during the distribution of Communion included an Italian version of St. John Henry Newman's "Lead, Kindly Light."  I chose not to sing along.  It was difficult enough to make my way (along with the thousands of other in the fenced-in sections) up to a priest at a position at the fence.  This involved moving chairs out of the way and creating more aisles than the original ones.  Many of us have seen these St. Peter's Square Masses before, but it's quite different being there!

After the Pontifical Blessing and our response to the deacon's Dismissal, everyone joined in reciting the Angelus in Latin.  The Recessional was instrumental.  We had to remain in our fenced-in sections until Pope Francis had toured the entire Square in the "Pope-mobile".

Again, my seat is where the yellow circle is.

Seeing the photo above, I'm sure you can guess how long it took to exit St. Peter's Square!  But it was all worth the effort!