The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described

by Adrian Fortescue, Alcuin Reid, J.B. O'Connell

This book, a classic guide to the celebration of the Church's ancient Gregorian Rite in the English-speaking world, will serve priests and seminarians of the twenty-first century-just as it served so many priests of the twentieth-in their pastoral mission, which now necessarily includes familiarity with and openness to the use of the older form of the sacred liturgy. I happily commend it to the clergy, seminarians and laity as a reliable tool for the preparation and celebration of the liturgical rites authoritatively granted by the Holy Father in Summorum Pontificum.

Genres: Religion, Theology, Catholic, Spirituality

448 pages, Hardcover

First published June 29, 1917

About the author

Adrian Henry Timothy Knottesford Fortescue was an English Catholic priest and polymath. An influential liturgist, artist, calligrapher, composer, polyglot, amateur photographer, Byzantine scholar, and adventurer, he was also the founder of the Church of St Hugh of Lincoln in Letchworth.

Reviews

[Fr. Ryan Humphries · Rating 4 out of 5]

This classic changed my entire perspective of the Holy Mass. Living, as we do, in the modern world, I had begun to look upon the Mass from the people-centric point of view. Every gesture and word was crafted in my mind to best draw people into the Mass. That meant that I had - as a priest - inadvertently made the Mass about the congregation and about me rather than about God. The worship of God must speak for itself! Fortescue writes beautifully and his reasoning is impeccable... People ask "does it really matter if you put the right thumb over the left? Aren't there starving children in Ethiopia???" Fortescue stomps the the absurdity of that nonsense and explains that there is no greater work than glorifying God with every gesture, limb and breath. A must read for priests!

[Fr. Ryan Humphries · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent technical manual for the Extraordinary Form (AKA TLM, Traditional Latin Mass, Tridentine Rite, Old Mass). The text also has some great general notes on liturgy, sanctuary decor, candles, servers and service in general. All in a worthwhile read for professionals and those directly involved in the service of the altar. Probably not so much for everyone else.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

i want to read