Usus Antiquior Celebrated for Students of Oratory Prep School, Summit, New Jersey

By way of a reader tip and in turn by way of NJ.com is the following story of a Mass celebrated in the usus antiquior for the students at the Oratory Prep School in Summit, New Jersey.

The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Michael Barone of the archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. Attentive readers may recall that Fr. Barone has been mentioned on NLM before, most recently within the context of the Catholic Artist's Society gathering this past autumn.

Traditional Latin Mass at Oratory Prep enlightens

SUMMIT — When students at the Oratory Prep School entered the gymnasium recently for a special Mass, guest celebrant Reverend Michael Barone told them why Latin was used historically in Mass. “This is what distinguished the Catholics from the Protestants in years past. The use of Latin today heightens our sense of mystery and awe for that which is sacred.” The entire Mass was conducted in Latin by the guest celebrant and had an audience of students who are studying Latin.

Fr. Michael further explained, “We aren’t meant to understand all that’s going on in Mass; there’s mystery involved.” He went on to tell the boys in grades seven through twelve, “God won’t compete with electronic devices. Mass is not mere entertainment; it is the Mass of the Ages that endures for all time. You are being asked to preserve the traditions of the church.”

One of the traditions that Fr. Michael asked the boys to observe was to kneel during the consecration. Another tradition observed was to have the congregants kneel for the distribution of Holy Communion.

Junior Cormac Rada of Asbury said the priest’s words were important. “It’s a common misconception that priests have their backs to us at a traditional Latin Mass,” Cormac said. “But it’s a form of adoration: he’s not just officiating…he’s one of us as our representation. He is praying with us to God.”